‘DO WE KISS NOW?’
HOW HARRY AND MEGHAN BROKE WITH TRADITION... AND CHARMED THE WORLD
NEWLYWEDS Harry and Meghan were celebrating beginning their married life together after sharing a tender kiss in a historic, romantic wedding ceremony.
The royal bride and groom, the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex, married in the gothic surrounds of the 15thcentury St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle yesterday.
Watched by royals, celebrities and a worldwide audience of millions, Harry gazed into the eyes of the American former actress as he said his vows.
Meghan, the first mixed-race person in modern history to marry a senior British royal, is now an HRH and one of the Windsors.
This royal wedding was one with a difference, combining British traditions with diversity and modernity, as Harry and Meghan incorporated the bride’s cultural heritage.
Sounds of a gospel choir filled the stunning venue, with US preacher Bishop Michael Curry delivering an impassioned, rousing address on the power of love.
The bishop said afterwards it had been a “real joyful thing” to bring diversity to the high-profile service.
An emotional Harry, son of the Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, told Meghan as they met at the altar: “You look amaz- ing. I missed you.”
Surrounded by hundreds of cream and white roses and peonies entwined with green foliage around the West Door, the couple emerged from the chapel as husband and wife and stopped and kissed – to the delight of cheering onlookers.
As they paused on the steps, a smiling Meghan looked up at her new husband and asked: “Do we kiss?”
Harry replied with a discreet: “Yeah.”
The bride wore a stunning, elegant, simple, pure white gown bv Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, with three-quarter length sleeves and open bateau neckline.
Her five-metre long delicate silk tulle veil, embroidered along the edge with flowers from all 53 Commonwealth nations, was carried at the end by two pageboys as she made her way up the aisle, over the black and white chequered stone floor of the church.
Meghan later changed into a second dress – a glamorous, sleek, lily white halter neck silk crepe gown by Stella McCartney, for a private black tie evening do at Frogmore House. Harry drove his new bride from the castle to the reception, hosted by the Prince of Wales, in a silver-blue, open top classic Jaguar E-Type.
In a nod to the date of their nuptials, the car number plate was “E190518”.
Some 600 guests, including the Queen and more than 30 royals, joined the couple in the chapel, along with celebrities such as US chat show queen Oprah Winfrey, tennis champion Serena Williams, actor George Clooney and his barrister wife Amal Clooney, Sir Elton John, David and Victoria Beckham and actor Idris Elba.
Sir Elton, who sang at the funeral service for Harry’s mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, performed at a lunchtime reception afterwards.
An estimated 100,000 people turned out to see the couple as they sat in an open-top Ascot Landau for a carriage procession through Windsor.
Meghan exclaimed “wow” at their rapturous welcome and the pair shared a second kiss during the ride.
Meghan’s hair was styled in an up do for the service and she wore the glittering Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau tiara, her “something borrowed”, loaned by the Queen.
Missing from the day was Meghan’s father Thomas Markle, who was in Mexico after pulling out just days ago due to ill health. He told celebrity website TMZ: “My baby looks beautiful and she looks very happy.”
Celebrities rub shoulders with royalty:
IT was the sort of day where Hollywood royalty rubbed shoulders with real-life royalty. George Clooney and Meghan’s Suits co-stars brought a huge dose of showbiz glamour to Meghan and Harry’s sun-soaked wedding day.
Victoria and David Beckham and Sir Elton John were also big names on the guest list. Other celebrity guests included chat show queen Oprah Winfrey, actor Idris Elba, tennis champion Serena Williams, actress Carey Mulligan, chart-topper James Blunt and Gavin and Stacey star James Corden.
Barrister Amal Clooney glowed in a bright yellow dress and matching hat.
She walked arm-in-arm with her Hollywood star husband, heart-throb George Clooney.
Spice Girl-turned-fashion designer Victoria Beckham arrived with her husband David.
She wore a dark blue outfit and coral heels and did not flash quite the same megawatt smile as Amal.
Meghan’s on-screen husband Patrick J Adams was among the stars of the drama Suits to arrive.
His character Mike Ross wed Meghan’s alter-ego Rachel in the drama Suits.
The actor, who joked that he thought his co-star was popping out to “get some milk” when her engagement was first announced, was at Windsor to watch his screenwife marry for real.
He arrived with his wife, actress Troian Bellisario, for the ceremony.
Other Suits stars included Sarah Rafferty, who wore a black dress with dramatic sleeves, Gina Torres, Abigail Spencer and Gabriel Macht.
Tennis champion Williams arrived with her husband Alexis Ohanian, cofounder of Reddit.
Actress Priyanka Chopra and actor Tom Hardy were also there.
Sir Elton, wearing pink glasses, was pictured inside St George’s Chapel.
Hollywood star Elba, accompanied by his fiancée Sabrina Dhowre, beamed as he made his way into the ceremony, under bright sunshine.
Singer Blunt and wife Sofia Wellesley were also among the earliest guests for the big day.
US media magnate and talk show host Winfrey, who wore a pink dress and widebrimmed hat, walked in just behind Elba.
And actress Mulligan and husband, Mumford & Sons star Marcus Mumford, were also there, as well as singer Joss Stone.
Earlier on Saturday morning, Williams hinted that she would be a guest at the royal nuptials – posting a picture of herself in a towel “getting ready for my friend’s wedding”.
Guests who could also help the couple celebrate later include Ed Sheeran and Ellie Goulding, model Cara Delevingne and former Made In Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh.
Diversity shines through: