Royal wedding 2018: Couple round off happy day with private party

Summary

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have become husband and wife
They married in a happy and uplifting service at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle
The couple have been made Duke and Duchess of Sussex
Prince George, four, and Princess Charlotte, three, were among pageboys and bridesmaids
Ms Markle’s dress is by acclaimed British designer Clare Waight Keller
Newlyweds celebrated with 200 close friends and family at private evening reception

Live Reporting

Kate Whannel and Paul Gribben

In pictures: Sun's out, fun's on in Windsorpublished at 16:15 British Summer Time 18 May 2018
Image source, EPA
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As pubs prepare to extend their opening hours over the weekend, some are grabbing a quiet drink before the crowds arrive
Image source, EPA
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Bunting is in place, ready for the couple to return to Windsor as newlyweds
Image source, AFP/Getty Images
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A portrait of Ms Markle and the prince made using toy building bricks has been erected in the town
Image source, Reuters
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Residential strets are in on the action - here this house has a royal makeover
Image source, PA
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And the public make the most of an empty Long Walk before the carriage procession takes over tomorrow afternoon
Public engagements and a wedding to plan? We'll squeeze it all inpublished at 15:51 British Summer Time 18 May 2018
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Royal Wedding 2018: Harry and Meghan's royal engagements
It's been a busy few months for the prince and Ms Markle despite having a wedding to plan.
Since their engagement in November, the couple have carried out several public engagements.
Meghan's teachers have clocked how Harry looks at herpublished at 15:48 British Summer Time 18 May 2018
BBC Radio 5 live
Meghan Markle studied at Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles. Her teachers have some advice for her husband-to-be...
Media caption,
Meghan Markle's teachers give Prince Harry some advice
Britain celebrates: A knitted cake and a mini bridepublished at 15:47 British Summer Time 18 May 2018
Schools have been having picnics, street parties are planned and dogs have reenacted the royal nuptials.
These are just some of the ways the British public has been celebrating the lead up to the wedding.
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Newlyweds snapped in Windsor - but it's not thempublished at 15:31 British Summer Time 18 May 2018
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This new bride and groom probably weren't expecting such a fanfare when they planned their nuptials in Windsor.
Vicky Compson and Aron Hallam were pictured outside Windsor Guildhall shortly after tying the knot.
The couple were expecting a smaller affair than the 600-strong guests Ms Markle and the prince will have tomorrow.
They were greeted by well wishers and cheering crowds when they appeared post ceremony.
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Another couple were given a surprise when they stepped out after they wed
How to prepare for a royal weddingpublished at 15:10 British Summer Time 18 May 2018
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The Very Reverend John Hall meets Kate at Westminster Abbey for her wedding in 2011
The Dean of Westminster, who officiated at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, brings to life the last minute nerves and detailed preparation of a Royal Wedding.
The Very Reverend John Hall talks about the contrast between the crowds outside Westminster Abbey and the calm within, and shares that before the wedding he had a breakfast of eggs and bacon to "sustain" him through the big day.
Listen to the full interview.
'Cinderella story'published at 15:03 British Summer Time 18 May 2018
Hanna Yusuf, BBC News
College students Saieesha Naidoo, 18, and Precious Bankole, 19, are very excited about the wedding.
Sadly, Miss Naidoo will be working on Saturday so she won’t be able to watch the procession with her family - her mum will be there though, dressed head-to-toe in Union Jack colours.
“I love them! I’m actually so happy,” said Miss Bankole of the royal couple.
“It’s just like a Cinderella story,” said Miss Naidoo.
“Before the royal family was kind of really stuffy... I don’t know how to say it... they were oldish, we don’t relate to them as well as we do with Meghan.
"After watching her for so long, now she’s going to be here - it’s so nice,” she added.
Meghan and Harry arrive at Windsor Castlepublished at 14:56 British Summer Time 18 May 2018
The couple are expected to join Ms Markle's mother, Doria Ragland, when she meets the Queen for the first time at Windsor Castle this afternoon.
Image source, Reuters
Image source, Reuters
'You gotta be kidding me'published at 14:45 British Summer Time 18 May 2018
A number of Suits stars - the US drama in which Meghan Markle was appearing when she began dating Prince Harry - have flown over for the Royal Wedding.
And it turns out they've known about the happy couple for a bit longer than the rest of us.
"I had gotten the news quite early," recalled Meghan's former co-star Rick Hoffman, who was asked when he first found out she was dating Prince Harry.
"I was like, 'you gotta be kidding me... you're dating prince!"
"I told her, 'take it slow... be careful. Don't let him hurt you," he joked on NBC's Today show.
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Bird's eye viewpublished at 14:22 British Summer Time 18 May 2018
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Aircraft will continue to fly over Windsor Castle during Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding on Saturday, though there will be restrictions on smaller aircraft which fly at lower altitude.
Windsor is under the Heathrow flight path and there will be no special restrictions on airliners using the UK's busiest airport, which is just five miles from St George's Chapel.
The Civil Aviation Authority has granted a request by Thames Valley Police for a Restriction of Flying Regulation in the vicinity of the Windsor Castle estate, banning aircraft below 2,500 feet.
This will stop drones and light aircraft entering the airspace, but will not affect commercial jets.
So book a window seat if you are flying overhead around lunchtime tomorrow.
And remember, the castle came first...
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Morgan: my role in the royal weddingpublished at 14:05 British Summer Time 18 May 2018
Piers Morgan appears to be claiming to be the royal matchmaker.
The Good Morning Britain presenter has been tweeting about how he was drinking in the pub with Meghan Markle two years ago, ahead of her first date with Prince Harry - though, apparently, he didn't know who the mystery date was at the time.
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Will Meghan wear a tiara? And if so, which one?published at 14:02 British Summer Time 18 May 2018
BBC Radio 5 live
Sparkles, rubies, spikes, traditional, or something totally different?
BBC Rewind explores the royal tiara collection, and 5 live listeners pick their favourites.
Media caption,
BBC Rewind explore the tiara collection available for Meghan Markle's wedding day.
Travel early to avoid train disasterspublished at 13:51 British Summer Time 18 May 2018
Image source, Getty Images
That's the advice for pretty much every commuter, right? But there have been reports that the police could close Windsor's two stations if there are too many people.
This could include the branch line, between Slough and Windsor and Eton Central, alongside the Windsor and Eton Riverside station, which can be accessed direct from London Waterloo.
So travel wisely!
What do 11 and 12 year-olds think about the wedding?published at 13:49 British Summer Time 18 May 2018
BBC Radio 5 live
Some pupils from Liverpool Blue Coat School are more excited than others...
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BBC Radio 5 live hears from young people in Liverpool about the Royal Wedding.
Dutch 'king and queen' outside Castlepublished at 13:47 British Summer Time 18 May 2018
Hanna Yusuf, BBC News
Asdrubal Medina and Reina Reyes have travelled from the Netherlands to witness the wedding.
They’re currently outside Windsor Castle, hoping to catch a glimpse of Ms Markle's mother, Doria Ragland, as she arrives for tea with the Queen.
Their hats carry the Dutch national colours, and their pseudonyms for the next few days are “Willem” and “Maxima” - the names of the king and queen of the Netherlands.
They’re looking forward to experiencing the party atmosphere that comes with a royal wedding.
“It’s all so very exciting, we love a royal wedding,” said Mrs Reyes.
And she made sure to point out that the English translation of her name is “Queen Kings”.
Meghan's old school celebrates its princesspublished at 13:44 British Summer Time 18 May 2018
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Royal wedding 2018: Meghan's old school celebrates its princess
Details of Meghan's aisle walk releasedpublished at 13:34 British Summer Time 18 May 2018
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BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell says Meghan Markle will start the procession down the aisle of St George's Chapel on her own, with 10 children aged between two and seven-years-old in tow.
There was a rehearsal with the children yesterday, he says, but it didn't go entirely according to plan.
Meghan will walk down the first part of the aisle, towards the "quire"; there Prince Charles will meet her to walk her to the high altar, where Harry will be waiting.
It is understood that her mother, Doria Ragland, is entirely happy with this arrangement and did not really want to take over the role, he added.
The best spots to glimpse the royal couplepublished at 13:28 British Summer Time 18 May 2018
Take a look at the top spots where you can watch the newlyweds' carriage procession after they tie the knot.
Media caption,
Royal wedding procession route: Where are the best locations?
Where will the couple spend tonight?published at 13:14 British Summer Time 18 May 2018
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Traditionally, a bride and groom spend the night before the wedding apart for good luck. And these two aren't bucking the trend.
Meghan Markle will stay with her mother at the Cliveden House Hotel in Buckinghamshire.
The prince will spend his last night as a single man at Coworth Park, Ascot, with his brother and best man, the Duke of Cambridge.
The Buckinghamshire hotel is on the National Trust's Cliveden Estate in Taplow.
It has 34 bedroom and nine suites, including one named the Prince of Wales Suite - which costs from £1,535 a night.
The privately-owned stately home was built in 1666 by the 2nd Duke of Buckingham as a gift to his mistress.
Meanwhile, Coworth Park has decidedly less scandal attached to its history. The calmer hotel has been used by the princes as they regularly play on its polo grounds.
A hotel spokeswoman said rates were only available "on application" but hotel suites cost from £558 per night.
Image source, PA
Make your own royal wedding cakepublished at 13:01 British Summer Time 18 May 2018
BBC Radio 5 live
Harry and Meghan have chosen a lemon and elderflower wedding cake - here's how to make your own version.
Media caption,
The 5 live guide to making Harry and Meghan’s royal wedding cake.