London — Britain's Prince Harry and
fiancée Meghan Markle will marry on Saturday in a ceremony that
brings together royalty and Hollywood glamour.
Queen Elizabeth's grandson Harry and Markle, who starred in
the TV drama "Suits", will tie the knot at St George's Chapel at
Windsor castle, the oldest and largest inhabited fortress in the
world.
Here are brief details about the wedding: (all times are approximate and in GMT)
FRIDAY EVENING
- Markle and her mother Doria Ragland will travel to
Cliveden House Hotel near Windsor where they will spend the
night before the wedding.
Harry and his elder brother and best man, Prince William,
will stay at the Coworth Park hotel.
SATURDAY
8am
The 1 200 members of the public invited to the grounds of
the castle for the wedding will begin to arrive.
8.30am — 10am
The 600 guests for the ceremony will arrive by coach at the
castle's Round Tower. They will walk to the chapel and enter via
the South Door.
10.20am
Members of the royal family will begin to arrive and will
enter the chapel via the Galilee Porch. Some will be on foot and
some will arrive by car.
At about this time, Markle and her mother will leave their
hotel by car, travelling along the Long Walk promenade that runs
up to the castle to allow spectators catch a glimpse of the
bride on the way to the ceremony.
10.30am
Harry and William will arrive at the chapel, most likely on
foot, and will enter by the chapel's West Steps, having greeted
some of the public and charity representatives invited to be in
the grounds. Queen Elizabeth will be the last of the royals to
arrive.
The car carrying Markle and her mother will stop at the
chapel where Ragland will head inside. Markle is due to be
joined by her father at this point, although his presence is now
in doubt, along with some of the bridesmaids and page boys.
She will continue to the West Steps where she will
enter the chapel.
11am
The service begins. David Conner, the Dean of Windsor, will
conduct the service and Justin Welby, the Archbishop of
Canterbury and spiritual leader of the world’s Anglicans, will
officiate for the exchanging of vows.
Michael Curry, the Presiding Bishop and Primate of The
Episcopal Church, will give the address.
12pm
The service ends. The newlyweds will process out of the
chapel and then acknowledge the 200 specially invited charity
representatives gathered in the Cloister outside.
Family members will gather on the West Steps while other
members of the congregation will file out to wave off the couple
as they begin a procession in an Ascot Landau carriage. The
procession which will take the couple through Windsor before
returning to the castle up the Long Walk is due to last about 25
minutes.
12.25pm
Guests at the chapel will walk to the reception at St
George's Hall, a huge, grand banqueting room in the State
Apartments. The couple will join them having completed the
carriage procession
6pm
The bride and groom will leave the castle to attend an
evening reception at nearby Frogmore House which will be
attended by 200 guests.