& Meghan and her long lace veil swept down the aisle, brushing away the cobwebs from the dusty old House of Windsor BY RACHAEL BLETCHLY
NEW DUCHESS
The couple at the altar groom looked overwhelmed with emotion as he sat with his brother William beside the altar.
And when the bride’s mother, Doria Ragland, 61, arrived to take her seat in the Quire, his thoughts must have turned to his own beloved mum.
Megan, 36, is the same age as Diana was when she died in that Paris car Mother Doria crash 21 years ago. Harry says the two women would have been “thick as thieves” and was determined to remember her on their special day.
SENSUAL
Meghan was wearing the engagement ring Harry designed for her, featuring one of Diana’s diamonds “to Meghan and Harry with Archbishop Welby make sure that she is with us on this crazy journey together”.
Meghan’s bouquet also featured Diana’s favourite forget-me-nots and flowers Harry picked from the Kensington Palace garden where he spent happy hours playing with his mother.
They chose her favourite hymn Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer, Kingdom choir belt out Stand By Me played at her wedding and funeral. Diana’s sister Lady Jane Fellowes read a passage from the Bible’s most sensual book, the Song of Solomon.
Harry reportedly wanted his uncle Earl Spencer to walk Meghan to the altar after her father Thomas pulled out following a heart attack.
But Prince Charles eventually did the honours.
Mum Doria was the only one of Meghan’s family there and she cut a lonely figure as she sat alone, weeping throughout the service.
But the yoga teacher and social worker looked stunning in a pale peppermint outfit, sporting her trademark nose-stud.
As Episcopalian Bishop Dr Curry made his fiery, animated speech about the power of love, Doria smiled and nodded in approval, glancing across at Harry and Meghan.
They seemed enchanted too,