WINDSOR: Britain's Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle were pronounced husband and wife on Saturday by the Archbishop of Canterbury in a glittering union that brought a measure of modern Hollywood glamour into the 1,000-year-old monarchy.
The star of the TV drama "Suits" walked unescorted in a pure white, long-sleeved dress to the middle of the 15th-century St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, where the heir to the throne, Prince Charles, accompanied her towards his son, waiting at the altar.
As they stood at the altar, Harry said to Meghan: "You look amazing."
After exchanging vows to love and to cherish "till death us do part", Harry, 33, sixth-in-line to the British throne, placed a ring of Welsh gold on Markle's finger before a congregation including Queen Elizabeth, senior royals, and celebrities including U.S. media mogul Oprah Winfrey.
"In the presence of God, and before this congregation, Harry and Meghan have given their consent and made their marriage vows to each other," Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby intoned.
"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."
Britain's Prince Harry arrived for his wedding wearing the frock-coat uniform of the Blues and Royals, Kensington Palace said.
The 33-year-old grandson of Queen Elizabeth waved to well-wishers as he arrived at St George's Chapel in Windsor in the dark blue uniform with his brother and best man, Prince William, who was dressed the same.
"Her Majesty The Queen gave her permission for Prince Harry to get married in his uniform," according to a statement tweeted by Kensington Palace.
"Both uniforms were tailored at Dege & Skinner on Savile Row."
Well-wishers camped overnight to secure the best spots to watch the newlyweds, who will marry in Windsor Castle before taking a carriage ride around the picturesque town.
Hollywood actor George Clooney and his wife Amal, British singer Elton John, footballer David Beckham and his fashion designer wife Victoria Beckham were among the guests, along with US chat show host Oprah Winfrey and tennis champion Serena Williams.
Harry’s ex-girlfriends Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas were also in attendance, along with singer James Blunt, an army veteran like Harry and author of the hit song “You’re Beautiful.”
Many in the crowds offered particular good wishes to Markle after her father pulled out of the ceremony at the last minute due to health problems and a scandal over staged paparazzi pictures.
“After the week she’s had, she needs some support,” said Karen Wallace, 53, from Chicago.
The service in St. George’s Chapel at noon (1100 GMT) will mix traditional Church of England ceremony with gospel music, with a choir singing “Stand By Me,” while a US pastor will deliver the main address.
The 36-year-old bride is to start her walk down the aisle on her own, interpreted by some commentators as a sign of her feminist credentials.
Markle’s ring has been made with Welsh gold, as is traditional for royal weddings, while Harry’s will be made of platinum.
Queen Elizabeth II will attend and before the wedding conferred the title Duke of Sussex on her grandson Prince Harry, meaning Markle will be known as the Duchess of Sussex.
Windsor was decked out with flags and bunting, and there was a carnival area on the Long Walk, the sweeping tree-lined avenue down which the royal couple will drive.
Thousands of well-wishers arrived at dawn, bearing rugs and picnics, Union Jack flags and royalist paraphernalia, and the prosecco was flowing freely well before the first guests arrived.
“We planned to stay in a hotel but we got caught up in all the excitement and we stayed here last night, unprepared,” said Karen Long, from Texas.
She said the fact that Markle was mixed-race was a huge moment, saying: “We all wanted to be a princess, we thought we couldn’t and there she is, breaking all the barriers!“
Besides starring in the US legal drama “Suits,” Markle was also a United Nations advocate for women’s empowerment.
Her father Thomas Markle, recovering from a heart operation in Mexico, still appears in the printed order of service, but his role will now be taken by Harry’s father Prince Charles.
The Emmy Award-winning former television lighting director was caught in a fiasco, posing for staged photographs after complaining of media harassment, then performing several U-turns over whether he would attend.
