As it happened: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Royal Wedding

Britain's Prince Harry weds US former actress Meghan Markle in a ceremony at Windsor Castle. Join SBS News for all the colour and glamour.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle kiss on the steps of St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle after their wedding.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle kiss on the steps of St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle after their wedding. Source: AAP

11:04pm: The British really know how to put on a royal wedding. And this was no exception. The perfectly executed ceremony with a touch of American flair was watched by over one billion viewers across the world.

Thank you for joining SBS News tonight, we’ll leave you with this from SBS Life: 'Why Meghan and Harry's relationship is a game changer'.

Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Duchess of Sussex.
Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Duchess of Sussex. Source: AAP


10:56pm: The verdict in the SBS office is the dress was beautiful, elegant and simple. And the Twittersphere seems to agree:

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle depart from St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle after their wedding.. Picture date: Saturday May 19, 2018. .
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle depart from St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle after their wedding. Source: Press Association


10:35pm: The 600 guests will be served an ‘ethereal’ wedding cake in another break from tradition. The three-part layered lemon and elderflower cake will be covered in buttercream and decorated with fresh flowers.

At previous Royal weddings cakes had been made by McVitie's Cake Company — a brand better known for its digestive biscuits.

10:30pm: Earlier Buckingham Palace confirmed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after their wedding. Read more here: 'Queen makes Harry the Duke of Sussex'


10:21pm: The infamous English weather has put on a show today with blue skies and 20 degrees. A very pleasant way for the newlyweds to spend the next 20 minutes or so as they greet well-wishers.

10:12pm: The moment we had all been waiting for!

Harry and Meghan
Source: SBS News


10:08pm: The newlyweds have hopped in their royal carriage to wave to fans and tour the streets. 

10:06pm: And finally the kiss!

10:01pm: 19-year-old cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason said he was “bowled over when Meghan Markle called me” to play at the royal wedding. He has just enthralled the crowed with a breathtaking rendition of Ave Maria. 

9:43pm: Meghan’s ring has been fashioned from a piece of Welsh gold, which Queen Elizabeth gave the bride-to-be as a gift

Rings
Source: SBS News


9:40pm: Archbishop Welby has just declared them husband and wife. 

9:36pm: This is it people. They've started their vows. 

9:34pm: The Kingdom Choir has broken into a beautiful rendition of Stand By Me, the stirring, soulful tune released by American Ben E. King in 1961, that topped the charts in both the United States and Britain.

Ben E King.
Ben E King. Source: AAP


9:32pm: The Most Reverend has finished his powerful speech and people have taken to Twitter to react including our very own comedian Andy Lee. 

9:27pm: The daughter of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. just tweeted this: 

9:24pm: Meghan Markle handpicked the Most Reverend Michael Curry to deliver a powerful sermon on love where he quotes Dr Martin Luther King. 

“We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we discover that, we will be able to make of this old world a new world. Love is the only way.”

9:16pm: Lady Di's sister delivers a poignant and heartfelt speech and Harry is visibly moved. 

9:14pm: Harry reveals a smiling Meghan Markle as he pulls back her veil.

9:12pm: The happy couple stand proudly at the alter as Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury welcomes them. He is the Anglican Communion's most senior bishop, who also baptised Markle after her engagement.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.
Source: SBS News


9:08pm:  Meghan who controversially chose not to have bridesmaids, is instead surrounded by children as page boys, bridesmaids and flower girls. They include Princess Charlotte who tosses flowers and Prince George, who is seen holding up the end of her seemingly endless train.

9:06pm: Finally, the dress!
Meghan Markle
Source: SBS News


9:02pm: The simple but elegant wedding gown sparkles in the sun. Her gown, a closely guarded secret, was designed by Claire WaightKeller the creative director of Givenchy, it has a 25-foot (more than seven metres) silk train, the longest in royal history.

9:00pm: Meghan has stepped out of the car. And there's the dress!

8:59pm: As part of the royal rules, comedians and satirists are not allowed to comment during the official proceedings. So SBS says goodbye to their favourite Joel Creasey for this part of the ceremony. 

8:55pm: As the cars roll up, we see first the bride's mother wearing a pastel green dress. Following her comes Prince Charles and Camilla, wearing a fabulous hat in what seems to be the colour of the day. And finally the Queen in yellow number steps out with Prince Philip who was able to make it after previous health concerns. 



8:53pm: While we wait for Meghan to arrive, Meghan’s former co-stars, Patrick J. Adams and Gabriel Macht looked handsome in suave suits, similar to those they don in their popular TV show Suits.

Patrick J. Adams wife,  Australian actress Jacinda Barrett is attending the wedding as well. 

Suits former co-stars
Source: AAP


8:50pm: Meghan is spotted driving towards Windsor Castle with her mother, Doria Ragland, 61, a social worker and yoga instructor, who Meghan calls a "free spirit".

She has spent the night before the wedding with her daughter at the luxurious Cliveden House, no doubt pampering themselves before the big day.

8:47pm: Pale and dusty pinks seem to be the colour for frocks and hats at the royal wedding. Serena Williams and Oprah Winfrey look pretty in pink, the colour perfectly suited for the warm spring weather.



8:43pm: And here it is! 

Harry and William
Source: SBS News


8:41pm: And we’ve got our first glimpse of the royal groom and his best man looking dapper in traditional dress. Harry has even clipped his beard! Can’t wait to bring you those pictures soon. 



8:37pm: And there’ll be no confetti allowed after the Thames police took to Twitter earlier this week:

8:35pm: Security measures in Windsor have transformed the picturesque town into a fortress, with snipers posted on building roofs. Huge barriers have been hauled into place to prevent a vehicle attack and many roads are now closed in the town of 30,000 inhabitants, 30 kilometres west of London.

8:30pm: A further 2,640 members of the public have been invited to celebrate the occasion on the Windsor Castle grounds, made up of pupils from local schools, charity workers and community members.

Six hundred people have been officially invited to the service, with an even more intimate private reception for only a select 200 guests.

Royal wedding
Source: Getty Images


8:22pm: Elton John, who is set to perform at the Royal Wedding later tonight, arrived with his husband David Furnish. He is seen chatting with fellow musician James Blunt and the Beckham’s. Sir Elton John is no stranger to royal occasions having sung 'Candle In The Wind' at Lady Di's funeral on September 6, 1997.



8:11pm: After a long week of drama surrounding her father’s health condition and whether or not he was going to attend the wedding, Kensington Palace announced overnight Prince Charles will walk the bride down the aisle.

Markle will start walking down the aisle on her own before being joined by Charles to give her away. 

A recovering Thomas Markle told US celebrity news website TMZ that he was "honoured and grateful" that Charles would take his place.

8:05pm: Hollywood star George Clooney and human rights lawyer Amal Clooney are all smiles as they arrive at the Chapel.  Amal looks splendid in a bright yellow dress and hat.



8.00pm: SBS News correspondent Ben Lewis takes in the celebrity spectacle live from Windsor Castle. 

7:55pm: Crowds have filled the streets around Windsor Castle, many draped in the iconic Union Jack flag and shining tiaras. There’s an estimated 100,000 spectators hoping to catch a glimpse of the happy couple, 5,000 of whom are journalists from around the world according to Thames Valley Police.

Some even battled the cold and camped overnight to secure a good view of the royal couple. Others arrived on the first trains from London, pulling into a station renamed "Harry and Meghan Central.”

7:50pm: David and Victoria Beckham have also just arrived at the Chapel, the famous British couple often spotted at royal affairs.

Stay tuned to SBS after the live Royal Wedding broadcast to watch the famous Spice Girls live at Wembley Stadium.

David Beckham and Victoria Beckham.
David Beckham and Victoria Beckham. Source: AAP


7.40pm: Guests are already beginning to arrive including Oprah Winfrey, Idris Elba and James Blunt. Earl Charles Spencer, Princess Diana’s younger brother, was also seen entering the church.



7.30pm: The day has finally arrived. Prince Harry will wed the former US actor Meghan Markle in St George’s Chapel, at Windsor Castle in a royal wedding that promises to be like no other.

From the wedding cake to the lack of bridesmaids, and the surprise invitation snubs, the duo has put their own modern twist on their big day.

 

 

 

 


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