Harry and Meghan get down to funk classic Land of 1,000 Dances

Harry and Meghan took to the floor with the funky soul classic Land of a Thousand Dances for their first dance at a spectacular royal wedding reception on Saturday night. 

Comedian James Corden is reported to have launched a dance routine with Harry, his brother William and his father Charles, apparently refereeing a ‘dance-off’, while George Clooney danced with both Meghan and Kate. 

The delighted guests also enjoyed an American-inspired game of beer pong, at which tennis star Serena Williams, perhaps not surprisingly, proved the champion player, after arriving in trainers.  

The couple made the bold choice of the fast-paced Land of a Thousand Dances, by Wilson Pickett, as they took to the dance floor for the first time as the newly created Duke and Duchess of Sussex. It includes the lyrics ‘Do the Alligator’ and ‘Mash Potato’.  

Soul singer Pickett, an Alabama native famed for his trademark screams, flaming delivery and flamboyant costumes, and enjoyed a long string of hits during the 1960s. 

Corden, 39, who has enjoyed boozy nights out with Harry in Mayfair, provided entertainment at the exclusive after-party at Frogmore. A ‘worse-for-wear’ George Clooney was among the last to stagger off the dance floor.  

The wedding reception was a star-studded occasion of Hollywood glamour that was hosted by Prince Charles, featured a house music DJ and concluded with a fireworks display outside an historic 17th century venue. There have even been claims that there was a DJ slot from wedding guest Idris Elba. 

But missing from the day was Meghan’s father Thomas Markle – who was in Mexico after pulling out just days ago due to ill health – following an extraordinary week that saw in-fighting between her estranged family, her nephews turning up to London uninvited and her only relative at the wedding being her mother Doria Ragland.

Yesterday’s wedding reception is also said to have featured a ‘naughty’ speech from best man Prince William, an unknown ‘surprise’ from compere James Corden and a thanks from Meghan to the royals for welcoming her in.

Meghan giving a speech in itself was a break of tradition, with Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding in 2011 only having speeches from Harry, Charles and Kate’s father Michael – but not the Duchess of Cambridge. 

The dinner party at Frogmore House in Windsor Great Park came after a multi-cultural and US-influenced wedding featuring an astonishing host of Hollywood guests including George Clooney, Oprah Winfrey and the Beckhams – the likes of which Britain’s royals and the millions watching have never seen before.   

Meghan Markle unveiled her aspirations for her new role as as she left Windsor Castle with her new husband Prince Harry, hours after thanking the Royal Family for welcoming her into ‘The Firm’.

The US former actress received her own web page on the official royal.uk website just hours after her sensational wedding, which proclaimed her pride at being a feminist, soup kitchen volunteer and social justice campaigner.

The page, which confirms she will now carry out royal duties in support of the Queen, includes her famous quote from a United Nations conference in New York in 2015, when she said: ‘I am proud to be a woman and a feminist.’

It adds that Meghan has ‘had a keen awareness of social issues and actively participated in charitable work’ from a young age, volunteering at a soup kitchen in Los Angeles at 13 and later at another in Toronto while filming there.

Harry is said to have praised Meghan yesterday after a tough week, saying she ‘navigated everything with such grace’, adding: ‘We make such a great team’ – and telling her: ‘I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.’   

Later on the reception Harry’s favourite house tracks ‘curated’ by DJ Sam Totolee, who also performed at Pippa Middleton’s wedding, and a ‘drinks of the world’ themed bar.

Also on the menu were candyfloss and ‘dirty burgers’ as midnight snacks, while one source reported a cocktail featuring ginger and rum was on the menu as a cheeky nod to Harry’s red hair, named ‘When Harry Met Meghan’.

The sit-down dinner was organic, sourced at the request of Prince Charles, and the light-bite canapes were themed ‘spring meets summer’. The meal, paid for by the Prince of Wales, ran from 7.30pm to around 10pm.

There were said to have been ‘naughty’ speeches from William and a joint effort from Tom ‘Skippy’ Inskip and Tom Van Straubenzee. Meghan is also thought to have thanked the Royal Family for welcoming her in. 

One guest said that Serena Williams ‘played beer pong like it was tennis’, while James Corden organised a dance-off after Harry and Meghan had started their dance with I Wanna Dance With Somebody, the Sun reports.

Some of the more senior royals such as Charles and Camilla are said to have said their goodbyes at around 11pm, while other guests stayed at the party as late as 1am.  

And Clooney, who attended the wedding with his wife Amal and whose car was seen being held up by security on the way into Frogmore, danced with Meghan and Kate but was spurned by Sarah Ferguson, according to the Mirror.

Meghan, whose dog Guy apparently made the most of the food offerings by dashing around to pick up uneaten crumbs, is said to have announced: ‘I have found my prince’.  

Guests are also understood to have returned to London late last night for an ‘after-after party’ at celebrity favourite Chiltern Firehouse in Marylebone. Another party had been planned in a soundproofed private home in Chelsea. 

In the afternoon, a grinning Harry is said to have turned to his guests, asking: ‘Can anyone play the piano?’ before Sir Elton John gave a moving medley of four hits – Your Song, Tiny Dancer, Circle Of Life and I’m Still Standing.  

The newlyweds shared tears, laughter and a passionate kiss in front of their hundreds of VIP guests dominated by Hollywood stars including the Clooneys, the Beckhams, Idris Elba, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Hardy and James Corden.

Meghan became the first mixed-race member of the royal family in an extraordinary journey for a girl born in LA to a white father and African-American mother who fought her way through the tough world of showbusiness to land a plum role in the TV series Suits.

Harry and Meghan’s big day couldn’t have been more different than royal weddings of the past, especially because the prince was visibly emotional throughout – and guests suggested it was the most diverse major event in the Queen’s 66-year reign. 

Around 200 guests joined the couple at the evening event at the 17th-century Frogmore mansion in the grounds of Windsor Castle, where Meghan, wearing an aquamarine ring which once belonged to Princess Diana, made a speech to guests.

They travelled in a silver blue open-top Jaguar E-Type Concept Zero, which was originally manufactured in 1968 and now runs on electricity, on her way to the English country house which stands in the home park of Windsor Castle and is part of the Crown Estate. It is only open to individuals on three days of the year. 

The bride’s evening dress was designed by Stella McCartney and is a bespoke lily white high neck gown made of silk crepe, while her Aquazurra shoes were silky satin with soles painted in baby blue.

Her hair, styled by George Northwood, was in a relaxed up do, with loose strands tucked behind her ears amid the breeze. She was spotted wearing the large ring on her right hand which once belonged to Harry’s mother. 

A double decker coach full of guests arrived at the entrance to Frogmore House for the evening reception at 7.15pm. The coach had arrived from Coworth Park hotel in Ascot, where Princes Harry and William spent the night before the wedding.   

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie arrived in a black Bentley at 7.30pm while Sophie, Countess of Wessex, arrived just before 8pm in a Land Rover Discovery. 

Actor Corden, who attended the ceremony earlier with his wife Julia Carey, was said to have played the role of host and entertainer for the reception. Guests invited to Frogmore House, a royal estate in Windsor Home Park, were given a few hours after the lunch to rest and change outfits.

Earlier Meghan became the first mixed-race member of the royal family in an extraordinary journey for a girl born in Los Angeles to a white father and African-American mother who fought her way through the tough world of showbusiness to land a plum role in the TV series Suits.

Harry and Meghan’s big day couldn’t have been more different than royal weddings of the past, especially because the prince was visibly emotional throughout – and guests suggested it was the most diverse major event in the Queen’s 66-year reign with heavy influences from the US and Meghan’s mixed-race background. 

The prince had looked tearful when he saw his bride for the first time, grabbing her hand telling her: ‘You look amazing – I missed you’ before tenderly lifting her veil. They will spend their first night as a married couple at Windsor Castle and are expected to return to Kensington Palace in London today.

 The new Duke of Sussex also said ‘thank you, pa’ after his father Prince Charles walked the now Duchess of Sussex down the aisle of St George’s Chapel, having stepped in at the last moment for Meghan’s father Thomas.  

Sir Elton John, who sang at Princess Diana’s funeral in 1997, performed at the lunchtime reception hosted by the Queen in a poignant nod to Harry’s late mother, who died when he was only 12. 

All the senior British royals were also there to support the couple including Her Majesty the Queen, Prince Philip, Harry’s best man Prince William and his wife Kate, who brought George and Charlotte but left baby Louis with the nanny. 

The former actress, 36, managed to make a tearful Harry giggle as they exchanged vows before being pronounced man and wife by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. 

Despite being an Anglican church service it had a distinctly American feel with a US bishop delivering a passionate address that appeared to make some royals snigger and a gospel choir filling the chapel with music from Ben E. King and Etta James.

But there was also much of the great British pageantry that royal fans around the world love – all set in the fairy tale surroundings of Windsor Castle on a stunning May spring day. 

Meghan chose acclaimed British designer, Clare Waight Keller – the first female Artistic Director at the historic French fashion house Givenchy – to design her dress. She also wore a Queen Mary diamond bandeau tiara, loaned to her by the Queen. 

On the steps of the chapel Meghan asked her new husband discreetly: ‘Do we kiss?’ and Harry whispered ‘yeah’ before passionately planting one on her lips.

Outside St George’s Chapel, more than 100,000 fevered well-wishers gathered in glorious British sunshine and cheered the couple as they started their new married life in the grand Ascot Landau carriage.

Meghan waved and smiled to the crowds and said ‘wow’ to her new husband while, in his inimitable style, he said back: ‘I’m ready for a drink now’.   

As the newlyweds were swept through Windsor greeting huge crowds waving Union Flags the VIP guests were taken up to the castle for a lavish lunch and drinks hosted by the Queen.Guests praised the relaxed atmosphere and diverse feel. 

Sarah Ferguson, ex-wife of Prince Andrew, said: ‘I have had a lovely day and it is wonderful to see so many people out for this lovely occasion’. 

The newlyweds had emerged from St George’s Chapel to loud cheers from the crowd yesterday afternoon.

Stopping at the top of the stone steps, the pair shared a kiss to the delight of onlookers.

The couple were waved off and watched by members of the royal family as they left in an open-top Ascot Landau for a carriage procession through Windsor.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte, the oldest children of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, did not follow Harry and Meghan as they made their way back up the aisle.

Instead, the youngsters held their parents’ hands as they made their way out of the chapel.

Mike Tindall was seen rubbing heavily-pregnant wife Zara’s bump as the congregation waited for Harry and Meghan to sign their register. Mr and Mrs Tindall are expecting their second child.

Few things illustrated the disparate cultural beginnings of bride and groom better than the religious figures who appeared at their wedding.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby officiated with the measured solemnity common to Church of England services, while Chicago-born Bishop Curry riveted the congregation with a fiery delivery of his ‘Power of Love’ address.

His speech touched on issues including slavery and poverty, even channeling the spirit of another celebrated black orator, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

While the bishop’s performance may have been a break from the norm for the royal family, it delighted viewers in America.

US journalist Elamin Abdelmahmoud tweeted: ‘A black reverend preaching to British royalty about the resilience of faith during slavery is 10000000% not what I thought I was waking up for, the royal wedding is good.’

Former British tabloid editor Piers Morgan added: ‘Wow. Still reeling from Rev Curry. What a moment. What a guy! He may have gone on a bit long but as my youngest son just rang to say: ‘Dad, imagine being a black American watching this wedding? It’s historic – and brilliant.’ He’s right.’

Staples of gospel music sat alongside traditional church hymns on the order of service handed out to wedding guests.

Karen Gibson and The Kingdom Choir captivated viewers around the world with a performance of Stand By Me, written by African-American singer Ben E King, and This Little Light Of Mine, a tune which coloured the sound of the civil rights movement.

Many wrote online that the performance had reduced them to tears.

Ms Gibson later told Sky News: ‘Both of those are gospel staples you know, they are very well known. Etta James has done this arrangement.

‘We really enjoyed it, we really rocked up to that one you know? It was great fun.’

Praising the address of Bishop Curry, she added: ‘It’s what we’re actually used to that’s the flavour of preachers we’re used to, so we were getting very excited.’

As the couple slipped away for the signing of the register during the service, another talented black musician, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, took centre stage.

The British cellist – winner of BBC Young Musician 2016 – held the attention of the chapel as he performed several moving pieces which had been selected by the palace.

The 19-year-old later told the broadcaster: ‘It’s such an honour and it’s something that you could never expect.

‘I still don’t quite believe it, so it’s just an amazing experience.’  

You could hear a pin drop as the 600 guests watched the British prince and American star say ‘I do’ in the historic surroundings of the chapel at Windsor Castle.

At midday, all eyes were turned to the grand door at the West Steps to catch the first glimpse of Meghan as she appeared through the ornate entrance.

Just before the bride arrived, the bridesmaids and pageboys were ushered in by the Duchess of Cambridge, who helped coax them into their positions with an encouraging hand on their shoulder.

The children were handed flowers behind the door when one of the little bridesmaids began to cry.

With such a crew of youngsters following the bride up to the altar, it was unlikely to be plain sailing.

The Cambridges’ nanny, Maria, lifted the child up to comfort her, as Prince George looked up at the tearful girl.

George briefly chatted with his nanny, who helped to organise the group.

Harry’s niece and nephew – George and Princess Charlotte – were among the six bridesmaids and four pageboys, all aged between two and seven. 

Harry’s goddaughters Zalie Warren, two, and three-year-old Florence van Cutsem, Ms Markle’s goddaughters, sisters Remi and Rylan Litt, aged six and seven respectively, and four-year-old Ivy Mulroney – the daughter of Meghan’s close friend Jessica Mulroney – were bridesmaids.

The other pageboys were Harry’s six-year-old godson Jasper Dyer – the son of Harry’s mentor Mark Dyer – and Mrs Mulroney’s seven-year-old twin sons Brian and John Mulroney.

A member of Prince Harry’s household bent down to help to adjust one of the bridesmaid’s dresses before their walk up the aisle.

When Meghan appeared through the doors of the chapel, sunlight streaming in behind her, she turned to smile and wave at the children who were standing to her right.

Her sparkling tiara dazzled in the light of the chapel.

The gaggle of children toddled up the aisle behind Meghan through the Nave, before the bride was joined by the Prince of Wales and the pair made their way down the aisle of the Quire to where Harry was waiting.

Guests turned to smile at each other after Meghan and the children made their way past each pew, perhaps approving of the sumptuous bridal gown and ethereal veil or admiring the children carrying out their duties with aplomb.

A few minutes later, there were giggles when the Archbishop of Canterbury conducted the declarations.

A loud and clear ‘We will’ sounded out when the guests were asked if they would support Harry and Meghan.  

Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland smiled at the Prince of Wales and took his hand as they joined the newlyweds in one of the chapel’s transepts to privately record their marriage. 

There was a hush around the chapel as the wedding ceremony began and the crowds listened intently as the Dean of Windsor, David Connor, started proceedings.

The silence was only broken by the rumble of aircraft passing overhead and the odd champagne cork popping.

The crowd in Horseshoe Cloister shouted a resounding ‘We will’ as the Archbishop of Canterbury posed the question inside St George’s Chapel as to whether the families and friends of Prince Harry and Meghan would support them in their marriage.   

Meghan’s delicate veil was five metres long and made from silk tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers in silk threads and organza, with her two pageboys carrying the ends as she made her way up the steps.

Her hair was up and she wore the glittering Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau tiara, loaned to her by the Queen.

The presiding bishop of the American Episcopal Church Bishop Bishop Michael Curry enthusiastically delivered a passionate address about the power of love – but it appeared to make many in the congregation laugh. 

It is expected to be the biggest royal wedding in Britain since Prince William married Kate in 2011 with more than 21million UK households set to watch and 23million expected to tune in from America.  

Ms Markle’s wedding dress has been designed by the acclaimed British designer, Clare Keller, the first female Artistic Director at the historic French fashion house Givenchy. 

The veil was held in place by Queen Mary’s diamond bandeau tiara, lent to her by The Queen, made in 1932 – an outfit that left her mother Doria Ragland, 62, in tears.

Meghan arrived accompanied by two page boys who held up her train as she made her way up the chapel’s steps alone and entered the chapel by herself, to begin the walk down the alter, before being met by the Prince of Wales. 

David Emanuel, who designed Diana, Princess of Wales’s dress for her wedding to the Prince of Wales in 1981, said of Meghan Markle’s outfit: ‘The bride is simplicity herself.’

He added: ‘The dress is as I predicted – simple, stylish, elegant and understated.

‘I think the story is in the silk jewelled veil – it encompasses all the Commonwealth flowers, which I think is very clever.’

Asked what he thought Harry’s late mother would have said about the dress, Mr Emanuel said: ‘I think Diana would have approved.’ 

Meghan’s bouquet contains several flowers handpicked by Prince Harry from their private garden, Kensington Palace said.

‘Prince Harry handpicked several flowers yesterday from their private garden at Kensington Palace to add to the bespoke bridal bouquet designed by florist Philippa Craddock,’ the statement said.

‘The spring blooms include Forget-Me-Nots which were Diana, Princess of Wales’ favourite flower. The couple specifically chose them to be included in Ms Markle’s bouquet to honour the memory of the late princess on this special day.

‘The bride’s bouquet is a petite design, pulled together in a gentle, ethereal, relaxed style with delicate blooms also including scented sweet peas, lily of the valley, astilbe, jasmine and astrantia, and sprigs of myrtle all bound with a naturally dyed, raw silk ribbon.

‘The myrtle sprigs are from stems planted at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, by Queen Victoria in 1845, and from a plant grown from the myrtle used in the Queen’s wedding bouquet of 1947.

‘The tradition of carrying myrtle begun after Queen Victoria was given a nosegay containing myrtle by Prince Albert’s grandmother during a visit to Gotha in Germany.

‘In the same year, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought Osborne House as a family retreat, and a sprig from the posy was planted against the terrace walls, where it continues to thrive today.

‘The myrtle was first carried by Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter, Princess Victoria, when she married in 1858.’

The Most Rev Bishop Michael Curry, the first African-American presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church, gave an address titled the Power of Love at the service in St George’s Chapel.

He opened his speech with the words of Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr, who said: ‘We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we do that, we will be able to make of this old world a new world. Love is the only way.’

The bishop then added: ‘There’s power in love. Don’t underestimate it. Don’t even over-sentimentalise. There is power, power in love.’

The Episcopal Church is the US offshoot of the Church of England and forms part of the broader Anglican Communion. Meghan was baptised into the Anglican Church, which is headed by Harry’s grandmother.

Bishop Curry told the service: ‘There’s power in love. Love can help and heal when nothing else can. There’s power in love to lift up and liberate when nothing else will.’

Such power could be seen in the service, he continued, saying: ‘Two young people fell in love and we all showed up.’  

Prince Harry looked nervous as he arrived at St George’s with his best man William but quickly warmed up waving and grinning at crowds before greeting guests inside and outside the chapel. 

Her mother Doria smiled and looked adoringly at her daughter in the back of her wedding car, again supporting her in the absence of her father Thomas Markle. 

Mother and daughter drove away in a Rolls-Royce Phantom IV, which was built and delivered to the Queen in 1950 and used by Kate Middleton for her trip to Westminster Abbey when she married William seven years ago.

The couple have invited 2,000 guests and have needed more than three hours to fill the church with friends including actor Tom Hardy, Carey Mulligan, tennis player Serena Williams and many of Meghan’s Suits co-stars all there.

Harry’s ex-girlfriends Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas were also invited and joined the Middletons and his uncle Earl Spencer in the giant congregation.

Royals including the Queen and Prince Charles – who will walk Meghan down the aisle after her father dropped out – will be the last to arrive before Harry, William and finally Meghan, who will enter the church alone.

Princess Diana’s son’s whirlwind romance with the US-born actress, 36, has captured the public’s imagination and they will become the Duke and Duchess of Sussex when they marry. 

After a secret six-month relationship the couple went public and later confirmed they got engaged in November when he proposed while roasting a chicken in his Kensington Palace flat. 

Their big day is finally here after a week of turmoil for Meghan after her father pulled out at the last minute and her estranged relatives flooded into the UK to cash in on her big day.  

Cheers and applause erupted at the West Door as Prince Harry and the Duke of Cambridge arrived at St George’s Chapel. The bridegroom and his best man were met by the Dean of Windsor.

They stopped for a few moments and had a brief conversation, before walking inside.

Harry, looking dapper in his frockcoat uniform of the Blues and Royals, walked up the aisle with his best man and was seen acknowledging a guest in the congregation with a nod.

Both Harry and the Duke of Cambridge are wearing the frockcoat uniform of the Blues and Royals.

The Queen gave her permission for her grandson to get married in his uniform, Kensington Palace said.

Both uniforms were tailored at Dege & Skinner on Savile Row.

Tens of thousands of royal fans are in the Berkshire town to catch a glimpse of the bride and groom, as police have effectively created a £30million ring of steel around the castle in a massive security operation.

Many slept on the streets and more have left their homes in the middle of the night or travelled from across the world to see them.

Revellers wearing wedding dresses, union and American flags and other outlandish outfits have been popping Champagne and prosecco since 8am or earlier as they toasted the happy couple.

The official 10 Downing Street Twitter account posted a message to the couple from Theresa May, saying: ‘My very best wishes to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their wedding day. To all of those joining the national celebration with street parties and other events, have a wonderful day.’ 

Meghan spent her last night of freedom at the Cliveden House Hotel around 25 minutes from Windsor Castle where she will next see Prince Harry at the altar of St George’s Chapel.

Last night she looked stunning as she arrived with her mother Doria Ragland, 62, after enjoying afternoon tea with the Queen.

Meanwhile her husband-to-be and Prince William enjoyed a walkabout through Windsor to meet the thousands of well-wishers who have gathered to see him get married.

As she walked into the hotel wearing a £1,350 navy Roland Mouret Barwick dress she grinned as she told waiting royal fans that she felt ‘wonderful, thank you’ ahead of the biggest day of her life.

Beaming Meghan also gathered her closest friends, her dress designer and hairdresser to join her in £1,500-a-night rooms last night. 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be the Duke and Duchess of Sussex – a title not handed out for more than 150 years.

The Queen conferred the titles on her grandson and his bride-to-be as they prepared to walk down the aisle at St George’s Chapel, Windsor.

The royal groom was given a dukedom – the highest rank in the British peerage – to mark his marriage to Meghan Markle. 

American former actress Meghan will now become Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Sussex on her marriage at the much-anticipated ceremony in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.

Harry also received Scottish and Northern Irish titles, becoming the Earl of of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel, which means Meghan will become the Countess of Dumbarton and Baroness Kilkeel.

All titles are in the gift of the Queen and it was up to the monarch to choose which one to bestow on her grandson and his new wife.  

At the end of a dramatic week, sources said Harry and Meghan had just wanted to focus on their big day.

‘They are just so in love and while it has been a hugely emotional week for Meghan in terms of her father, who she is still deeply concerned about, they now want to focus on the day,’ they said. ‘It’s a huge moment for them … and they just want people to enjoy the day.’

Another added: ‘Honestly, I have never seen him so happy. He is just besotted and cannot wait to make Meghan his wife.’

With Mr Markle, a former Hollywood lighting director, recovering from surgery to fit a heart stent, Kensington Palace announced yesterday that Prince Charles would walk his future daughter-in-law to the altar. Sources close to the prince, who will wear a morning suit, said he was ‘deeply touched’ to have been asked.

‘It wasn’t something he raised at all … the couple came to him,’ they said. The source added that Charles had met Miss Markle several times and appeared to have struck up a very ‘genuine bond’ with her and now her mother. 

Millions around the world will have watched but America has been gripped by ‘Meghan mania’ – and US broadcasters have gone to extraordinary lengths to provide the best possible coverage for their viewers.

With prime broadcasting spots given to British TV, American networks have ‘annexed’ several guesthouses and hotels around Windsor Castle.

NBC is said to have ‘taken over’ the Macdonald Windsor Hotel, opposite the castle, with a team of around 300.

The broadcaster has built an ‘Olympic stadium’-like studio on the rooftop to achieve the best backdrops and have a view of the castle in the background.

Yesterday Meghan Markle’s co-stars from the TV legal drama Suits appeared in the studio to tell viewers back home how she revealed her romance with Prince Harry.

Meanwhile, rival networks ABC and CBS are said to have removed windows from rooms at the front of the Harte & Garter hotel at great expense to create the best shots.

And a two-storey temporary media centre has been set up on the Long Walk in Windsor Great Park solely for US journalists to broadcast to fascinated viewers back home.

Broadcasters are devoting huge amounts of air time to programmes before and after the wedding, and most are broadcasting or streaming the ceremony live.

In 2011, the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton was watched by 23million Americans even though it was the middle of the night for many in the US.

But viewing figures are expected to be much higher for Prince Harry and Miss Markle’s ceremony.

signed Meghan’s wedding shoes, based on a Givenchy refined pointed couture design made of a silk duchess satin.

She also created the six young Bridesmaids’ dresses in the Givenchy Haute Couture Atelier in Paris to ‘have the same timeless purity as Ms. Markle’s dress’.

In a statement released yesterday afternoon, the designer said that it had been an honour to work on perhaps her most high profile project to date.

‘It is truly an honour to have been given the opportunity to closely collaborate with Meghan Markle on such a remarkable occasion,’ she said.  

‘We wanted to create a timeless piece that would emphasise the iconic codes of Givenchy through its history, as well as convey modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts. 

‘In contract, the delicate floral beauty of the veil was a vision Meghan and I shared, a special gesture embracing the Commonwealth flora, ascending the circumference of the silk tulle.

‘As a British designer at a Parisian Haute Couture house, and on behalf of all of us at Givenchy who have been able to experience such an extraordinary process of creativity, I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished and grateful to Meghan Markle, Prince Harry and Kensington Palace for allowing us to be part of this historical chapter.

‘It has been an immensely rewarding experience to get to know Meghan on a personal level, one I will forever carry with me. The House of Givenchy joins me in wishing her and Prince Harry every wish of happiness in their future.’

Meghan’s choice of designer remained a closely guarded secret until yesterday morning, and it was reported that even Prince Harry didn’t know who she’d picked as he wanted a ‘total surprise’ on the big day. 

Speculation has been rife in recent weeks, but Givenchy was certainly not thought to be a frontrunner and failed to appear on the odds list being touted by bookmakers. 

Givenchy isn’t a label she’s previously been associated with, and royal watchers were convinced she’d wear a designer she’s previously stepped out in, such as Burberry. 

Ralph & Russo was previously expected to get the honour, with the bride-to-be rumoured to wear a hand-stitched and heavily beaded design with long sleeves. 

However, Meghan previously made it clear that she favoured a simple, classic look for a wedding dress.  

Speaking to Glamour before she emerged as Prince Harry’s girlfriend, she called the late Carolyn Bessette’s wedding dress as her ‘everything goals’.

Carolyn, then 30, wore a minimalist white gown by Narciso Rodriguez, who was at the time a little known designer to marry John F. Kennedy Jr.

Describing her dream dress, Meghan added: ‘Classic and simple is the name of the game, perhaps with a modern twist.  

However British bridal designer Caroline Castigliano claimed this week that Meghan had in fact given Stella McCartney the honour.

‘Stella is such a perfect fit for Meghan,’ she told the New York Post. ‘She uses organic fabrics and her ethos is the same as Meghan. 

‘Her style is very underplayed, her dresses are very clean in style, very much Meghan and they are friends.’ 

She added: ‘I believe it will be a very straight, fitted dress, with a big 9-foot train that comes off the dress from the side to create the drama, and lace trickling down the top of it.’