Millions of people around the world watched as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle married at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. From the first kiss to the wedding cake, here's how the historic wedding took place.
Image: Reuters/H. McKay
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What some spectators had to say about the royal wedding
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Members of the British royal family and celebrities from around the world gathered at Windsor Castle near London on Saturday for the nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
The event was eagerly anticipated by fans of British royalty from around the world. Some spectators camped out for three days just to get a glimpse of the newlyweds as they passed by during a tour of the town.
With all eyes on the royal couple, here's how the wedding took place:
All times in Universal Coordinated Time (UTC).
1345: Queen Elizabeth II hosts the first of two receptions for the newlyweds.
1320: Kensington Palace offers a description of the wedding cake: "A filling made from Amalfi lemon curd and elderflower buttercream ties all the elements together. The cake is decorated with Swiss meringue buttercream and 150 fresh flowers, mainly British, and in season, including peonies and roses."
1303: Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, chose to wear the diamond bandeau made for Queen Mary more than 100 years ago.
1253: Kensington Palace tweets a photo of the couple's "first kiss."
1234: The royal couple re-enter the castle grounds.
1228: DW's David Martin shared video of a crowds singing as they waited for the royal couple to pass in the sunshine.
1225: The carriage is an 1883 Ascot Landau drawn by four gray horses from the Queen's stables.
1222: Harry was also given the titles of Earl of Dumbarton, Scotland and Baron Kilkeel, Northern Ireland, respectively.
"The Queen has today been pleased to confer a Dukedom on Prince Henry of Wales. His titles will be Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel," the palace said in a statement.
"Prince Harry thus becomes His Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex, and Ms. Meghan Markle on marriage will become Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex."
1206: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as they are now known, leave the church, kissing at the top of the chapel steps. They begin a tour through the town in a horse-drawn carriage. The tour will pass by people who have been camped out for up to three days in the hope of catching a glimpse of the royal couple.
1159: Kanneh-Mason plays "Ave Maria" by Franz Schubert. All pieces have been arranged for cello and orchestra by Chris Hazell.
1155: Kanneh-Mason plays "Après un rêve" by Gabriel Faure.
1153: CellistSheku Kanneh-Mason, who won the 2016 BBC Young Musician of the Year award, performs as soloist in the piece "Sicilienne" by Maria Theresia von Paradis.
1147: As the last hymn before the newlyweds leave, all sing "Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer" — the last hymn sung at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, Harry's mother.
1143: Archbishop of CanterburyJustin Welby calls for God's blessing on the couple.
1139: Archbishop of CanterburyJustin Welby declares Prince Harry and Meghan Markle man and wife.
1138: The couple exchange rings.
Image: Reuters/J. Brady
1137: The couple have exchanged vows of matrimony. They were heard by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.
1135: The Kingdom Choir performs the song "Stand by Me" by Ben E. King.
1117: Michael Bruce Curry, a US Episcopalian bishop, gives an impassioned wedding address. His words center on the power of love to transform human lives.
1115: Lady Jane Fellowes, the sister of late Princess Diana, delivers the reading.
Meghan Markle's dress was eagerly awaitedImage: Getty Images/AFP/B. Stansall
1106: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are at the altar, hand in hand, as the ceremony begins. Harry tells Meghan, "You look amazing." Meghan Markle was walked to the altar by Prince Charles, her soon-to-be father-in-law. She is wearing a long-sleeved, boat-necked dress made by British designer Clare Waight Keller.
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.
Image: Reuters/H. McKay
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1058: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, the wife of Prince William, arrives at the wedding with their two eldest children: Prince George, 4, and Princess Charlotte, 3. The children will be among the 10 young bridesmaids and page boys at the ceremony. The bride is dispensing with a maid of honor.
1057: British air traffic controllers say there will be 15 minutes during which no airliners will fly above the castle to allow the ceremony to take place in peace and quiet. Heathrow Airport, one of the world's busiest, is just 16 km (10 miles) from the wedding venue and directly under the flight path.
The royal family, including Harry's aunt, Princess Anne, are in attendanceImage: picture-alliance/dpa/PA Wire/G. Fuller
1054: Queen Elizabeth II, the grandmother of the groom, arrives at Windsor Castle. Her husband, Prince Philip, joined her at the castle.
1053: The father of the groom, Prince Charles, arrives at the wedding with his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
1047: Meghan Markle arrives at Windsor Castle.
1036: Prince Harry and his best man, who is his brother, Prince William, arrive at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. Both are dressed in military uniforms of the Blues and Royals regiment.
1020: Meghan Markle, the to-be wife of Prince Harry, leaves for her journey to Windsor in a vintage Rolls-Royce automobile belonging to the Queen, accompanied by her mother, Doria Ragland.
Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney and her actor husband are among the celebrity guestsImage: picture-alliance/empics/G. Fuller
1017: Members of the British royal family begin arriving at Windsor Castle for the wedding. Numerous celebrities, including George and Amal Clooney, Elton John and his husband David Furnish, Oprah Winfrey, Serena Williams, David and Victoria Beckham, and Idris Elba. Two of Harry's ex-girlfriends are also in attendance.
Super-Royals fan from Germany
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0713: Buckingham Palace announces that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are to become Duke and Duchess of Sussex upon their marriage.
