Prince Harry and Meghan Markle gazed into each othersa国际传媒檚 eyes and pledged their lifelong love Saturday as they married in front of hundreds of royals, celebrities and friends at St. Georgesa国际传媒檚 Chapel and millions of TV viewers around the world.
The pretty English town of Windsor sparkled on a warm spring day as tens of thousands of people jammed its quaint roads and parks to capture their own part of the spectacular yet elegant royal wedding extravaganza.
To kick off the festivities, Queen Elizabeth II honoured her red-headed, 33-year-old grandson with a new title: the Duke of Sussex, making Markle the Duchess of Sussex.
The wedding was a global event, thanks to Harrysa国际传媒檚 status as a senior British royal and Marklesa国际传媒檚 celebrity after starring on the U.S. television series sa国际传媒淪uitssa国际传媒� for seven years. Its pomp and ceremony embraced the couplesa国际传媒檚 trans-Atlantic union, mixing Anglican prayers and tradition, classical music and a gospel choir with a stately horse-drawn carriage ride through Windsor in a spectacle beamed live to tens of millions.
The American actress embraced her new British role in a sleek white silk boat-necked dress designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller. Her sheer veil sa国际传媒� down to her waist in front and billowing for what seemed like miles behind her sa国际传媒� carried floral references to all 53 countries in the Commonwealth, the group of countries that roughly corresponds to the former British Empire and is headed by Marklesa国际传媒檚 new grandmother-in-law, the queen.
The palace said, in addition to the Commonwealth flowers, Markle also selected two other plants on the veil: Wintersweet and, in a nod to the bridesa国际传媒檚 birthplace, the California poppy.
Harry and best man Prince William wore white gloves and the frock coat uniforms of the Blues and Royals military regiment. Harry kept his full red beard intact sa国际传媒� a style decision that had sparked British bets before the wedding.
Markle walked down the aisle alone at first, then was accompanied by Prince Charles and 10 young page boys and bridesmaids. As his father and his bride drew close to the altar, Harry said: sa国际传媒淭hank you, Pa.sa国际传媒�
To Markle, Harry said: sa国际传媒淵ou look amazing.sa国际传媒�
Markle seemed poised and confident as she delivered her vows without so much as a quiver in her voice. She smiled broadly as the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby declared them husband and wife. Harry seemed a bit nervous sa国际传媒� but happy.
The sermon offered a particularly rousing U.S. touch, with the leader of the Episcopal Church quoting civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. on the sa国际传媒渞edemptive power of love.sa国际传媒� The Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry delivered the sermon with heartfelt emotion. The musical selections also included versions of Ben. E. Kingsa国际传媒檚 sa国际传媒淪tand By Mesa国际传媒� and Etta Jamessa国际传媒� sa国际传媒淎men/This Little Light of Mine.sa国际传媒�
A host of celebrities and athletes sa国际传媒� including Oprah Winfrey, Idris Elba, Elton John, George and Amal Clooney, Serena Williams, James Corden and David and Victoria Beckham sa国际传媒� watched from the seats in the Gothic masterpiece at Windsor Castle.
The Prince of Wales accompanied Ms. Meghan Markle down the aisle of the Quire of St Georgesa国际传媒檚 Chapel today.
sa国际传媒� Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse)
As the newest royal couple emerged from the chapel, they kissed. The crowd roared sa国际传媒� and just kept cheering sa国际传媒攁s Harry helped his wife fold her 5 metre (16 1/2 foot) long train into the Ascot Landau carriage as they began their procession through the streets of Windsor.
Police said more than 100,000 people lined the route. The open-topped carriage was pulled by four Windsor Grey horses and past crowds waving flags and holding cellphones aloft. The newlyweds smiled and practiced what royals must be very good at: waving and waving and waving to the crowds.
Relatives in the ceremony included 4-year-old Prince George and 3-year-old Princess Charlotte, children of William and the Duchess of Cambridge. Other relatives at the church included Charles Spencer, the brother of Harrysa国际传媒檚 late mother Princess Diana, and Harrysa国际传媒檚 cousins Zara Tindall and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
Also in attendance was Harrysa国际传媒檚 sister-in-lawsa国际传媒檚 family: Parents Carole and Michael Middleton, sister Pippa Middleton and brother James Middleton. Harrysa国际传媒檚 ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy was there, as was Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, the ex-wife of Harrysa国际传媒檚 uncle Prince Andrew.
Irene Bowdry, a lawyer from California, was among those who jammed the early train to Windsor. She booked her trip to England as soon as the wedding date was announced.
sa国际传媒淎n American in the royal family, isnsa国际传媒檛 that so exciting?sa国际传媒� she said.
The weather was balmy and clear, bathing the ancient stones of Windsor Castle in a beautiful spring light.
sa国际传媒淲indsor is absolutely bursting with excitement,sa国际传媒� said royal historian Hugo Vickers. sa国际传媒淭here are cardboard cutouts of Meghan and Harry in every shop window.sa国际传媒�
It is a time of transition for the British monarchy, one that seems filled with hope as William and Harry sa国际传媒� the two sons of Charles and the late Princess Diana sa国际传媒� step ever more confidently into the limelight.
Many in the crowd, like Ana Karukin, a Brazilian nurse living in Florida, said they came to witness a moment of history.
sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檝e got to be here for him and for her, my Meghan, my special girl, to support them, because itsa国际传媒檚 a beautiful time,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淚 wish that Diana was here, but shesa国际传媒檚 in heaven watching over them.sa国际传媒�
Ms. Meghan Markle arrives at St George's Chapel
sa国际传媒� Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal)
And it seems to be a time of joy for 92-year-old queen and her 96-year-old husband, Prince Philip, who was well enough to attend. The queen was able to see her grandson marry a woman who clearly has brought him the happiness hesa国际传媒檚 often said was missing from his life after his mothersa国际传媒檚 premature death.
The family tableau played out on the broadest possible stage. Dozens of broadcasters set up on the castle grounds for a visual feast. The chapel itself is a masterpiece of the late Gothic style, and Windsor Castle has been home to British sovereigns for nearly 1,000 years.
In the afternoon at the castle, the queen was hosting the first of two receptions, one with finger foods, wine and champagne. Saturday night, a second, smaller reception for 200 people was being thrown by Charles.
Harry invited buddies from his 10 years of military service sa国际传媒� which included tours of duty in Afghanistan sa国际传媒� and from many of the charities he supports, which have focused on helping wounded veterans or encouraging a more open discussion of mental health issues.
In honour of Harrysa国际传媒檚 mother Diana, her older sister Jane Fellowes gave a reading during the wedding service.
But it was the crowds in Windsor that seemed to capture the joy of the moment. Many had camped or arrived at dawn for a good spot. They cheered and screamed as the newlyweds passed by.
Arlene Prinsloo had flown from South Africa sa国际传媒� just to be in Windsor.
sa国际传媒淚 went to William and Katesa国际传媒檚 wedding, but this is a completely different vibe,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 much more relaxed, and I think that reflects who Harry is.sa国际传媒�
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Kirka and Lawless reported from London.
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For complete AP royal wedding coverage, visit https://apnews.com/tag/Royalweddings
Gregory Katz, Danica Kirka And Jill Lawless, The Associated Press
