Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are all set to say their vows today. The couple are tying the knot at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle and the young prince and his US bride will marry at midday and at 1pm. They will travel through Windsor in a carriage to greet the thousands of people expected to turn out for the big day.
The pair have invited 2,640 members of the public to their wedding, including 1,200 people who have demonstrated strong leadership in their communities.
Here are the live updates:
5.11pm: 'I therefore proclaim that they are husband and wife'. The Archbishop joins their right hands together and says: "Those whom God has joined together let no-one put asunder." The couple are now officially married!
5.09: The couple is exchanging rings. Prince Harry places wedding ring on Meghan's fourth finger of left hand. Markle now does the same before the Archbishop of Canterbury addresses the congregation.
5.08pm: The couple is exchanging vows. Archbishop of Canterbury is leading vows.
5.03pm: Ben E. King and choir sing Stand By Me at the royal wedding.
5.02pm: Rev Michael Curry concludes his emotive address.
4.58pm: Curry says redemptive love changes lives he says. “When love is the way we actually treat each other like we are actually family," he goes on to add.
4.52pm: Most Rev Michael Curry, the first black presiding bishop of the Episcopal church in the US commences reading a sermon.
4.49pm: Doria Ragland is seen becoming emotional as she watches her daughter become a duchess
4.46pm: Lady Jane Fellows, Princess Diana's elder sister, gives the first reading from the Song of Solomon
4.44pm: The vows are read and harry says “I will” says Harry, prompting laughter. laughter. Markle reciprocates. The Archbishop of Canterbury has now taken over as the vows begin. Prince Harry tells the Archbishop of Canterbury he would take Meghan Markle to be his wife
4.42pm: The first hymn being played in the wedding is Lord of all Hopefulness. Harry can be seen singing along.
4.41pm: Couple hold hands and exchange smiles once more as the Rt Rev David Conner, the dean of Windsor conducts the service.
4.38pm: Markle is wearing Queen Mary’s diamond bandeau tiara.
4.36pm: Markle walks up aisle and exchanges smiles and a few words with Harry. Both looked relaxed, happy.
4.34: Prince Charles is walking Meghan down the aisle. Prince Harry looks nervous.
4.31pm: Meghan Markle arrives at St George's Chapel. The bride to be is wearing a traditional dress.The dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for French fashion house Givenchy.
Kensington Palace issues statement, "Ms. Meghan Markle’s wedding dress has been designed by the acclaimed British designer, Clare Waight Keller. Ms. Waight Keller last year became the first female Artistic Director at the historic French fashion house Givenchy."
4.30pm: The bridesmaids, including one who is just two-years-old, and flower girls have arrived. Markle’s car is approaching.
4.25pm: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip arrive at St George's Chapel for Harry's wedding. The Queen is donning a flared silk dress in lime, lemon, purple and grey by designer Stuart Parvin and a matching Angela Kelly hat.
4.23pm: Prince Harry looks a bit nervous awaiting his bride. Meanwhile, the mother of bride is in the chapel as are Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.
4.20pm: Crowds go wild as wedding draws closer. The bride’s car has just passed crowds of cheering people lining the streets of Windsor.
4.16pm: Princesses Eugenie and Princess Beatric arrived at venue.
4.13pm: Meghan Markle is enroute to St George's Chapel.
4.10pm: Prince Harry and Prince William head down the aisle. Both are wearing the frockcoat uniform of the Blues and Royals after the Queen gave Harry permission to get married in his uniform. Both uniforms have been tailored at Dege & Skinner on Savile Row.
4.06pm: Prince Harry and Prince William arrive at St George's Chapel
4.04pm: The orchestra are playing Greensleeves written by Harry’s ancestor Henry VIII.
4.03pm: Guests already in place for the wedding.
3.59pm: Meghan Markle on her way to St George's Chapel. She is wearing a veil, the dress has a high neckline and her shoulders are covered. They are travelling in a Rolls-Royce limousine, loaned for the day by the Queen.
3.50pm: Meghan Markle and her mother leave Cliveden House Hotel for St George's Chapel.
3.50pm: Princess Anne arrives at royal wedding
3.40pm: Rockstar Marcus Mumfockstar Marcus Mumford rocked up with his wife Carey Mulliganord rocked up with his wife Carey Mulligan
3.35pm: Prince William and Prince Harry to arrive in half hour
3.32pm: Once left out, Fergie arrives for the wedding.
3.31pm: Priyanka Chopra can be seen talking to Serena Williams, George Clooney.
3.28pm: Serena Williams and her hubby Alexis Ohanian arrive looking wonderful.
3.26pm: The cast of Suits arrive for the royal wedding. Suits actor Gabriel Macht looked quite spectacular.
3.20pm: Priyanka Chopra arrives at the venue
3.16pm: Sir Elton John arrive for royal wedding
3.11pm: The Band of The Irish Guards starts providing music for the crowds as the guests turn up in fineries.
3.08pm: Actor Tom Hardy arrives along with Prince Harry's ex Chelsy Davy.
2.56pm: The Earl of Spencer, Prince Harry’s uncle has arrived. George and Amala Clooney arrive to the wedding.
2.55pm: The Duchess of Cambridge's family, including her parents Michael and Carole, brother James and sister Pippa, have arrived for the royal wedding.
2.54pm: Prince Charles’ stepson Tom Parker Bowles has arrived for the service.
2.49pm: Historian Dan Snow attends with Lady Edwina Grosvenor.
2.35pm: Details of the wedding rings have just been announced. They have been made by Cleave and Company. Meghan’s wedding ring has been fashioned by a ring made of Welsh gold and Harry will wear a platinum one.
2.31pm: Diana’s former butler has arrived at the wedding, opting for a lounge suit rather than full top hat and tails for the occasion.
1.15pm: Guests including Oprah Winfrey, actor Idris Elba and Earl Spencer, the brother of Princess Diana, have arrived at St George’s Chapel for the wedding.
1.14pm: Theresa May sends her 'best wishes' to couple. The official 10 Downing Street Twitter account posted a message to the couple from Theresa May, saying, "My very best wishes to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their wedding day. To all of those joining the national celebration with street parties and other events, have a wonderful day. "
1.11pm: The newly styled Duke of Sussex is on his way to church from his the hotel where he spent his last night as a bachelor.
Here's are a few pointers:
- There will be goody bags that have been readied for the 2000 guests invited to Windsor Castle
- Meghan Markle will become the Duchess of Sussex when she ties the knot today.
- Prince Harry has already been made the Duke of Sussex on his wedding day by his grandmother the Queen, Buckingham Palace has announced.
- Harry was also given Scottish and Northern Irish titles, becoming the Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel.
- Tennis champ Serena Williams is also there at the wedding to see Meghan marry into the Royal Family. The athlete has already taken to Instagram, saying she will be sharing her preparation for the big day on social media.
- Meghan Markle’s Suits co-star Patrick Adams will be among the guests at the Royal Wedding today.
- Royal fans have been camping in Windsor overnight to make sure they get the best chance of waving to the US actress and her prince.
- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to have Ben E King’s Stand by Me at wedding.
- Their order of service apparently has a modern twist on the traditional vows.
- Meghan will not promise to 'obey' Prince Harry, in a contemporary version of the vows using modern language such as 'you' rather than 'thee'.
- The Duchess of Cambridge did not promise to 'obey' Prince William in 2011, and neither did Harry's mother the Princess of Wales in 1981 when she married the Prince of Wales.
- In a nod to the transatlantic nature of the marriage, the Most Reverend Michael Curry, head of the Episcopal Church in the United States, will give the sermon.
- The Prince of Wales is stepping in for the father of the bride, as he prepares to walk Markle down the aisle.
- After arriving with her mother, Doria Ragland, Meghan will walk up the Nave of St George's Chapel - the first part of the church - on her own in front of a global television audience of millions.
- She will be followed by her six bridesmaids and four pageboys including Prince George and Princess Charlotte. She will then be accompanied by Charles through the Quire, which begins in the middle of the chapel.
- The ceremony will omit the traditional moment of "giving away".
- Meghan Markle’s dress for Royal Wedding ‘designed by Stella McCartney’
- George and Amal Clooney have reportedly landed a coveted invite to Prince Harry, 33, and Meghan Markle's Royal Wedding as well.
- MP’s for Sussex have reacted well to the news they are getting a Duke and Duchess.
- Nicholas Soames, MP for Mid Sussex, wrote on Twitter: “Great news Prince Harry created Duke of Sussex Mid Sussex will be delighted to welcome them on their first visit.”
