Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal wedding: All the details for Saturday's big day
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The final preparations for the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Saturday 19 May suffered a series of last minute glitches as the father of the bride announced he could not be able to attend after undergoing heart surgery.
Undeterred, Ms Markle has asked Prince Charles to accompany her part way down the aisle.
The couple have promised a wedding focused on fun, joy and a chance to celebrate with the public while the order of service blends British traditions with American gospel singing.
So what's in store for the couple – and how are the final plans affected by this week's changes? Here are all the latest updates about 2018's wedding of the year.
Meghan Markle's family: the latest news
Meghan Markle has confirmed her father Thomas Markle will not be attending her wedding to Prince Harry, saying she hopes he can be given the "space he needs to focus on his health".
In a statement issued through Kensington Palace, Meghan Markle said: "Sadly, my father will not be attending our wedding. I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health.
"I would like to thank everyone who has offered generous messages of support. Please know how much Harry and I look forward to sharing our special day with you on Saturday."
Thomas Markle Snr had been intending to travel from his Mexico home to the UK to meet his future son-in-law for the first time, as well as the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. He was also intending to walk Ms Markle down the aisle, meeting her at the chapel's west door after her drive to the ceremony with her mother.
Meet the Markles
But after disclosures about his alleged dealings with the paparazzi and reports he suffered a heart attack earlier this month, the 73-year-old said on Monday he would avoid the ceremony for fear of embarrassing his daughter.
The Mail On Sunday newspaper reported the story last weekend claiming the images were staged and published CCTV footage stills of the US actress' father in the internet cafe with a photographer.
The pictures were published earlier this month in a number of newspapers and news websites showing Mr Markle in a series of royal wedding related activities, apparently unaware he was being snapped.
Mr Markle was pictured being measured for what was thought to be his wedding suit, looking at screen pictures of Ms Markle and Harry while in an internet cafe, and reading a picture book about Britain while having a coffee.
Royal wedding countdown in pictures as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's preparations begin
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 what she described as "positive photos" in a bid to combat his "bad" portrayal in the press, but stated it was not done for money.
A Kensington Palace said it was a "deeply personal moment for Ms Markle in the days before her wedding" and called for "understanding and respect" to be extended to Mr Markle. It would not comment further.
However, on Tuesday he raised hopes of attending after all by saying his daughter had been in touch to reassure him, and was prepared to fly to Britain if his medical condition allowed.
Mr Markle is reported to have said: “I hate the idea of missing one of the greatest moments in history and walking my daughter down the aisle.”
But within hours he appeared to change his plans for a third time, claiming he required heart surgery after falling unwell again.
He told celebrity news site TMZ: "They [doctors] will go in and clear blockage, repair damage and put a stent where it is needed." On Wednesday night the site reported that Thomas Markle had been in touch to say his heart surgery had been completed, while Ms Grant accused Kensington Palace of abandoning him.
The health ministry in Baja California state, where he lives, said on Thursday that Mr Markle was diagnosed with heart problems in Mexico earlier this month but had refused to undergo surgery.
Mr Markle went to Rosarito's Hospital de Playas early in the morning of May 3 complaining of "heart pain," the ministry said.
According to the health ministry statement, days before his surgery on Wednesday he arrived at the Mexican hospital having experienced hours of discomfort "without any physical exertion."
He underwent testing and received pain medication, before being diagnosed with heart disease, the statement added.
However, Mr Markle rejected any treatment at the time following the diagnosis and declined to be transported to his Rosarito home.
Thomas Markle Snr: How Meghan Markle's father set her on a path to stardom
The gossip site also claimed Ms Grant had suffered a broken ankle and fractured knee in what her boyfriend described as a "paparazzi confrontation" on a road in Florida.
It has been confirmed that Prince Charles will walk Ms Markle down the aisle.
She will walk the first half of the St George's Chapel aisle alone, surrounded by young page boys and bridesmaids but without anyone by her side.
At the Quire, which effectively marks the second half of the aisle, Ms Markle will be met by the Prince of Wales, her future father-in-law, who will take her arm for the final steps. The ceremony will omit the traditional moment of "giving away", where the presiding Archbishop asks: "Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?"
Ms Markle is understood to have asked the Prince of Wales to accompany her after her father, Thomas Markle, told her he was unable to fly to the UK.
Meanwhile, other members of Ms Markle's family have arrived in London - despite reportedly not receiving an invitation to the wedding.
Tracy Dooley – who was married to Meghan Markle's half-brother Thomas Markle Jr – was pictured at Heathrow Airport with her sons, Tyler, 25, and Thomas, 26 on Monday.
Ms Dooley, who has admitted she has not seen Ms Markle for 20 years, has previously told ITV's Good Morning Britain she had not received an invitation to the ceremony at Windsor Castle on Saturday.
Yet she is expected to cover the event for an American broadcasting network and said she "will be in the front row cheering them on" in Windsor.
Thomas Markle Jr, who not long ago issued an open letter urging Prince Harry to call off the wedding, appeared in Windsor, declaring his estranged half sister the “perfect modern princess”.
Days until the Royal Wedding
When is the wedding and who is planning it?
The service will begin at 12pm at St George’s Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle, where Prince Harry was christened. It is said to have become a "very special place" for the couple in their relationship so far.
The Lord Chamberlain's Office at Buckingham Palace is responsible for organising royal weddings, but the Prince and Ms Markle are leading the show. However, under the guidance of Harry's private secretary, Edward Lane Fox, the Lord Chamberlain's Office is dealing with the ceremonial aspects of the day.
The public will have the opportunity to watch the action from their sofas with several broadcasters showing the ceremony live.
Read more about how to watch the wedding here.
Copy of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: The story of their relationship, in pictures
Invitations - who is on the guest list?
Invitations have been posted to 600 lucky guests, with a select 200 close friends invited to an after party at Frogmore House, in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
The couple do not have not invited political leaders. Theresa May, the Prime Minister, Donald Trump, the US President, will be going, and Barack Obama, former US President, all miss out as a result.
Expect to see many members of the Royal family, Ms Markle's family (apart from her father, Thomas Markle Snr), famous faces from the cast of Suits, conservationists, sportsmen and women and charity heads closest to the couple’s hearts.
Those invited include Dave Henson, the former Team GB captain at the Invictus Games, the head of a tiny overlooked Welsh charity and the Botswanan friends so discreet even they do not know which others in their set are going.
Some members of the public have received an invitation to wait in the grounds outside the chapel to watch the bride and groom and their wedding guests arrive and leave.
As well a dress code, the guest list also reportedly includes "critical guidance" for the big day.
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 invitations were produced by Barnard & Westwood, which has held the "Royal Warrant for Printing & Bookbinding by Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen" since 1985.
Die-stamped in gold and then burnished, the invitation features The Three Feather Badge of The Prince of Wales. They also reveal that the dress code is Uniform, Morning Coat or Lounge Suit, or Day Dress with Hat.
Sir Elton John will entertain guests at Windsor Castle, TMZ reported, but it is unclear whether he will play at the church ceremony or at the reception later..
The Spice Girls are also understood to be attending.
Read more about who is on the guest list here.
Who is the best man?
The Duke of Cambridge will be Harry's best man, missing the FA Cup final to be at his brother's side.
The Duke, who has always been the front-runner for the supporting role at the May wedding, is "honoured" to have been asked, Kensington Palace said.
Who are the bridesmaids and pageboys?
Kensington Palace has announced that Ms Markle will have no adult bridesmaids "because she's unable to choose between her friends", and will instead be surrounded by children as page boys, bridesmaids and flower girls.
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.
Read more about the pageboys and bridesmaids here.
The dress - all bets are off
Bookmakers suspended betting on the designer of Ms Markle's wedding dress in March when British couture company Ralph & Russo pulled ahead to become 1/3 favourites.
The label, helmed by Australians Tamara Ralph and Michael Russo (a couple in real life) have shot to prominence after a string of celebrity endorsements.
In 2014, Angelina Jolie wore the label to Buckingham Palace to receive an honorary damehood, in 2016 Gwyneth Paltrow to the Oscars. Add to that list of fans Beyonce, Rihanna and, finally, Meghan Markle herself, who chose a £56,000 embellished couture gown for the official photos taken to mark her engagement to Prince Harry.
Before betting was suspended, London-based designer Erdem was at 3/1.
Ms Markle's stylist and close friend Ms Mulroney runs a bridal store in Toronto was said to have helped the bride choose her gown.
Read more about Ralph and Russo here.
Prince Harry's outfit
Prince Harry will wear the ceremonial uniform of the Royal Marines, the regiment believes.
The Prince will wear the uniform as a mark of respect to the regiment he took over as Captain General from his grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh.
Men from the regiment will line the route from St George’s Chapel, at Windsor Castle, to provide a ceremonial guard of honour.
Palace officials will not confirm what the Prince is to wear for his wedding to Ms Markle, but soldiers of the Royal Marines who have volunteered to take part understand he will be wearing the same ceremonial regalia, or "Blues", as them on the day.
Other options include the uniform of the Household Cavalry, where Prince Harry served with the Blues and Royals, or morning dress.
Read more on Prince Harry's outfit here
A very traditional ceremony
The couple will make their vows at St George's Chapel, which last hosted a royal wedding in May 2008 when Peter Phillips - son of The Princess Royal - married Autumn Kelly.
The traditional ceremony will be conducted by The Dean of Windsor, The Rt Revd David Conner while the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, will officiate as the couple make their marriage vows.
Pioneering American bishop, the Most Rev Bishop Michael Curry, from Chicago, Illinois, has been invited to deliver the address as the couple strive to reflect their transatlantic relationship amid the tradition of St George's Chapel.
Bishop Curry, who has been praised for his "infectious laughter and self-deprecating humour", is the first African-American bishop to have served as the Episcopal Church's presiding bishop, a role he has held since November 2015.
The music will also have an American influence according to Christopher Warren-Green, who will conduct musicians on the day.
Miss Markle, who was a UN women's advocate, is unlikely to opt to obey the prince. The couple will probably choose the Series One (1966) Book of Common Prayer ceremony, just as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge did, which allows the bride to drop "obey him" and "serve him" from the religious proceedings.
The regiments Prince Harry served with in Afghanistan will a have a “special place” during the ceremony.
The 3 Regiment Army Air Corps, with whom the prince served as an Apache Pilot in Helmand Province will be represented, as well as The Royal Gurkha Rifles, his comrades in Afghanistan in 2007, and RAF Honington, where he is Honorary Air Commandant.
Household Cavalry troopers will line the staircase at St George's Chapel, while streets within the precincts of the castle will be lined by members of the Windsor Castle Guard from 1st Battalion Irish Guards, and by Armed Forces personnel from the Royal Navy Small Ships and Diving, which has the Prince as Commodore-in-Chief, and the Royal Marines, where he is Captain General.
Read more about St George's Chapel here.
WATCH: How Diana, the in-laws and Prince Louis will fit into the Royal Wedding
Don't miss the procession
After the ceremony, among the first people to congratulate the couple will be some of the 2,640 charity workers, community champions and local school children who are being invited to watch the wedding from inside the walls of Windsor Castle.
Then at 1pm, the newlyweds will undertake a two-mile tour of Windsor in an Ascot Landau carriage, greeting well-wishers, which is expected to take 25 minutes.
It's the same carriage the prince used in the procession at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, when he was surrounded by small bridesmaids and page boys.
The couple will leave Windsor Castle by carriage via Castle Hill, travelling along the High Street and through Windsor Town before returning along the Long Walk for the first reception at St George's Hall.
Read more about the procession here.
Wedding at Windsor Castle
Not one, but two receptions
Following the carriage ride, the congregation will await the happy couple in St George's Hall, for the first of two receptions.
The first, more formal afternoon reception for some 600 guests, will be hosted by the Queen. The 180-ft long room, traditionally used for state banquets, seats up to 162 people and was redesigned in a modern Gothic style – with walls lined with suits of armour – following the fire at the castle in 1992.
Fashionable "bowl food" will be served at the standing-only reception. Made with seasonal ingredients grown on the Crown Estates, the food is intended to be eaten standing up, allowing guests to mingle freely in St George’s Hall.
The food is likely to be accompanied by champagne and wine from the extensive Royal cellars, and soft drinks.
The second evening reception, for 200 close friends and family, will be thrown at Frogmore House by the Prince of Wales. Standing about half a mile south of Windsor Castle in Windsor Home Park, Frogmore House has been a Royal Residence since 1792. It is where Harry and Ms Markle posed for their official engagement photos in November.
The location of the venue - away from the Castle - will offer the pair privacy as they celebrate with friends and family.
Read more about the food here.
Wedding cake
The couple have asked Claire Ptak, an east London pastry chef, to make an organic lemon and elderflower wedding cake incorporating "the bright flavours of spring", according to Kensington Palace. It will be covered with buttercream and decorated with fresh flowers.
It is believed to be the first time a Royal couple have eschewed tradition by not serving a fruit cake to their wedding guests.
The "ethereal" tasting wedding cake will be displayed in a special installation, Ptak revealed.
The baker said the layered lemon and elderflower cake - in three parts of varying sizes - would be presented in a non-traditional way.
The final design will be unveiled on the big day although Meghan and Harry are in on the plans.
"You'll have to wait and see on the day. It's an installation of the way that we're putting it out. It's the last thing that we'll reveal. It's a non-traditional layout," Ms Ptak said.
"It's a slight shift from tradition."
The chef, who owns the small, trendy Violet Bakery in east London, has been working with her team of six bakers full time for five days in the large kitchens of Buckingham Palace.
She described the flavour of the cake as being a balance of sweet and tart, combined with "ethereal" elderflower.
The cake, which is being decorated on the outside with a white, elderflower swiss meringue buttercream, is made of layered lemon sponge, drizzled with an elderflower syrup to a recipe specially created for the couple. The layers are sandwiched with buttercream and lemon curd.
Some 200 Amalfi lemons are being used in the recipe, as well as 10 bottles of Sandringham Elderflower Cordial made using elderflower from the Queen's Sandringham estate, 20kgs of butter, 20 kgs of flour, 20kgs of sugar and 500 organic eggs from Suffolk.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chose Fiona Cairns to make their 2011 wedding cake, a traditional multi-layered fruit cake with a floral design.
Read more about the wedding cake here.
Flowers
The couple have chosen high society florist Philippa Craddock to design their day, using seasonal plants and flowers from the Crown Estates and Royal Parks chosen particularly for their pollinator-friendly properties.
Aisles, pews, tables and halls will be lined with plants from wildflower meadows, picked to “provide a great habitat for bees and help to nurture and sustain entire ecosystems by promoting a healthy and biodiverse environment”, Kensington Palace said.
Ms Craddock has been named “Queen of London florists” by British Vogue and “a floral mastermind” by Tatler.
On Wednesday Ms Craddock revealed the the flower arrangements will have royal roots.
The London florist said that silver birch and English oak from nearby Windsor Great Park will be a part of the greenery adorning the scenery.
Windsor Great Park is owned by the royal family and Prince Philip, holds the title of park ranger.
William the Conqueror hunted there in the 11th century when the park was a forest.
Roses, foxgloves and Ms Markle's reported favourite flowers peonies will also will be in the arrangements.
"There are moments where I've focused on it being another commission, so it's like working with any one of our couples, and of course you take a step back and you just realise the enormity of it," Ms Craddock said.
"It's a huge occasion and we're just hugely privileged."
Read more about the wedding florist here.
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, was said to be “ready” to speak at the reception, according to the Sunday Times earlier this year, if her father opted out of the the limelight and avoided the tradition father-of-the-bride speed. Now that has become a reality after Mr Markle, an award-winning Hollywood lighting director who lives a quiet life in Mexico, announced he would not be attending the wedding.
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.
WATCH: Meghan Markle's high school hosts Royal Wedding good luck party
The new Duke and Duchess of Sussex?
Ms Markle will become an HRH and a senior royal after marrying Prince Harry. She is also expected to become a duchess, as Kate Middleton did when she became the Duchess of Cambridge after saying her vows in 2011.
By tradition, male members of the Royal family receive a title from the monarch on their wedding day, and the vacant title Duke of Sussex is regarded as the most likely choice for the Prince, meaning Ms Markle would become HRH The Duchess of Sussex.
Like Prince Harry, the previous Duke of Sussex lived at Kensington Palace, and he also married for love, rather than choosing brides who fitted the traditional royal mould.
Read more about royal titles here.
Will there be a bank holiday?
The wedding is on a Saturday, so there will be no new bank holiday. Although the public were given a day off to celebrate the weddings of Prince Charles to Diana Spencer in 1981, Prince William to Catherine Middleton in 2011, and Princess Anne to Mark Phillips in 1973, no such national holidays were awarded for Prince Andrew or Prince Edward.
However, it's not all bad news because pubs and bars will be allowed to do away with the usual curbs on opening hours on the wedding weekend.
Ministers have extended licensing hours across Britain to allow venues to remain open until 1am on Friday and Saturday - which is also the day of the FA Cup final.
There will also be lots of street parties planned across the UK.
For information about how to host your own, click here.
Souvenirs and wedding china
The royal bride and groom-to-be have approved a range of commemorative china to celebrate their nuptials.
The exclusive design in white and cornflower blue has a monogram of the couple's initials at its centre, tied together with white ribbons and surmounted by the coronet of Prince Harry. The decorative border of each piece is inspired by the ironwork of the 13th-century Gilebertus door of St George's Chapel and each is finished with 22-carat gold.
The Royal Collection Trust range, which is made in Stoke-on-Trent, includes a decorative miniature coffee mug, coffee mug, pillbox, tankard and plate.
The Royal wedding souvenir phenomenon dates back to Queen Victoria’s wedding to Prince Albert in 1840, linked to the rise of mass production in Victorian Britain. It remains a thriving industry today, with an estimated £222 million spent on memorabilia in the run-up to the 2011 royal wedding, according to the Centre for Retail Research.
And finally... the honeymoon
Prince Harry and Ms Markle will delay their honeymoon to go straight back to work in the week after their wedding, scheduling their first public engagement as a married couple just days later.
The couple will go on honeymoon privately later this year, before a “busy” autumn including a trip to Sydney for the Invictus Games. But where will they go?
Namibia has pulled ahead as the odds-on favourite. The southern African nation is best known among travellers for the enormous Sossusvlei sand dunes of the the Namib Desert, but reports suggest that the couple are looking instead at a safari trip to Hoanib Valley Camp in the country's north west.
Botswana, where they holidayed in the early days of their whirlwind relationship, is also a good bet, (Ms Markle's engagement ring features diamonds from Diana's personal collection, and a stone from Botswana), but wherever they go, the newlyweds will be looking for seclusion away from the limelight as they start their married life together.
Other possible destinations could include Tuscany, Hawaii, Turkey and the Philippines.
Read more about the honeymoon options here.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry wedding features grid
