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| The royal newlyweds kissed in front of the Windsor crowds (AFP Photo/Danny Lawson) |
Windsor (United Kingdom) (AFP) - Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot at Windsor Castle on Saturday in a royal wedding like no other, mixing British pomp and African-American culture in front of a celebrity congregation and cheering crowds.
The new
Duke and Duchess of Sussex exchanged vows in St. George's Chapel in a historic
ceremony, sealed with a kiss, which brought the biracial US TV star into the
heart of the British monarchy.
As more
than 100,000 people packed the sun-baked Windsor streets and millions watched
worldwide, Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family were joined inside by stars
including Oprah Winfrey, Serena Williams, Elton John, George Clooney and David
Beckham.
The couple
held hands throughout and exchanged vows in a Church of England service
modified to reflect the bride's heritage and strong sense of independence.
Firebrand
US pastor Michael Curry delivered a full-throttle address invoking slaves and
the power of love, and a gospel choir sang classics "Stand By Me" and
"This Little Light of Mine".
Markle began her walk down the aisle alone with her 10 bridesmaids and page boys walking behind her flowing white silk dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller at the French fashion house Givenchy.
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Markle
walked down the aisle in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, on her own
before
being accompanied to the altar by Prince Charles (AFP Photo/Danny Lawson)
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Markle began her walk down the aisle alone with her 10 bridesmaids and page boys walking behind her flowing white silk dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller at the French fashion house Givenchy.
Her father
had been due to meet her half-way but after he pulled out due to heart surgery,
Harry's father Prince Charles stepped in to escort her to the altar.
Markle's
mother, Doria Ragland, looked visibly moved during the wedding.
With the
words "I will", 33-year-old Harry, and US former actress Meghan, 36,
declared they would love, comfort, honour and protect each other.
Archbishop
of Canterbury Justin Welby declared them husband and wife -- sparking huge
cheers from crowds outside the church, watching on big screens.
The bride's
father Thomas Markle also followed the wedding on television and voiced regret
he was unable to attend, TMZ reported.
"My
baby looks beautiful and she looks very happy. I wish I were there," he
told the US celebrity news website.
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The royal
couple rode in a horse-drawn carriage through Windsor after the
wedding (AFP
Photo/Jeff J Mitchell)
|
Smiles at
the altar
Harry
hand-picked flowers for Markle's bouquet from their home at Kensington Palace.
Her
five-metre veil also contained floral designs from her native California and
all 53 Commonwealth countries.
The groom
and his brother Prince William -- his best man -- wore the blue doeskin
frockcoat uniform of a major in the Blues and Royals, the regiment Harry served
with in Afghanistan during his 10 years in the British army.
"You
look amazing," Harry told his bride as she arrived.
The couple
grinned during Curry's dramatic address about the power of love, in which he
quoted civil rights icon Martin Luther King.
"I'm
talking about some power. Real power. Power to change the world," the
African-American preacher intoned.
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The bride
and groom held hands and giggled at the altar (AFP Photo/
Owen Humphreys)
|
There were
no political leaders among the 600 guests but many celebrities, including Idris
Elba, James Blunt, Tom Hardy and James Corden.
Some of
Markle's former co-stars in US hit television series "Suits"
attended, as did Harry's ex-girlfriends Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas.
The
newlyweds kissed on the chapel's West Steps after the wedding, before going on
a carriage procession ride through Windsor where flag-waving well-wishers
cheered them on in a carnival atmosphere.
"It's
been a historic, epic day," said Leslie Owusu, from nearby High Wycombe.
"It's
a union of different cultures, you've got America and England and a fusion of
two people that love people and life."
Kiss and
carriage ride
Hundreds of
street parties and public screenings were held around Britain where the wedding
is a welcome respite for a country still burdened by austerity and divided over
Brexit.
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Well-wishers
cheered as they watched the wedding on a giant screen (AFP
Photo/Tolga AKMEN)
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Revellers
also packed into bars to watch as far afield as Sydney, Hong Kong and Markle's
native Los Angeles, for what is likely to be the last big British royal wedding
for a generation.
In Windsor,
thousands of fans bagged their spots by dawn, bearing rugs and picnics, Union
Jack flags and patriotic paraphernalia, and the bubbly was flowing freely.
"It
made me really emotional when I saw them coming past," said Helen Oliver,
50.
Canapes
and Meghan's speech
The queen
hosted a lunchtime reception at the castle, where Elton John performed to
guests eating canapes including Scottish langoustines, English asparagus and
Windsor lamb.
The royal
couple cut the lemon and elderflower cake, while Charles and Harry made
speeches introduced by William.
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Profiles of
Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, with photos and
details of wedding
(AFP Photo/Cecilia SANCHEZ)
|
Harry later
drive his bride to the evening reception for 200 friends and family in an
open-top E-Type Jaguar with the number plate E190518 -- the wedding date.
In another
break with convention, Meghan was due to speak at the Frogmore House bash.
"She's
got her own voice, a personality, and I think all that made a huge impression
on everybody," said Shrabani Basu, a Commonwealth historian.
The couple
met on a blind date in July 2016 and had a whirlwind romance, criss-crossing
the Atlantic as she continued filming "Suits" in Toronto.
Harry was
scarred by his mother Diana's death in a Paris car crash in 1997 when he was
just 12, and he had to mourn in the full glare of the world's media.
His wedding
featured a hymn used at Diana's funeral, at which he and William had walked
behind her casket.
Sixth in
line to the throne, Harry is one of the most popular royals, while Markle, a
divorcee, is seen as a breath of fresh air for the monarchy.
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Bishop
Michael Bruce Curry gave an impassioned address during the
wedding ceremony
(AFP Photo/Owen Humphreys)
|
Related Articles:
Pastor Curry spices up royal wedding with power of love
#RoyalWedding Time to party and Harry's driving.— AFP news agency (@AFP) May 19, 2018
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave Windsor Castle for an evening reception at Frogmore House pic.twitter.com/q2MeMD1Y7C
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