A royal wedding bridges the Atlantic, opens up a modern era
The son of British royalty and the daughter of middle-class Americans wed Saturday in a service that reflected Prince Harry’s royal heritage, Meghan Markle’s biracial roots and the pair’s shared commitment to putting a more diverse, modern face on the monarchy.
British reserve crisscrossed with American verve in a service that broke molds and created new ones. Choirboys and a gospel choir; the archbishop of Canterbury and the African-American leader of the Episcopal church; a horse-drawn carriage and flowers hand-picked by the groom.
The wedding was a global event, thanks to Harry’s status as a senior British royal and Markle’s celebrity after starring on the U.S. television series “Suits” for seven years. Yet it seemed somehow so personal — and they both beamed like a couple who couldn’t take their eyes off each other.
Meghan Markle is driven with some of her page boys to the wedding ceremony at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (Toby Melville/pool photo via AP)
Britain's Prince Harry, left, reacts as he walks with his best man, Prince William the Duke of Cambridge, as they arrive for the the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (Ben Birchhall/pool photo via AP)
Meghan Markle arrives for her wedding ceremony to Prince Harry at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (Brian Lawless/pool photo via AP)
Meghan Markle walks down the aisle as she arrives for her wedding to Britain's Prince Harry at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (Danny Lawson/pool photo via AP)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle hold hands during their wedding service at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (Jonathan Brady/pool photo via AP)
Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle kneel during their wedding ceremony at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (Owen Humphreys/pool photo via AP)
Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle hold hands in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle during their wedding service, conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (Dominic Lipinski/pool photo via AP)
Britain's Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip attend the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (Jonathan Brady/pool photo via AP)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle walk down the aisle after their wedding ceremony at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (Danny Lawson/pool photo via AP)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leave St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle after their wedding in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (Jonathan Brady/pool photo via AP)
Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leave after their wedding ceremony at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (Andrew Matthews/pool photo via AP)
Meghan Markle and Britain's Prince Harry stand on the steps of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle following their wedding in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (Jane Barlow/pool photo via AP)
Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ride in a carriage down the Long Walk after their wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (Yui Mok/pool photo via AP)
Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle after their wedding ceremony at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (Ben Stansall/pool photo via AP)
Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leave in a carriage after their wedding ceremony at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, pool)
Doria Ragland and Prince Charles leave after the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (Brian Lawless/pool photo via AP)
Well-wishers lining the streets wave and cheer as Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex after their wedding ceremony at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (Odd Andersen/pool photo via AP)
George Clooney, center left, greets Serena Williams in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Windsor, England on Saturday, May 19, 2018. In the foreground are Amal Clooney, left, and Alexis Ohanian. At background center is Idris Elba. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Oprah Winfrey leaves St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle after the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (Ian West/pool photo via AP)
Meghan Markle reacts as she rides in a carriage with her husband Britain's Prince Harry after their wedding ceremony at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (Jeff J Mitchell/pool photo via AP)
Two women watching a video screen cry as Meghan Markle enters the chapel during the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
People relax on a grassy bank outside Windsor Castle after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding ceremony at St. George's Chapel in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Girls keep warm under a blanket prior to the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Laila Widgeon, 6, toasts with her mother Joy Widgeon, both of Berlin, N.J., during a television viewing party of the royal wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry of Wales, Saturday, May 18, 2018, at the Armstrong-Turner residence in Burlington, N.J. The ceremony married the pomp and circumstance of Britain's most sacred institution with elements of black culture, drawing viewers not normally drawn to the spectacle of the monarchy.. (AP Photo/Corey Perrine)
The newly married Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, leave Windsor Castle in a convertible car after their wedding in Windsor, England, to attend an evening reception at Frogmore House, hosted by the Prince of Wales, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (Steve Parsons/pool photo via AP)
Text from the AP news story, A royal wedding bridges the Atlantic, opens up a modern era.
This gallery was produced by Donald King and Patrick Sison in New York.