Royal bride-to-be Meghan Markle has got a taste of British train travel today as she and her fiancé Prince Harry are running late for an engagement in Cardiff.
US-born Miss Markle and Harry left Paddington Station on time at 11.15am on route for Cardiff.
But delays to the GWR train mean they will not arrive into the Welsh capital until well after 2pm – making them at least half an hour late for their third public engagement as a couple.
Besotted Harry, 33, has made a promise to his bride-to-be to undertake visits across the U.K. before their wedding, to give the actress a chance to see the country she will come to call home and meet its people.
A GWR spokesman said they could not comment on individual travellers but explained that trains to Cardiff were delayed because of a ‘Network Rail infrastructure issue, namely a points failure at Didcot, which has impacted services.’
Prince Harry will make good today on his promise to introduce his fiancée Meghan Markle to communities the length and breadth of Britain
Members of the public are cheerfully waiting for the pair to arrive in Cardiff, waving their flags in readiness
The Royal couple are set to arrive in the Welsh capital to a tumultuous welcome from cheering and flag waving fans
The couple will start their day at the historic Cardiff Castle, one of the country’s most important and popular historical sites and Meghan-mania saw royal supporters queuing outside from 6am.
The first fan waiting to meet them was Jenna Quilter, 18, from, Cregiau, who arrived at 6.30am.
She said: ‘It’s fascinating that she’s not the typical person you’d expect to become a future duchess and it’s just really interesting to see the public reaction to her.
‘I’m a big fan of the royals. Mainly the Duchess of Cambridge but I adore Prince Harry. I think Harry and Meghan represent a more modern society and it keeps some of the British traditions alive. I’ve got some roses for Meghan too.’
Abbie Smith, visiting from Louisiana, added: ‘In America this is like a fairytale. I think it’s really cool that she’s from the States and gets to experience the Royal lifestyle as well.’
Royal superfans Anne Daley, 60, and her sister Julie, 53, were there from 7.30am with their dog Camilla.
Anne, from Llandaff, said: ‘We follow them everywhere. We will be there at the royal wedding. We have always done it since we were little girls because our father was in the Irish Guards.’
And they wanted to ask Ms Markle to have her hen party in Cardiff.
‘We have brought a bride-to-be sash and veil for her and some L-plates and we can take her on a tour of all the Cardiff nightclubs,’ said Ms Daley.
‘We could get a new Duke and Duchess of Abergavenny or somewhere – it should hopefully strengthen our relationship with America.’
Meghan-mania saw royal supporters queuing outside from 6am – seven hours before the couple were due to arrive
Fans seized the opportunity to dress up for the momentous occasion – with one putting on a regal display, stealing the show in her Queen Victoria costume
Youngsters waves their flags as they waited in the biting cold for Harry and Meghan, undeterred by the couple’s late arrival
Crowds lined the area outside the castle in their hundreds, waiting to catch a glimpse of the couple
June Haws, from Llandaff brought Harry and Ms Markle a Welsh Love Spoon made from pewter to celebrate their upcoming wedding.
The custom of carving and giving Love Spoons dates back centuries in Wales, with young men gifting them as a token of their affection.
‘It is engraved with a Welsh dragon, daffodils and wedding bells,’ Mrs Haws said. ‘Prince Harry has always been special to the people who have lived through the Diana years, as I have. I just want to see him happy, and to see her. It is a great atmosphere here.’
Eleanor Davies, 63, from Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, said: ‘I’ve seen other members of the royal family before but not Harry. It is so exciting to have them in Wales.’
Iris Bishop, 60, Linda Nubert, 67, and Pamela Lloyd, 68, all from Cardiff, held a Welsh flag and wore dragon brooches for the visit.
‘I think it is lovely that they thought to come here before their marriage,’ Mrs Bishop said. ‘It is an early gift for us. We are big royal fans.’
Camilla the 10-year-old Cavalier King Charles spaniel wore a headband with American flags on, as well as a veil, to meet Harry and his bride-to-be.
Anne Dale, 60, said: ‘It is wonderfully exciting. I just can’t wait to meet them and Camilla will see them too. They just look lovely together.’
Julie Feehan, 50, is throwing her son Gregory a royal-wedding themed 18th birthday party – as his birthday falls on May 19.
She said: ‘We’re having a big celebration and dressing up for the occasion. Gregory wants to go out with the boys but has to do this first. It’s so exciting that it falls on the same day.’
After their walkabout Harry and Meghan, 36, will go inside the castle to hear performances from musicians and poets taking part in a Welsh Cultural Festival.
They will also meet leading sportsmen and women and learn more about organisations working to promote the Welsh language and cultural identity.
Later they will travel to the economically-deprived area of Tremorfa where they will visit Star Hub, a community and leisure centre which uses sport to engage young people and aid social development.
Harry and Meghan will see how StreetGames, which the prince has worked with previously, works to make sport accessible to all young people, regardless of their social circumstances.
Doorstep sports session operate in dozens of disadvantaged communities and the royal couple will meet young people taking part in sessions including street dance and table tennis.
They are also keen to meet young women from UsGirls project, set up to encourage women to take part in sport.