The Scotsman

Souvenirs on sale already as Harry and Meghan begin married life

● Guests dine on posh burgers, candy floss and cocktails ● Newly-married couple leave Windsor after eventful night

- By ANGUS HOWARTH

Limited edition mugs with which to toast the happy couple were among the first souvenirs to hit the shops following Saturday’s Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Prince Harry has thanked his wife’s wedding dress designer for transformi­ng Meghan Markle into an “absolutely stunning” bride as details of the all-night royal partying emerged.

The touching revelation came as reports revealed guests celebrated the couple tying the knot by downing themed cocktails, eating upmarket fast food, watching a spectacula­r fireworks display and dancing to a celebrity DJ.

But the fun did not stop when Frogmore House – the famous royal home loved by Queen Victoria – closed its doors as some guests are said to have staged an after party at top London hot spot Chiltern Firehouse.

Following the exploits of Saturday night, Harry and Meghan left Windsor Castle yesterday afternoon after being hosted by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh for their wedding weekend.

British designer Clare Waight Keller, who was spotted arranging the Duchess of Sussex’s veil and train just before she processed into St George’s Chapel, said soon after the ceremony Harry had rushed up to praise her efforts. She said: “He came straight up to me and he said ‘oh my God, thank you, she looks absolutely stunning’.”

The bridal gown was simple in a classic white, but the elaborate veil was embroidere­d with flowers from each of the 53 Commonweal­th nations.

Those working on it spent hundreds of hours meticulous­ly sewing and washing their hands every 30 minutes to keep the tulle and threads pristine.

The identity of Meghan’s dress designer was top secret and remained under wraps until Saturday morning. Not even the designer’s husband and children knew.

Ms Waight Keller appeared on the steps of St George’s Chapel when Meghan arrived to ensure her veil and train looked pristine and helped to arrange it before the couple made their exit as husband and wife – a role often performed by the maid of honour. There was no maid of honour as Meghan had not wanted to choose just one person out of her close group of friends.

The Prince of Wales later staged the black-tie evening dinner for his son Harry and new daughter-in-law, who arrived in a environmen­tally-friendly 1968 Jaguar E-type Concept Zero that ran on electric power.

Candy floss was on offer for those with a sweet tooth and there was reportedly a cocktail on offer named When Harry Met Meghan – a reference to the romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally.

LET us offer our heartiest congratula­tions to the new Earl and Countess of Dumbarton, perhaps still better known as Harry and Meghan.

Even the most enthusiast­ic republican could not have observed the spectacle of the royal wedding on Saturday without seeing something of which to approve.

A multi-cultural, multi-racial celebratio­n of love, the ceremony lifted the national spirit for a few hours and it showed that the younger generation of royals are quite a different propositio­n to their elders. Harry and Meghan – and William and Kate – may well go down in history as the quartet that saved “The Firm”. And anyone who underestim­ates the importance of a mixed-race person being welcomed into the royal family simply hasn’t paid close enough attention to the experience­s of too many black and minority ethnic Brits.

Some locals can already envisage a Harry and Meghan dividend should they choose to visit the Clydeside town. They’re a modest folk in Dumbarton, so they’re not hoping for too much. One local summed up the dream: “Maybe now the council will cut the grass.”

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