STAND BY ME:
gospel group to sing Ben e King soul classic & Meghan Won’t promise to obey
PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle really will be dedicating themselves to each other heart and soul today – after including a classic Ben E King song in the service.
Gospel group The Kingdom Choir will perform the singer’s Stand By
Me, along with Etta James’s version of Amen/this Little Light of Mine.
And the couple’s modern spin on a royal wedding also takes in very contemporary vows.
Meghan will not promise to “obey” when she marries her prince today at St George’s Chapel in Windsor, and the couple will be pronounced as “husband and wife” rather than “man and wife”.
They will also refer to each other as “Harry” and “Meghan” as they say their vows, using the names they are known by rather than their given names – and not including middle or surnames.
However, there will still be nods to royal tradition, with classical pieces being played while their 600 guests are taking their seats and a rendition of the national anthem at the end.
CARE
And there is a poignant tribute to Harry’s tragic mum Princess Diana with the inclusion of the hymn Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer – which was played at her 1997 funeral.
William and Kate also included the hymn at their 2011 wedding.
A spokesman said Harry and Meghan have “taken a great deal of care in selecting all elements for their service”.
He added: “This has been a collaborative effort led by Prince Harry and Ms Markle. They have also sought the advice of the Prince of Wales for the orchestral music before the service begins.”
The five organ pieces and seven orchestral pieces that will be played as guests arrive include Ralph Vaughan Williams’s Fantasia on Greensleeves, which William and Kate also chose for their big day.
The orchestra, made up of musicians from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the English Chamber Orchestra and the Philharmonia, will also play pieces by Elgar and Holst.
The bride will arrive to a fanfare from the trumpeters of the Household Cavalry then walk down the aisle – where she will be met halfway by Prince Charles – to the sound of Welsh soprano Elin Manahan Thomas singing
Handel’s Eternal Source of
Light Divine. An order of service to be given to the 600 guests has an introduction taken from Common Worship, which reads: “A wedding is one of life’s great moments, a time of solemn commitment as well as good wishes, feasting and joy.
“Marriage is intended by God to be a creative relationship, as his blessing enables husband and wife to love and support each other in good times and bad, and to share in the care and upbringing of children.” The 20-page service was printed before the couple knew Meghan’s dad Thomas would not be able to attend, so his name is included in the order.
The service they have chosen is from the Marriage Service from Common Worship and features contemporary language – using the word “you” instead of “thee” and “thou”, and offering the most flexibility in the choice of readings and prayers. While the couple are signing the register, 19-year-old cellist Sheku Kanneh-mason will perform three pieces with the orchestra.
Recent royal tradition has been for brides not to pledge to obey their husbands. Kate did not in 2011 and neither did Diana in 1981 when she married Charles. But the Queen and her sister Margaret did, as did the Countess of Wessex in 1999.
Harry and Meghan wanted Diana’s family to play a role so her sister, Lady Jane Fellowes, will deliver a reading from the Song of Solomon, which stresses the strength and power of love.
The service will be led by the Right Reverend David Conner, Dean of Windsor, and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will officiate as the couple say their vows.
They will also greet the Royal Family as they arrive at the Galilee Porch from 11.25am. Harry and best man William will arrive at 11.40am and greet charity guests outside before entering the chapel as the congregation stands.
The Queen is the last to arrive before the bride and will be taken to her seat in the Quire.
The chapel was closed to the public yesterday as last-minute preparations were made.
London florist Philippa Craddock and her team were decorating the chapel with white roses, foxgloves and Meghan’s favourite peonies, as well as branches of birch, beech and hornbeam.
Meanwhile, Windsor town centre was teaming with tourists and fans
This has been a collaborative effort led by Prince Harry and Ms
Markle
SPOKESMAN FOR COUPLE ON PLANNING OF THE SERVICE TV viewers of the royal wedding are expected to create a 1,500MW surge in electricity as the ceremony ends – as 500,000 kettles go on, according to the National Grid.
of the royals waving flags, many preparing to sleep out on the streets to get the best spots for the big day.
Barriers were in place along the procession route with crowds of up to 100,000 expected. Some 5,000 media workers from around the world will broadcast the celebrations to an estimated billion-strong audience.
And police were creating a “ring of steel” around Windsor Castle in one of Thames Valley’s biggest operations to date. Armed officers and sniffer dogs have been patrolling the area. Metal barriers have been put up in the Berkshire town to prevent potential attackers from using vehicles, as in the terrorist atrocities committed on London Bridge and Westminster Bridge in the capital.
Police have even asked people not to throw confetti, tweeting: “Please do not throw confetti or any other items at any time during the day, particularly during the procession. It poses a potential security risk and it’s a bit of a pain to clean up! We hope everyone enjoys the day.”
Chown
China has sold just six of 100 limited edition mugs featuring Harry and Meghan. Stewart Chown, owner of the firm near Hayle, Cornwall, said: “This is a lesser royal.”