Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle yesterday became husband and wife in a star-studded Windsor Castle ceremony filled with traditional pomp and modern twists — and watched the world over.
The new Duke and Duchess of Sussex exchanged vows at the altar in St George’s Chapel in an emotional event that brought the US TV star into the heart of the British monarchy.
As about 100,000 people packed the sun-baked Windsor streets outside, Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family were joined by stars including Oprah Winfrey, Elton John, George Clooney and David Beckham.
Photo: Pool photo via AP
The couple held hands throughout and exchanged their vows in a traditional Church of England wedding featuring unusual turns.
US pastor Michael Curry delivered an impassioned address and a gospel choir sang Stand By Me.
With the words “I will,” 33-year-old Harry and 36-year-old Meghan declared they would love, comfort, honor and protect each other.
Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, looked visibly moved.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the Church of England’s spiritual leader, declared them legally wed, saying: “They have declared their marriage by the joining of hands and by the giving and receiving of rings.”
“I therefore proclaim that they are husband and wife,” he added.
With her father recovering from a heart operation in Mexico, Markle walked down the aisle on her own, before being accompanied to the altar by Harry’s father, Prince Charles.
Her flowing white dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller at French fashion house Givenchy. Made from a double bonded silk cady, it contained floral designs from all 53 Commonwealth countries.
The couple are to spend much of their time working with young people in the Commonwealth.
Her bouquet included flowers hand-picked by Harry from the gardens of Kensington Palace.
Waiting at the altar, Harry was wearing the blue doeskin frock coat uniform of a major in the Blues and Royals, the regiment he served with in Afghanistan during his 10 years in the British army.
His brother and best man, Prince William, wore a matching uniform, emphasizing the brothers’ close bond.
Harry looked at Meghan and smiled as they heard how marriage is “the foundation of family life in which children are born.”
The couple held hands and giggled at the altar, and smiled as they heard Curry’s firebrand address.
Stars in the pews included Serena Williams, Idris Elba, James Blunt, Tom Hardy and James Corden.
Up to 100,000 people, many decked out in patriotic paraphernalia, packed the streets of Windsor to get a glimpse of the newlyweds on their open-top carriage tour through the town afterward.
Revelers also packed into bars to watch the wedding as far afield as Sydney and Hong Kong.
Markle’s ring is made of Welsh gold, as is traditional for royal weddings, while Harry’s is made of platinum.
Before the wedding, Queen Elizabeth conferred the title Duke of Sussex on her grandson Harry, meaning Markle is to be known as the Duchess of Sussex.
NO HUMAN ERROR: After the incident, the Coast Guard Administration said it would obtain uncrewed aerial vehicles and vessels to boost its detection capacity Authorities would improve border control to prevent unlawful entry into Taiwan’s waters and safeguard national security, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday after a Chinese man reached the nation’s coast on an inflatable boat, saying he “defected to freedom.” The man was found on a rubber boat when he was about to set foot on Taiwan at the estuary of Houkeng River (後坑溪) near Taiping Borough (太平) in New Taipei City’s Linkou District (林口), authorities said. The Coast Guard Administration’s (CGA) northern branch said it received a report at 6:30am yesterday morning from the New Taipei City Fire Department about a
IN BEIJING’S FAVOR: A China Coast Guard spokesperson said that the Chinese maritime police would continue to carry out law enforcement activities in waters it claims The Philippines withdrew its coast guard vessel from a South China Sea shoal that has recently been at the center of tensions with Beijing. BRP Teresa Magbanua “was compelled to return to port” from Sabina Shoal (Xianbin Shoal, 仙濱暗沙) due to bad weather, depleted supplies and the need to evacuate personnel requiring medical care, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Jay Tarriela said yesterday in a post on X. The Philippine vessel “will be in tiptop shape to resume her mission” after it has been resupplied and repaired, Philippine Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who heads the nation’s maritime council, said
REGIONAL STABILITY: Taipei thanked the Biden administration for authorizing its 16th sale of military goods and services to uphold Taiwan’s defense and safety The US Department of State has approved the sale of US$228 million of military goods and services to Taiwan, the US Department of Defense said on Monday. The state department “made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale” to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US for “return, repair and reshipment of spare parts and related equipment,” the defense department’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a news release. Taiwan had requested the purchase of items and services which include the “return, repair and reshipment of classified and unclassified spare parts for aircraft and related equipment; US Government
More than 500 people on Saturday marched in New York in support of Taiwan’s entry to the UN, significantly more people than previous years. The march, coinciding with the ongoing 79th session of the UN General Assembly, comes close on the heels of growing international discourse regarding the meaning of UN Resolution 2758. Resolution 2758, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1971, recognizes the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the “only lawful representative of China.” It resulted in the Republic of China (ROC) losing its seat at the UN to the PRC. Taiwan has since been excluded from