American actress Meghan Markle walked down the aisle of the
15th Century chapel in Windsor Castle where she married Prince Harry in a
dazzling display of British pomp and pageantry.
After entering St George’s Chapel unescorted, Markle –
wearing a dress designed by Clare Waight Keller – made her way towards the
Quire, halfway down the church where Prince Charles will walk her to his son,
Harry.
White roses, favourite flowers of Harry’s late mother
Princess Diana, adorned the chapel. Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, 61,
appeared tearful.
Prince Harry, dressed in a military frock coat uniform, and
his brother, best man Prince William, waited for Markle at the altar.
Tens of thousands of fans lined the route Markle took
towards the castle, waving British flags and cheering as the Rolls-Royce
limousine drove past with the bride and her mother.
Meghan, who is wearing a stunning white dress designed by
Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, arrived accompanied by two page boys who held
up her train as she made her way up the chapel's steps alone.
The smiling royal bride entered the chapel by herself, to
begin the walk down the alter, before she was met by the Prince of Wales.
Prince Harry, wearing his official military uniform, looked
close to tears as he watched his American bride walk down the aisle in St
George's Chapel.
As Harry greeted his bride at the alter he thanked his
"pa" Prince Charles for stepping in last minute for Meghan's father,
Thomas Markle, before telling her :
"You look amazing - I missed you."
As soon as the door at the West Steps opened shortly before
midday, all eyes turned turned towards the ornate entrance to catch the first
glimpse of Meghan.
Her tiara, the glittering Queen Mary's Diamond Bandeau
tiara, loaned to her by the Queen, dazzled in the light of the chapel.
You could hear a pin drop as the 600 guests watched the
British prince and American star say "I do" in the historic
surroundings of the chapel at Windsor Castle.
The happy couple gazed into each other's eyes and tenderly
held hands as they exchanged vows.
Loud cheers could be heard from outside St George's Chapel
as the Archbishop of Canterbury proclaimed them husband and wife.
After officiating during the service, the Archbishop of
Canterbury tweeted: "Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex!
May God pour out his blessings upon you in your new life together."
The influence of African-American culture was apparent
throughout the service at St George's Chapel in Windsor, from the rousing address
of black Episcopal Bishop Michael Curry to the spine-tingling performance of a
gospel choir.
Such departures from the conventional Church of England
wedding indicates the impact Meghan has had on the House of Windsor.
The Most Rev Bishop Michael Curry, the first
African-American presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church, gave an
address titled the Power of Love.
He opened his speech with the words of Civil Rights leader
Martin Luther King Jr, who said: "We must discover the power of love, the
redemptive power of love. And when we do that, we will be able to make of this
old world a new world. Love is the only way."
The bishop then added: "There's power in love. Don't
underestimate it. Don't even over-sentimentalise. There is power, power in
love."
But it was when Mr Curry said “With this I will sit down. We
gotta get you all married," that Meghan could be seen giggling.
The bishop said afterwards it had been a "real joyful
thing" to bring diversity to the high-profile service.
On Saturday evening, the royal family expressed their
gratitude to all those who enjoyed the wedding.
They said on the official Twitter account: "Thank you
to everyone who came to Windsor and those who followed from around the UK, the
Commonwealth, and the world today.
"Congratulations once again to the newly-married Duke
and Duchess of Sussex."
Around 600 guests were then treated to a lunchtime reception
at St George's Hall, thrown by the Queen.
Meghan and Harry's lemon and elderflower cake, baked and
created by Claire Ptak, was also be served up at the reception.
The palace said around 7,500 items of food had been prepared
by a team of 25 chefs, led by royal chef Mark Flanagan.
Kensington Palace confirmed the couple will be known as the
Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
A statement released before the wedding read: "The
Queen has today been pleased to confer a Dukedom on Prince Henry of Wales. His
titles will be Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel.
"Prince Harry thus becomes His Royal Highness The Duke
of Sussex, and Ms. Meghan Markle on marriage will become Her Royal Highness The
Duchess of Sussex."
The newlywed reemerged just after 7.15pm, where Meghan
showed off her second wedding dress for the night.
Her hair has been styled for the Evening Reception by George
Northwood.
Meghan was spotted being helped into silver blue Jaguar
E-Type Concept Zero by her husband Prince Harry.
The Bride's evening dress was designed by Stella McCartney
and is a bespoke lily white high neck gown made of silk crepe.
Meghan is also wearing shoes from Aquazurra made in silky
satin, with nude mesh, with soles painted in baby blue.
VIP guests including an array of celebrities, sports stars
and actors with British actor Idris Elba, David and Victoria Beckham, rugby
star Johnny Wilkinson, Amal and George Clooney, US host star Oprah Winfrey, UK
singer James Blunt, polo star Nacho Figueras and his wife Delfina Blaquier,
musician Marcus Mumford, actress Carey Mulligan, comedian James Corden, singer
Joss Stone and Sir Elton John, sharing the special moment with the couple in St
George's Chapel.
Tennis star Serena Williams, Meghan's close friend and
confidante, along with her husband, Alexis Ohanian, also watched the glorious
ceremony.
Additional information: express.co.uk
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