Watch Harry and Meghan say ‘I do’
Queen Elizabeth outside St. George’s chapel where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will wed. Canadian broadcasters going all out to cover May 19 royal wedding
Is it terribly wrong to wear a fascinator at 7 a.m.? Not when the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is at stake.
There’s no better time to gather round the telly with some Marmite and crumpets, and a few of your bleary-eyed friends in the early hours on Saturday, May 19.
The royal wedding takes place in the afternoon at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. There will be plenty of pomp, including a carriage ride and two receptions after the ceremony.
But because of the different time zone, that means in North America the festivities will begin at 7 a.m. Eastern Standard Time or 4 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.
And coverage will begin much earlier than that, with some Canadian broadcasters starting at least two hours earlier. (But for those who don’t think catching a glimpse of Posh and Becks heading into church is worth an early rise, then maybe you can sleep in for an extra hour.)
A televised royal wedding is never a given. While Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton was broadcast in 2011, Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones declined to do so in 1999. So no wonder CBC decided to bring out the big gun, taking retired The National host Peter Mansbridge out of mothballs to narrate the event for Canadians.
Canadians also have some skin in the game, since Markle lived in Toronto while filming
Suits. And the couple made their first public appearance together here. So she was our Princess — or, rather, Duchess — first.
Below is a look at the coverage Canadian broadcasters are planning around the big event.
CORUS
E.T. Canada will be on location in the U.K. for royal watching the entire week, with inshow broadcast coverage of the most up-to-date developments leading up to the wedding. (Global, weeknights at 7:30 p.m. ET) Global National With Dawna Friesen will broadcast live from Windsor, U.K., from Thursday, May 17, through Saturday, May 19. (Global, daily at 6:30 p.m. ET) Carolyn MacKenzie will be co-hosting Friday’s edition of The Morning Show from Windsor. (Global, Friday, May 18 at 9 a.m. ET) Wedding day coverage: Global’s broadcast of Harry & Meghan — The Royal Wedding starts at 4:30 a.m. ET on May 19 with a special focused on their love story. The special will be co-hosted by ET Canada host Cheryl Hickey and Global National anchor Dawna Friesen. Following the special, ET Canada will be live from Windsor Castle from 5:30 until11a.m. ET on Global. Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance airs at 8 p.m. on W network, kicking off the network’s Always & Forever event of four weekends filled with back-toback wedding-themed movies. Post-wedding: ET Canada will have a special edition on May 21, with all the highlights at 7:30 p.m. ET on Global.
CBC
Starting the week of May 14, former CBC chief correspondent Peter Mansbridge returns to host a documentary showcase that takes viewers on a journey throughout the week.
With a series of introductions from Kensington Palace, Mansbridge guides audiences through chapters of royal history.
But first, a historical warm-up on The Passionate Eye with an eight-part documentary series:
Elizabeth. The series will be first released digitally in its entirety on CBC’s streaming platform on May 11.
CBC Morning with Heather Hiscox will be live on location in Windsor, May 17-18
CBC Radio’s World Report host Nil Koksal will broadcast from Windsor throughout the day, with a special edition on May 18. Wedding Day:
CBC News Special: The Wedding of Harry and Meghan with host Adrienne Arsenault begins 5 a.m. ET on May 19.
CBC NEWS NETWORK
You’re used to seeing war correspondent Adrienne Arsenault in tougher surroundings.
But The National co-host will be responsible for live wedding coverage. She will be joined by royal expert Katie Nicholl, author of Harry: Life, Loss and Love and regular contributor to Vanity Fair.
She will be joined by Nil Koksal, Nahlah Ayed, Heather Hiscox, Thomas Daigle and Peter Mansbridge.
The Wedding in Primetime: For those who just want the highlights without having to wake up early and sit through hours of coverage. May 19 and 20, 7 p.m. ET.
CITY
Cityline airs a royal wedding special on May 15 with Jeanne Beker, Alison Eastwood, Shinan Govani and Marilyn Smith to talk all things fashion, royal protocol and etiquette. On May 18, Melanie Ng will be live from London for Cityline.
BELL MEDIA
Tune in on May 19, beginning at 4:30 a.m. EST on CTV, CTV News Channel and CP24. CTV News’ live coverage from Windsor is led by Chief Anchor Lisa LaFlamme, alongside royal historian and biographer Hugo Vickers and eight-time Juno Award winner Jann Arden.
Viewers can also watch highlights, plus the timeline and details of the love story that led up to the big day, on CTV News’ two-hour prime time special, Harry & Meghan — The Royal Wedding, on May 19 at 9 p.m. EST on CTV.
etalk’s countdown to the royal wedding begins May 1. In leadup coverage, etalk will roll out a special series called “Meghan’s Toronto,” which includes a look at some of Markle’s favourite local spots for food, fitness and fashion.
From May 16 to May 19, etalk is on the ground in London with senior correspondent Lainey Lui, 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV.
Etalk Presents — Harry & Meghan: Happily Ever After, a special one-hour prime time event, recaps the highlights of the historic day. The wedding! The carriage ride! The after party! May 19 at 7 p.m. ET on CTV.
Your Morning co-host AnneMarie Mediwake and latemorning anchor Melissa Grelo are on the ground in Windsor and London leading up to the wedding.
Grelo interviews British journalist Piers Morgan to talk about his friendship with Markle and his history with the royals.
Melissa introduces viewers to the small town of Windsor and experiences “Meghan’s London,” visiting the bride-to-be’s favourite hangouts.
Plus, experience the royal ride as Grelo gets a horse-and-carriage tour of the procession route. Airs weekdays at 6 a.m. ET on CTV.