Royal wedding 2018: Prince Harry and Meghan married at Windsor



Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been declared husband and wife, following a ceremony at Windsor Castle.

The couple exchanged vows and rings before the Queen and 600 guests at St George's Chapel.

Wearing a dress by British designer Clare Waight Keller, Ms Markle was met by Prince Charles, who walked her down the aisle.

Following their marriage, the couple will be known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Among the guests were Oprah Winfrey, George and Amal Clooney, David and Victoria Beckham and Sir Elton John.

Ms Markle had 10 bridesmaids and pageboys - including Prince George and Princess Charlotte.



She wore Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara, loaned to her by the Queen.

Her sculpted white dress was designed by Ms Waight Keller for French fashion house Givenchy.
Royal wedding 2018: Prince Harry and Meghan married at Windsor

The look was completed with a veil measuring 5m and embroidered with the flowers of each country in the Commonwealth.

Prince Charles walked Ms Markle down the aisle, after her father, Thomas, was unable to attend for health reasons.

Mr Markle, 73, reportedly watched the ceremony from California.

He told the US celebrity website, TMZ: "My baby looks beautiful and she looks very happy.

In her vows, Ms Markle did not promise to "obey" her husband, while the prince broke with royal tradition by choosing to wear a wedding ring.

The happy couple gazed into each other's eyes as they exchanged vows

Prince Harry's ring is a platinum band with a textured finish and Ms Markle's has been made from a piece of Welsh gold.

During the service, the couple pledged themselves to one another, saying: "For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part."
Royal wedding 2018: Prince Harry and Meghan married at Windsor

'Power in love'

The Most Rev Bishop Michael Curry, the president of the American Episcopal Church, gave an address, the Rt Rev David Conner, Dean of Windsor, conducted the service and the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, officiated.

"There's power, power in love. If you don't believe me think about a time when you first fell in love. The whole world seemed to centre around you and your beloved. Well... there's power, power in love," Bishop Curry said in his address.

Lady Jane Fellowes, the sister of Prince Harry's late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, gave a reading.

Karen Gibson and The Kingdom Choir performed Ben E King's soul classic Stand By Me during the service.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, who is recovering from a hip operation, were among the last to arrive

As the bride and groom signed the register, 19-year-old cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason - who won the 2016 BBC's Young Musician - performed three pieces by Faure, Schubert and Maria Theresia von Paradis.

He was accompanied by musicians from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the English Chamber Orchestra and the Philharmonia.

The gospel choir also performed Etta James' uplifting version of Amen/This Little Light of Mine as the newlyweds left the chapel.

Prince Charles accompanied Ms Markle's mother, Doria, after the service finished.

After the service, the duke and duchess travelled through Windsor along a route lined by tens of thousands of well-wishers.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead said more than 100,000 people had visited the town on Saturday.

It was a traditional wedding - the dress, the bridesmaids, the vows, the hymns. And it was very, very different.

The Palace made it clear in a stream of announcements that they wanted a different kind of wedding.

But it was the service that marked this out as a modern, diverse wedding for a modern diverse couple: the Kingdom Gospel choir setting toes tapping, a young black cellist, and a breathtaking address from Bishop Curry, the President of the Episcopal Church.

Every royal wedding is a chance for the Royal Family to relaunch and reinvent. There may have been trouble in the week before the wedding. But that is in the past.

This wedding was about the future, a different future for the Royal Family.

All 600 guests were invited to a lunchtime reception at St George's Hall, hosted by the Queen.

During this reception, Ms Markle will break with tradition for royal brides and make a speech, along with her husband and new father-in-law.

Other celebrities in attendance included tennis star Serena Williams, TV personality James Corden, singer James Blunt, actor Carey Mulligan, and rugby star Jonny Wilkinson.

Prince Harry's uncle, Earl Spencer, the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, and the Duchess of Cambridge's sister Pippa Middleton, were also invited.


Royalty of the celebrity world arrive

Politicians, including Prime Minister Theresa May, were not invited, as it is not a state event.

But the former Prime Minister, Sir John Major, was among the invited guests, as he is a member of the Order of the Garter.

About 1,200 members of the public - many who are recognised for their charity work - were invited into the grounds of Windsor Castle for the wedding.

The West Door and steps of St George's Chapel are surrounded by flowers and foliage
On Saturday evening, the newlyweds will celebrate with 200 close friends and family at a private reception less than a mile from Windsor Castle at Frogmore House, hosted by Prince Charles.

The Royal Family will pay for the wedding, including the service, music, flowers and reception.