Wearing a Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy dress, Meghan Markle married Prince Harry today in the royal wedding. The couple recited their vows at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle – the 14th-century chapel has hosted 16 royal weddings since 1863.
About 45 minutes before the wedding, Meghan and her mother, Doria Ragland, left Cliveden House and began their 20-minute drive to the chapel.
They were chauffeured in a Rolls-Royce Phantom IV that was built and delivered in 1950, it was Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s first Rolls-Royce—made when she was still Princess Elizabeth—and is one of only 16 ever built.
Meghan wore Queen Mary’s diamond bandeau tiara, on loan from Queen Elizabeth II.
Prince Harry arrived with his brother, Prince Williams, wearing the Blues and Royals frockcoat uniform which was tailored at Dege & Skinner on Savile Row.
Harry and Meghan invited 2,640 members of the public onto the grounds of Windsor Castle to watch the arrivals: 1,200 members of the public from all parts of the United Kingdom; 200 people from charities connected to the couple; 100 students from local schools; 610 Windsor Castle community members; and 530 members of the Royal Households and the Crown Estate.
Patrick J. Adams, Princess Anne, Princess Beatrice, David Beckham, Victoria Beckham, Troian Bellisario, James Blunt, Cressida Bonas, Priyanka Chopra, Amal Clooney, George Clooney, Chelsy Davy, Princess Eugenie, Sarah Ferguson, Janina Gavankar, Tom Hardy, Gabriel Macht, Kate Middleton, Pippa Middleton, Misha Nonoo, Prince Philip, Abigail Spencer, Gina Torres, Serena Williams and Oprah Winfrey were among the guests.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby officiated the couple’s wedding vows; the Dean of Windsor, the Rev. David Conner, conducted the service; and The Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, the 27th Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church, gave the address. (Meghan was baptized into the Church of England in March, two months before the wedding.)
The American bishop 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.”
“There’s power in love, don’t underestimate it. Don’t even over-sentimentalize. There is power in love. Love can help and heal when nothing else can.
“There’s power in love to lift up and liberate when nothing else will.” That power could be seen throughout the service, he said, adding, “Two young people fell in love and we all showed up,” he told the wedding congregation.
Karen Gibson and a gospel choir then sang a cover of Ben E. King’s Stand by Me.
Members of Princess Diana’s family were in attendance, and Lady Jane Fellowes gave a reading. Kensington Palace previously said Harry and Meghan feel honoured that she is representing her family and celebrating “the memory of the late Princess on the wedding day.”
After reciting their vows, the couple exchanged gold rings. The ceremony ended with “God Save the Queen,” then Harry and Meghan left the chapel.
The newlyweds had their first public kiss on the steps, set to the song, This Little Light of Mine.
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