Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will share the joy of their wedding day with the public by taking a romantic carriage ride through the streets of Windsor after exchanging vows.
The couple has just confirmed they will venture out into the streets in a horse-drawn carriage after exchanging vows at St George's Chapel, inside the walls of Windsor Castle west of London, on May 19.
According to news.com.au, it was also confirmed the pair would hold a reception at St George's Hall, a state room inside the 1000-year-old Windsor Castle, after their nuptials.
And Prince Charles will host an after-party for his son and new daughter-in-law in the evening, after the official reception.
As the countdown to the wedding of the year continued, Kensington Palace released a statement giving more details on the marriage ceremony planned for the 33-year-old prince and his 36-year-old American actor fiancee.
"Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle are hugely grateful for the many good wishes they have received since announcing their engagement,'' Kensington Palace said.
"They are very much looking forward to the day and to being able to share their celebrations with the public.''
It was confirmed that the wedding service will be held at midday and be conducted by the Dean of Windsor, the Right Reverend David Conner.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Right Honourable Justin Welby, will officiate as the couple make their wedding vows.
The most senior Church of England figure, Archbishop Welby has previously christened Prince George and Princess Charlotte, the children of Harry's brother Prince William and his wife Catherine.
At the end of the service at the medieval St George's Chapel, Prince Harry and his new bride will ensure the public can interact with them by climbing into an open horse-drawn carriage for a ride through the streets of Windsor, the town that nudges up against the walls of the castle.
The pair will travel from the chapel to Castle Hill, then along the Windsor High Street and through the town, guaranteeing thousands of royal watchers will descend on the royal borough in advance to ensure they secure a front-row seat to the pageantry.
While it won't be anything like the carriage procession undertaken by Prince William and Catherine between Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace in London on their wedding day in 2011, it will still ensure the public gets a close look at the hugely-popular royal couple.
"They hope this short journey will provide an opportunity for more people to come together around Windsor and to enjoy the atmosphere of this special day,'' Kensington Palace said.
It was also revealed that a reception would follow the service for the 800 guests who had attended the wedding service.
This would be held at St George's Hall, an elegant stateroom inside Windsor Castle, the weekend residence of Prince Harry's grandparents Queen Elizabeth, 91, and her husband Prince Philip, 96.
Harry and Meghan will join the reception at the end of their carriage ride.
An after-party will be hosted by Prince Charles in the evening and this event will allow the couple to invite any family and friends who did not attend the service earlier in the day.
"Later that evening, The Prince of Wales will give a private evening reception for the couple and their close friends and family,'' Kensington Palace confirmed. The venue for the second reception was not confirmed.
Wedding invitations are due to go out shortly, and there is much speculation about whether Sarah, the Duchess of York, estranged wife of Prince Andrew, will be invited.
There is also doubt about which members of Ms Markle's family will be invited, given her estrangement from her half-sister, and her half-brother's brushes with the law.
NZ Herald
