Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are married
Meghan Markle is now a royal.
The American “Suits” actress, 36, tied the knot with Prince Harry in a wedding ceremony at London’s St. George’s chapel at Windsor Castle on Saturday attended by the royal family as well as celebrity pals including Oprah Winfrey, George and Amal Clooney, Serena Williams, James Corden and Priyanka Chopra.
The archbishop of Canterbury declared them husband and wife. Justin Welby, the head of the Church of England, made the proclamation after the couple promised to love and cherish one another “till death us do part,” and exchanged rings.
The British-American pair are now officially known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and the duchess will take her place among senior members of the royal family. As they stood at the altar, Harry, 33, said to Meghan: “You look amazing.”
Markle wore a long-sleeved gown by British designer Clare Waight Keller, who last year became the first female artistic director of French fashion house Givenchy, along with Queen Mary’s diamond bandeau tiara, which Kensington Palace said was lent to Markle by Queen Elizabeth II. The bandeau was made in 1932, and the entire brooch dates back to 1893, per the palace.
Markle will be wearing a second gown for the reception, the designer of which was not announced ahead of time.
Thousands of people flooded the streets to get a glimpse of the bride-to-be on her way into the chapel, including a royals super-fan who traveled all the way from Jamaica.
After the ceremony, the crowd roared as Harry and Meghan emerged from St. George’s Chapel and kissed at the top of the steps.
The couple, who announced their engagement in November, has been on a whirlwind tour around the UK leading up to the big day, which came with a hearty dose of drama just a week before the “I Do’s.”
Markle’s father, Thomas, made headlines throughout the week as he went back and forth on whether he would attend his daughter’s nuptials following a staged photo scandal and heart surgery.
It was determined on Thursday that he would not be attending the ceremony, according to a statement released by Markle.
“Sadly, my father will not be attending our wedding. I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health,” she said. Although the news came too late as the Official Order of Service listed Thomas’ name as his daughter’s escort down the aisle, in the document that was tweeted by Kensington Palace on Friday night.
Instead, it was announced earlier Friday that Prince Charles would be taking the duty of walking the bride down the aisle.
Markle made the trip from her hotel to Windsor Castle with her mother, Doria Ragland, in a Rolls-Royce. She waved to the cheering crowds as the car drove by.
The beauty did not have a maid of honor. Instead, her bridal party was consistent with the British tradition of featuring children, including Prince William and Kate Middleton’s kids Prince George and Princess Charlotte, along with Prince Harry’s goddaughters Florence van Cutsem and Zalie Warren and Markle’s goddaughters Remi and Rylan Litt, who are the spawn of LA-based brand curator and bag designer Benita Litt. William and Kate’s newborn son Prince Louis did not attend the nuptials.
William, 35, stood by his younger brother Harry as the groom’s best man. As the brothers arrived, Harry was seen cracking a joke to William as they made they’re way to church.
Markle was previously married to TV producer Trevor Engelson from 2011 to 2013. She is now the first American to marry into the British royal family in 81 years.
With a personal spin on the ceremony, the Kingdom Choir sang a gospel version of Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me,” which was met with surprise from the traditional Brits.
“We’re two people who are really happy and in love,” she said in Vanity Fair’s October issue upon the news of her engagement to Harry. “We were very quietly dating for about six months before it became news, and I was working during that whole time, and the only thing that changed was people’s perception.”
“Nothing about me changed. I’m still the same person that I am, and I’ve never defined myself by my relationship,” she added.
Now officially the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, the newlyweds will head to a private reception to celebrate their marriage along with 600 guests — including a slew of celebrity pals like Serena Williams and David and Victoria Beckham — who will be treated to lemon elderflower wedding cake.
Markle and Harry will not whisking off to a honeymoon destination immediately, according to his press secretary, but instead they will delay their post-wedding vacation plan to make their first public appearance as a married couple during the week following the ceremony. They’ll spend their first night as newlyweds at Windsor Castle, the home of Prince Harry’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
With Post wires
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