A gospel choir, Harry's phrase to Meghan: "You look incredible, I'm very lucky", a sermon inspired by Martin Luther King, several nods to Lady Di, feminist gestures and a mix of characters that only congregate when British royalty and Hollywood come together in marriage. For all this, the event promises to be the wedding of the year.
Prince Harry, sixth in the line of succession to the British crown, married the American actress Meghan Markle after 12:30 (8:30 in Argentina) in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, in whose surroundings there were dozens of thousands of people who followed the ceremony through giant screens.
Meghan arrived at the altar hand in hand with Prince Charles, due to the absence of her father, Thomas Markle, for health reasons. The only one present from Meghan's family was her mother, Doria Ragland.
The first thing that caught the attention of the now Duke and Duchess of Sussex was the face of the youngest of Diana's children, who showed a big smile when he saw Meghan enter the church, but not only that, but when he had her by his side , told him: "You look incredible, I'm very lucky."
The Reverend David Conner, dean of Windsor, officiated at the wedding, although beforehand the African-American bishop Michael Bruce Curry, of the Episcopal Church in the United States, gave a fiery speech, who spoke of the couple and "the power of love."
It was an unconventional speech for a royal wedding. He not only spoke of love, but of understanding between human beings. And he remembered Martin Luther King, faithful defender of Human and Civil Rights.
After Curry's words, the gospel choir The Kingdom Choir performed a version of the classic Stand by me, which was first sung in 1961 by the American Benjamin E. King.
The couple said "I do" in front of the altar, exchanged rings and Conner proclaimed them husband and wife. "What God has joined together, no one can separate," the reverend concluded before about 600 guests.
A data? Following the tradition that Diana of Wales began, which Kate Middleton continued, Meghan did not swear obedience to Prince Harry. In addition, this one will have an alliance. After the ceremony, the couple participated in a carriage procession and greeted attendees in the small town of Windsor, located 34 kilometers from London.
At the end of the half-hour walk, the private part of the wedding began, with a lunch hosted by Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle and an evening party at Frogmore mansion, courtesy of the groom's father, Prince Charles. Welsh.
There were several rumors about who would be the designer of Meghan's dress. She considered names like Erdem, Roland Mouret, Burberry or Ralph & Russo, and finally chose a design by Givenchy, whose artistic director is the Englishwoman Clare Waight Keller.
Made of white silk cadi, the most striking thing about the dress was its simplicity. The bateau neckline slightly exposed the shoulders and from there the lines extended to the back, which drew soft folds thanks to the silk organza petticoat.
The veil was very reminiscent of Diana of Wales. Five meters long and made of silk tulle, it had floral embroidery. Markle made a reference to the 53 countries that make up the Commonwealth.
To do this, she researched with designer Waight Keller the flora of these territories to be able to choose one flower per country and create a sort of botanical guide that has been hand-embroidered on the delicate tulle.
To those 53 flowers, Meghan Markle added two more: the macassar flower, which grows on the grounds of Kensington Palace in front of Nottingham Cottage, and the Californian poppy, the flower of the State where she was born. On the front of the veil, two ears of wheat symbolize charity and love.
The tiara? Markle decided to go back 125 years in the British monarchy and chose Queen Mary of Teck's filigree tiara, a piece that had not been worn publicly since Elizabeth II's grandmother died in 1953.
Upon leaving Windsor Castle, Markle underwent a wardrobe change. She wore a white Stella McCartney design made of silk crepe and with a little train. The design stood out for its halter neckline that left the back exposed.
