Over 100,000 people gathered in the English town of Windsor for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal wedding. Fans traveled from all four corners of the globe to be a part of the most uniquely British of celebrations.
Image: picture-alliance/empics/A. Matthews
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Windsor was awash in a sea of red, white and blue on Saturday for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal wedding. This time, however, it wasn’t just the British Union Jack that was flying proudly. A strong contingent of Americans had traveled to Windsor to represent the new duchess, washing the small British town in stars and stripes in the process.
This was, after all, an event with worldwide appeal, and a fittingly global crowd gathered in Windsor to be a part of it.
Fans began milling around the Long Walk, the road leading up to Windsor castle, from the moment the gates opened at 5 a.m. on Saturday morning, patiently waiting to catch a glimpse of the royal newlyweds.
Royal wedding at Windsor Castle
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'We're here to represent Meghan'
Rob and Allison traveled from Los Angeles to represent Meghan, their hometown girl. "We traveled all this way, so we had to arrive early and make sure we got a front row seat for the procession," said Allison. “We’ll probably embarrass ourselves when Harry and Meghan come past by screaming, ‘Meghan, we’re from Los Angeles!’
Her husband Rob had a different approach to attracting the duchess’ attention. "I’m wearing my LA Dodgers cap, so maybe she’ll notice us in the crowd," he said. "But I wouldn’t blame her if she ignores it. We’re having a rotten season."
Rob and Allison traveled from Los Angeles to represent their "hometown girl"Image: DW/D. Martin
Meghan’s US compatriots were truly out in force. CJ and Jimmy Lee, from Dallas, arrived dressed for the occasion, sporting morning suits and top hats.
"When we decided to go to the British royal wedding, we agreed to go all out," said Jimmy. "So we rented some morning suits and took a hot glue gun to stick feathers to our top hats. We couldn’t decide on fascinators or top hats, so we went both. It’s a new era for the royal family so maybe we’ll start a new trend."
CJ and Jimmy Lee arrived on the Long Walk dressed to impressImage: DW/D. Martin
Dawna, Michelle, Erika and Tremeki also made the nine-hour flight from Texas to attend the royal celebrations together. "We all have an affinity for Diana, Princess of Wales," said Dawna. "We all remember watching her wedding to Prince Charles when we were little girls. Since then, the fairy tale of the royal family has always enthralled us."
From left to right: Erika, Tremeki, Michelle and DawnaImage: DW/D. Martin
Royal fans from Germany
Not to easily outdone, Germany was also well represented in Windsor.
Germany’s most famous fan of the British monarchy, Evelyn Marie Seidel, the matriarch of the Lady Di Club Germany, arrived clad in navy blue and sporting a hat fit for a royal. Close by her side was the cardboard heart she’d put together especially for Prince Harry and Meghan’s big day. "I’ll be lifting it up proudly when the couple passes by," she said. "I did something similar when William visited Germany. He noticed it and said he liked my hat. Who knows this time?"
Evelyn Marie Seidel is well-known as Germany's biggest fan of the British royal familyImage: DW/D. Martin
Alexandra and Stefanie, both from Dusseldorf, also flew over especially for the event. "I remember watching the royal weddings with my mother when I was young, and this fascination has always stuck with me," said Alexandra. "And now seeing this all in person, it’s like witnessing something out of a fairy tale."
Stefanie added: “It’s also funny to see the English go a little bit wild, so you let yourself get carried away in it all.”
There were also plenty of royal fans in the crowd who had traveled from other half the world.
Tim from Cairns, Australia, traveled almost 24 hours to get to Windsor. It’s a long way to come but he was adamant it was totally worth it. "I love the royals because they really represent Britain's history," Tim said. "But Harry and Meghan are a new generation and part of a new history. I’m here to watch it happen."
Aussie Tim and his boxing kangarooImage: DW/D. Martin
Yan Shen's father, Jianhua, arrived a month ago from Shanghai to visit his daughter in the UK. He is set to travel back next week, so the timing of the wedding was perfect, she said. "What better way is there to experience English history and tradition?" she said. "This will definitely be the highlight of his trip."
Yan Shen's (center) was joined by her father Jianhua and best friend NicolaImage: DW/D. Martin
The crowd holds its breath ...
The crowds in the center of Windsor thickened as the ceremony approached.
There were no public screens in the center of town, so once the big moment arrived, fans all took to their phones to stream the ceremony – a gesture fit for this modern royal couple.
Then, for just a brief moment, the loud cheers and singing that had bellowed through Windsor all morning suddenly stopped. As Meghan and Harry exchanged their vows, a pregnant silence filled the small town.
But as soon as Meghan said the magic words, “I do,” the celebrations erupted again, louder than they had been all day.
Royal Wedding: Meghan and Harry tie the knot
The wedding of the year: Prince Harry and the US actor Meghan Markle celebrate their nuptials with 600 guests from around the world on May 19, 2018.
Image: Reuters/H. McKay
A royal wedding: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Great Britain's Prince Harry wed American actor Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018. The couple tied the knot in a formal ceremony at Windsor Castle outside of London that was broadcast around the world. Every detail of the wedding was carefully considered, including the bouquet the bride carried. It consisted of forget-me-nots which had been hand-plucked by Harry in honor of his mother, Princess Diana.
Image: Reuters/B. Birchall
The happy couple
Britain's Prince Harry announced his engagement to the US actor Meghan Markle in November. The wedding, announced for May 19, 2018, has been the focus of a media frenzy in the six months since its announcement. In addition to the royal family, 600 A-list guests from both sides of the Atlantic were expected at Windsor Castle for the ceremony.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/M. Dunham
St. George's Chapel
The couple exchanged vows inside St. George's Chapel in a ceremony that diverged slightly from traditional royal nuptials. Meghan Markle was briefly accompanied up the aisle by Harry's father, Prince Charles. The vows did not include the word "obey." And the song to which the newlyweds exited the church was a gospel choir singing a refrain of "Amen."
Image: picture-alliance/Photoshot
Inside Windsor Castle
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be the 16th royal couple to tie the knot inside Windsor Castle. The tradition began in 1863 with the wedding between the Prince of Wales and Princess Alexandra of Denmark. The second marriage of Harry's father, Prince Charles, to Camilla Parker Bowles, likewise took place in the castle, at Windsor Guildhall, and was followed by a service at St. George's Chapel.
Image: picture-alliance/empics/D. Lawson
Guests await the couple patiently
Guests were asked to arrive at the chapel more than an hour early. St. George's Chapel can hold up to 800 people, more than enough room to accommodate the couple's guest list, which included no heads of states or politicians in order to avoid controversy. After the ceremony, just 200 of the guests will be on hand at a reception at the nearby Frogmore House.
The bridegroom arrived at St. George's Chapel with his brother, Prince William. Both wore traditional military uniforms and made the short trek to the chapel on foot while waving to their adoring public. Harry made the unusual choice to retain a beard, something which may have gone against the dress code in the past.
Image: picture-alliance/empics/G. Fuller
Doria Ragland, mother of the bride
The only member of Meghan Markle's family to have attended the wedding was her mother, Doria Ragland. After overnighting with her only daughter, Doria accompanied Meghan on the drive to the church. The role was a first in a royal wedding, but Meghan sought to include her "rock and best friend" in her big day.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/G. Fuller
Princess Charlotte as flower girl
In lieu of bridesmaids, Meghan selected ten page boys and flower girls to accompany her down the aisle. Among those children who followed the bride were Prince William's eldest two children: Prince George and Princess Charlotte, who is seen above arriving at the ceremony.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/C. Jackson
Meghan arrives
Greeted at the chapel by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Meghan Markle wore a dress designed by Clare Waight Keller of Givenchy. Her veil stretched for five meters (16.4 feet) behind her and contained 53 hand-stitched flowers, representing the 53 nations of the Commonwealth. She was followed into the church by ten pageboys and flower girls, including Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
Image: picture-alliance/empics/A. Matthews
Accompanied by Prince Charles
After Meghan's father suffered a heart attack earlier in the week, the decision was made upon the bride's suggestion that the groom's father, Prince Charles, accompany her through the Quire to Harry's side. She had no bridesmaids or matron of honor, as she said that choosing one of her many friends for the role would have been too difficult.
Image: Getty Images/J. Brady
I will
The happy couple were all smiles when they met the reverend at the altar to exchange vows. The pair agreed to love, honor, comfort and remain faithful to each other, forsaking all others in the hour-long ceremony which included not only recitations from the Bible but also hymns and gospel songs as well as the UK National Anthem.
Image: Reuters/J. Brady
A platinum ring
Ring bearer for the ceremony was Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry's best man. The couple chose Cleave and Company to make their wedding rings. The Queen had gifted Meghan a piece of Welsh gold from which her ring was fashioned; Prince Harry's was a textured platinum band.
Image: Reuters
A fiery sermon
Ahead of the wedding, Markle was baptized into the Church of England. For the ceremony, a number of preachers from the Anglican church provided short sermons, including the Most Rev Bishop Michael Curry, primate of the Episcopal Church, whose congregation is based in Chicago. The reverend quoted Martin Luther King Jr. and told the couple, "There's power in love, don't underestimate it."
Image: Reuters
An official presentation
After the ceremony, the couple appeared before the public for the first time in a horse-drawn carriage. They were led through the streets by members of the Household Cavalry, guardians of the monarch, atop horses. Prince Harry was a part of the cavalry and was with some of the soldiers during his duties in Afghanistan.
