ALL EYES ON HARRY AND MEGHAN
Prince Harry greeted well-wishers outside Windsor Castle on the eve of his wedding to Meghan Markle who said she was feeling “wonderful”.
Harry and Meghan planned to spend their last night as an unmarried couple in separate luxury hotels, only meeting again at the altar today.
Joined by his brother and best man, the Duke of Cambridge, Harry looked relaxed during the 10-minute walkabout.
Wearing an open-necked white shirt and light jacket, he waved to the crowds and chatted to his brother before making a beeline to talk to a young girl waiting among the crowds outside.
And the bride-to-be said she was feeling “wonderful” as she arrived with her mother Doria Ragland at the luxury Cliveden House Hotel after meeting the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh for afternoon tea. The bride and groom-to-be were also present. Meghan, with an arm briefly around her mother, smiled broadly and looked at ease as they were greeted by the hotel general manager.
The surprise walkabout by the brothers echoed the eve of William’s own wedding in 2011 when the pair greeted royal fans with an impromptu public appearance on The Mall in central London.
Harry shook hands with dozens of well-wishers who shouted “good luck” to the groom.
When asked how he was feeling, Harry replied: “Great.”
The prince appeared to have a neatly-trimmed beard in preparation for his big day.
Fans, many decked out in the national colours of both Britain and the United States, are camped outside the castle and have been singing loudly in readiness for the festivities.
Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan Markle are bringing their own modern touch to their royal marriage ceremony, fusing the traditional and the contemporary.
The couple’s Order of Service reveals the soul classic Stand By Me by Ben E King will echo around the 15th century St George’s chapel, performed by Karen Gibson and The Kingdom Choir.
Harry will also wear a ring, Meghan will not promise to obey her husband and the wording of the service is more contemporary than traditional.
Although the ceremony in the gothic surrounds of Windsor Castle’s chapel is deeply religious, the service will use the words from the more up to date Marriage Service from Common Worship (2000), which features modern language, such as ‘you’ rather than ‘thee’ or ‘thou’.
The prince and his American former actress bride will pledge themselves to one another “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part”.
In The Declarations part of the service, they will also promise to love, comfort, honour, and protect one another and be faithful to one another for the rest of their lives.
The 600-strong congregation, which will include the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, will be asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury: “Will you, the families and friends of Harry and Meghan, support and uphold them in their marriage now and in the years to come?” The guests will answer: “We will”. Kensington Palace said the couple had thought carefully about the music and hymns and other parts of the ceremony, and also turned to Charles for help.
In keeping with royal wedding tradition, the National Anthem will be played at the end.
It was also announced yesterday that the Prince of Wales is to step in for the father of the bride and walk Meghan down the aisle.
A large security operation saw police manning the barricades outside the castle, snipers on the roofs of high street buildings and sniffer dogs carrying out checks before today’s ceremony.