The future king of England will walk Meghan Markle down the aisle when she marries his son Prince Harry sa国际传媒� a gesture of welcome to the American actress as she joins the royal family. The news came as thousands of well-wishers began descending upon Windsor amid final preparations for Saturdaysa国际传媒檚 royal wedding.

Union Jacks have been unfurled, security barriers and police patrols are in place and fans were already moving in Friday to capture the prime viewing positions in Windsor, a castle town 25 miles (40 kilometres) west of London.

Tens of thousands of spectators, including many Americans who have come in support of Markle, will be travelling to Windsor to soak up the atmosphere. They will be subject to airport-style security scanners and bag searches.

The barricades aim to deter attackers using vehicles, such as the one on Westminster Bridge in London last year. Sniffer dogs and mounted patrols are also out and about.

Kensington Palace said Friday that Markle asked the heir to the British throne to offer a supporting elbow at the wedding in St. Georgesa国际传媒檚 Chapel after Marklesa国际传媒檚 father was unable to attend due to illness. Prince Charles sa国际传媒渋s pleased to be able to welcome Ms. Markle to the Royal Family in this way,sa国际传媒� the palace said.

Buckingham Palace also announced that the Duke of Edinburgh, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, will attend the royal wedding, just a few weeks after undergoing a hip replacement operation. The 96-year-old has largely retired from public duties and it had not been clear whether he would be well enough to attend.

The last-minute announcements came after days of speculation about how the royals would handle the possible absence of Marklesa国际传媒檚 father.

Marklesa国际传媒檚 mother, Doria Ragland, was the bookiessa国际传媒� favourite to escort the bride, but Charles has a lifetime of experience in appearing at large-scale public events amid intense scrutiny.

sa国际传媒淚 think some people will be disappointed sa国际传媒� people who were looking forward to the historic moment of a woman walking her daughter down the aisle, and a woman of mixed race heritage from America. It would have made an historic shot,sa国际传媒� said royal historian Robert Lacey.

sa国际传媒淏ut of course, Meghan has already arranged for her mother to drive up here to take her up to the castle. And for Prince Charles, the future king, to walk a bride down the aisle, what more could Meghan dream of?sa国际传媒� Lacey added. sa国际传媒淎nd so, one symbolism may be disappointed, but the other one is more than satisfied.sa国际传媒�

Ragland, meanwhile, was to have tea Friday with the queen at Windsor Castle, her latest meeting with her daughtersa国际传媒檚 new in-laws. Ragland dined with Prince William, Harrysa国际传媒檚 older brother and best man, and Williamsa国际传媒檚 family on Thursday and met Charles and his wife Camilla a day earlier.

Itsa国际传媒檚 not the first time a royal bride hasnsa国际传媒檛 been walked down the aisle by her father. The monarchsa国际传媒檚 sister, the late Princess Margaret, was walked down the aisle by Prince Philip. Queen Victoria walked two daughters down the aisle.

Roseline Morris, 35-year-old from Basildon, England, noted that Charles hasnsa国际传媒檛 got a daughter himself.

sa国际传媒淗esa国际传媒檚 never going to get the chance to walk a daughter down the aisle, so this will be nice for him as well.sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淚 imagine hesa国际传媒檒l be feeling very proud.sa国际传媒�

Having the father of the groom escort the bride is yet another twist in a royal wedding that is proving to be different from many others.

Master baker Claire Ptak said Friday that the royal wedding cake sa国际传媒� a three-part layered lemon and elderflower cake sa国际传媒� will have an sa国际传媒渆therealsa国际传媒� taste and be presented in a non-traditional way.

Ptak and her team of six bakers have been working for the last five days in the oversize kitchens of Buckingham Palace. The ingredients for the cake will include 200 Amalfi lemons and 10 bottles of Sandringham Elderflower Cordial from the queensa国际传媒檚 Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

Amid all the preparations, British police had one request for the tens of thousands expected Saturday to watch the newest royal couple ride in a carriage around Windsor: Donsa国际传媒檛 throw confetti, particularly during the procession.

sa国际传媒淚t poses a potential security risk and itsa国际传媒檚 a bit of a pain to clean up!sa国际传媒� Thames Valley Police said. sa国际传媒淲e hope everyone enjoys the day.sa国际传媒�

Jill Lawless contributed from London.

Gregory Katz, The Associated Press

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