Their wedding, their way
After months of royal wedding fever, Canadians across the country gathered in the early hours Saturday for a broadcast of the lavish marriage ceremony between Meghan Markle and Prince Harry — now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Some wedding watchers donned formal wear to partake in public celebrations being held across country, while others stayed in their pyjamas to enjoy the spectacle at home.
By mid-morning, David Spence and his wife Donna Otto said they were recovering from a 3 a.m. breakfast party they helped organize at Victoria’s 139-year-old Union Club. Spence and Otto, who are president and secretary of the Royal Commonwealth Society of Vancouver Island, respectively, said it was well worth it.
“To quote an ancient hymn writer, I was lost in wonder, love and praise,” Spence said, referencing the 1747 English hymn by Charles Wesley, which was sung at the 2011 marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Otto, who wore a hot-pink fascinator to the party, said she was enamoured with Meghan’s veil.
“I was especially impressed that her veil was embroidered with certain appliques of 53 countries of the Commonwealth. I thought, how amazingly appropriate for her new role, standing next to her husband, as ambassador for youth in the Commonwealth,” Otto said.
Toronto’s Princess of Wales Theatre, which is named for Harry’s late mother Diana, was packed to the brim with about 2,000 fans, many bedecked in top hats, fascinators and tiaras.
Sitting among fellow revellers as the ceremony on the grounds of Windsor Castle unfolded on a towering screen, Yolanda McClean said: “It felt like we were there.”
Given Markle’s special connection to Toronto, where the American-born former actress lived while filming the TV legal drama Suits, McClean said it seemed like the city was consumed by nuptial cheer for the honorary local.
“I absolutely feel like Toronto was being represented,” she said.
“I actually think she’s representing the world, because I think the world stopped for the wedding today.”
Canada was represented inside the chapel, where Markle’s friend Jessica Mulroney escorted 10 young page boys and bridesmaids, including her three children with TV personality Ben Mulroney.
Four-year-old Ivy was a bridesmaid, while seven-year-old twins Brian and John served as pageboys alongside four-year-old Prince George and three-year-old Princess Charlotte, children of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge.