The Royal wedding: What you need to know

Prince Harry poses with Meghan Markle in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace in London. Photo...
Prince Harry poses with Meghan Markle in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace in London. Photo Reuters

It's been a tumultuous - some may even say scandalous - 72 hours in the lead up to the royal event of the year. But amid the drama spurred by the Markle family, preparation for the marriage of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle is in full swing.

Today is set to be the biggest day in the romantic calendar, broadcast to the world from the UK town of Windsor.

So dust off your tiara, polish up your best tea set and get clued up with our guide to the royal nuptials.

THE SERVICE

The wedding will be held at St George's chapel inside Windsor Castle starting at midday UK time (11pm NZT) — and the royal family likes to run on time. The service will be conducted by Reverend David Conner and officiated by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who baptised Meghan Markle in a top secret service.

Barriers line the Long Walk ahead of the wedding between Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in, Windsor. Photo: Reuters
Barriers line the Long Walk ahead of the wedding between Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in, Windsor. Photo: Reuters

Following the ceremony the couple will ride through the Windsor's narrow cobbled streets - likely lined with royal fans - in the Ascot Landau carriage, escorted by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.

The wedding reception will be held at St George's Hall, followed by a private evening shindig at Frogmore House. It has been reported by TMZ that Elton John will perform for the new bride and groom, but it is unclear whether that will be at the ceremony or later at the reception.

HOW CAN I WATCH IT?

TV1: From 9.05pm.

TV3: From 7pm.

UKTV: From 8pm.

The wedding ceremony will begin at 11pm New Zealand time.

The wedding ceremony will be televised with blanket coverage from New Zealand and international broadcasters. Photo: Getty Images
The wedding ceremony will be televised with blanket coverage from New Zealand and international broadcasters. Photo: Getty Images

WHO'S INVITED

The Telegraph reports that the royal couple have invited 2640 people in to the grounds of the oldest inhabited castle in the world for their big day. That includes 1200 members of the public, 200 charity members Meghan and Harry have worked with and 100 students from local schools.

However many of those will be outside the chapel listening to the service via speakers. The capacity inside is for 800 people, with 600 invited for lunch and another 200 invited to a private evening reception.

Unlike Prince William and Kate's 2011 wedding, Harry and Meghan's is not classed as an official state event, so it's unlikely we will see any Heads of State or politicians in attendance.

Former US President Barack Obama is unlikely to be there, despite being close friends with Prince Harry.

But some other famous faces including the Spice Girls, Elton John, and Prince Harry's exes, Cressida Bonas and Chelsy Davy are set to attend, along with Meghan's ultra-glam crew of besties Jessica Mulroney, Priyanka Chopra and Misha Nonoo.

Actress Priyanka Chopra wore a Crusades-inspired dress to the gala. Photo: Reuters
Actress Priyanka Chopra who is friends with Meghan Markle will be at the wedding. Photo: Reuters

THE BRIDAL PARTY

The Duke of Cambridge, Prince William will be best man, Meghan Markle will not have a maid of honour. The bridesmaids and pageboys are "all children" Kensington Palace has confirmed. Prince George and Princess Charlotte are expected to be among them, while Prince Louis will be kept at home.

On Wednesday, it was announced the bridesmaids are Princess Charlotte, Florence van Custem, Remi Litt, Rylan Litt, Ivy Mulroney and Zalie Warren. The pageboys are Prince George, Jasper Dyer, Brian Mulroney and John Mulroney.

Royal siblings Prince George and Princess Charlotte already know the score - they performed those roles at the wedding of Pippa Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge's younger sister, to James Matthews in May last year.

Prince Harry has paid tribute to former mentor and close friend Mark Dyer by requesting his son Jasper as a pageboy, while Ms Markle has publicly recognised one of her best friends, stylist Jessica Mulroney, by choosing her twin sons to take part in the wedding.

It's also not yet known if Prince Philip, the Queen's husband will make it, he has recently had hip surgery, although the couple "very much hope" he will.

Princess Diana's siblings will be in attendance t

oo. Her sister, Lady Jane Fellowes, will do a reading in what is likely to be an emotional moment.

INVITES AND DRESS CODE

Luxurious invites on dye-stamped card have been produced by royal warrant holders Barnard & Westwood. They include the three-feathered badge of Prince Charles, with guests names added by a calligrapher.

The dress code for men is uniforms, morning coats or lounge suits, while women are to wear "day dresses" and hats. Prince Harry could either wear his military uniform, as Prince William did at his wedding, or a simple morning suit.

As well a dress code, the guest list also reportedly includes 'critical guidance' for the big day.

Tamara Ralph and Michael Russo attend the Chopard SPACE Party in Cannes, France. Photo: Getty
Ralph and Russo designers Tamara Ralph and Michael Russo. Photo: Getty Images

The instructions ban cameras and bulky bags, adding that guests will be asked to "surrender mobile telephones and any devices used for image capture". They further specify that guests should not wear medals, in a list of suggestions about accessories that includes: "No swords."

THE DRESS

Meghan's dress is reported to be a $180,000 beaded creation by London-based Australian designers Ralph & Russo. The duo was behind her engagement outfit and has also dressed Beyonce, Rihanna, Angelina Jolie, Kylie Minogue and Gwyneth Paltrow.

The brand was started by Tamara Ralph who graduated from the Whitehouse Institute of Design in Melbourne and met banker Michael Russo in 2003 before launching the company in 2006.

The designers have beaten other top designers, Stewart Parvin, Roland Mouret, Erdem and Alexander McQueen, but like Kate did, Meghan may have a second outfit lined up for the evening reception.

THE CAKE

Instead of traditional fruit cake, the cake will be a lemon elderflower concoction by Claire Ptak, the owner of London-based bakery, Violet. It will be designed to "incorporate the bright flavours of spring", covered in butter cream and decorated with fresh flowers.

The California-raised chef started her business with a market stall, cooking from home and now works as a food stylist and writer. Meghan has previously interviewed her for her lifestyle website, The Tig.

SPEECHES

The prince will be putting pen to paper to write his speech for their reception. But Ms Markle, who is an accomplished public speaker, is expected to break with tradition and deliver her own as well, offering "affectionate" praise of her new husband, thanks to the Queen and a few suitable jokes.

The former actress, is "ready" to speak at the reception, should her father choose to avoid the limelight, the Sunday Times reported earlier this year.

Mr Markle, an award-winning Hollywood writing director who now lives a quiet life in Mexico, was expected to walk Ms Markle down the aisle before changing his plans to attend.

Britain's Princes Harry and William greet wellwishers outside Windsor Castle ahead of Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle. Photo: Reuters
Britain's Princes Harry and William greet wellwishers outside Windsor Castle ahead of Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle. Photo: Reuters
According to the Telegraph, at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, reception speeches included words from best man Prince Harry, the groom's father the Prince of Wales and Michael Middleton, who affectionately described how he knew his daughter's relationship was serious when her boyfriend landed a helicopter in his garden.

SECURITY

Stalkers, snipers and terror attacks are a huge concern for police amid what will be the largest security operation in Windsor's history. More than 100,000 people are expected to pour into the medieval city and will have to pass through a "ring of steel" to enter.

Police will have a network of automatic number plate recognition technology, CCTV and "hostile vehicle" barriers along with "many security measures you can't see" in place. Dogs, mounted units and the national air police service will also be used.

THE ARMY

More than 250 people from army regiments associated with Prince Harry will play a ceremonial role, including members of the Household Cavalry, the State Trumpeters and a Captain's Escort.

The streets will also be lined with members of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Gurkha rifles and other units. Prince Harry joined the army in 2006 and became a Captain over the course of two tours in Afghanistan.

Meghan Markle and her mother, Doria Ragland, arriving at Cliveden House Hotel on the National...
Meghan Markle and her mother, Doria Ragland, arriving at Cliveden House Hotel on the National Trust's Cliveden Estate to spend the night before her wedding to Prince Harry. Photo: Reuters

 

MEGHAN MARKLE'S FAMILY: THE LATEST

Thomas Markle Snr had intended to travel from his Mexico home to London to meet his future son-in-law for the first time, as well as the Queen, Prince Philip, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

He was lined up to walk his daughter down the aisle on Saturday, meeting her at the chapel's west door after her drive to the ceremony with her mother.

But the Telegraph reports that following alleged dealings with the paparazzi and reports he suffered a heart attack earlier this month, the 73-year-old announced he would avoid the ceremony for fear of embarrassing his daughter.

He has since gone back and forth on his decision to be there for Markle and most recently reported he will be unable to travel to the UK following "major heart surgery" yesterday.

Ms Markle's half-sister Samantha Markle attempted to shoulder some of the blame when she earlier tweeted it was her idea for Mr Markle to pose for "positive photos" in a bid to combat his "bad" portrayal in the press. She also claimed it was not done for money. It has since been reported that $180,000 changed hands over the images.

A Kensington Palace spokesperson said it was a "deeply personal moment for Ms Markle in the days before her wedding" and called for "understand and respect" to be extended to Mr Markle. It would not comment further.

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