Prince Harry, Meghan Markle wed in Windsor as millions watch

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle gazed into each other’s eyes and pledged their lifelong love Saturday as they married in front of hundreds of royals, celebrities and friends at St. George’s Chapel and millions of TV viewers around the world.

The pretty English town of Windsor sparkled on a warm spring day as tens of thousands of people jammed its quaint roads and parks to capture their own part of the spectacular yet elegant royal wedding extravaganza.

To kick off the festivities, Queen Elizabeth II honoured her red-headed, 33-year-old grandson with a new title: the Duke of Sussex, making Markle the Duchess of Sussex.

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. Its pomp and ceremony embraced the couple’s trans-Atlantic union, mixing Anglican prayers and tradition, classical music and a gospel choir with a stately horse-drawn carriage ride through Windsor in a spectacle beamed live to tens of millions.

The American actress embraced her new British role in a sleek white silk boat-necked dress designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller. Her sheer veil – down to her waist in front and billowing for what seemed like miles behind her – carried floral references to all 53 countries in the Commonwealth, the group of countries that roughly corresponds to the former British Empire and is headed by Markle’s new grandmother-in-law, the queen.

The palace said, in addition to the Commonwealth flowers, Markle also selected two other plants on the veil: Wintersweet and, in a nod to the bride’s birthplace, the California poppy.

Harry and best man Prince William wore white gloves and the frock coat uniforms of the Blues and Royals military regiment. Harry kept his full red beard intact – a style decision that had sparked British bets before the wedding.

Markle walked down the aisle alone at first, then was accompanied by Prince Charles and 10 young page boys and bridesmaids. As his father and his bride drew close to the altar, Harry said: “Thank you, Pa.”

To Markle, Harry said: “You look amazing.”

Markle seemed poised and confident as she delivered her vows without so much as a quiver in her voice. She smiled broadly as the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby declared them husband and wife. Harry seemed a bit nervous – but happy.

The sermon offered a particularly rousing U.S. touch, with the leader of the Episcopal Church quoting civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. on the “redemptive power of love.” The Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry delivered the sermon with heartfelt emotion. The musical selections also included versions of Ben. E. King’s “Stand By Me” and Etta James’ “Amen/This Little Light of Mine.”

A host of celebrities and athletes – including Oprah Winfrey, Idris Elba, Elton John, George and Amal Clooney, Serena Williams, James Corden and David and Victoria Beckham – watched from the seats in the Gothic masterpiece at Windsor Castle.

As the newest royal couple emerged from the chapel, they kissed. The crowd roared – and just kept cheering – as Harry helped his wife fold her 5 metre (16 1/2 foot) long train into the Ascot Landau carriage as they began their procession through the streets of Windsor.

Police said more than 100,000 people lined the route. The open-topped carriage was pulled by four Windsor Grey horses and past crowds waving flags and holding cellphones aloft. The newlyweds smiled and practiced what royals must be very good at: waving and waving and waving to the crowds.

Relatives in the ceremony included 4-year-old Prince George and 3-year-old Princess Charlotte, children of William and the Duchess of Cambridge. Other relatives at the church included Charles Spencer, the brother of Harry’s late mother Princess Diana, and Harry’s cousins Zara Tindall and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

Also in attendance was Harry’s sister-in-law’s family: Parents Carole and Michael Middleton, sister Pippa Middleton and brother James Middleton. Harry’s ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy was there, as was Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, the ex-wife of Harry’s uncle Prince Andrew.

Seven-year-old Canadian twins Brian and John Mulroney served page boys at the royal wedding. Their four-year-old sister Ivy also served as a bridesmaid.

The three kids were present with parents Ben and Jessica Mulroney, who live in Toronto are said to be close friends of the royal bride and groom.

Canadians rose at the crack of dawn to ring in the royal nuptials.

In Markle’s former adopted home of Toronto, a line of people wrapped around the corner outside the Princess of Wales Theatre for a free viewing party, many of them huddled under umbrellas so they could shield their wedding best from the rain spitting from a darkened sky.

Purnima Kabir, 30, said she hadn’t slept because she was too excited for the occasion. Dressed in a royal blue sari with lace, Kabir said she had been a royal watcher since the reign of Diana, but felt particularly invested in the soon-to-be newlyweds because of Harry and Markle’s special connection to Toronto.

“I hope that they go really far, because they work really well together as a unit,” Kabir said.

Her brother, Andaleebe Kabir, said as a graduate of a British prep school, he was most excited to see Queen Elizabeth as she watched her grandson tie the knot.

“We could not resist this (event). This is the theatre named for Princess Diana, and to do this here for this day, it’s absolutely a wonderful tribubte,” he said. “We wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”

Lorena Erarzo, who was celebrating her 38th birthday in addition to the royal nuptials, wore a wedding dress so she and her white-tied husband, Mark MacLean, could vie for the grand prize in the theatre’s costume contest – a trip for two to London.

The cavernous theatre was packed to the brim with about 2,000 royal watchers, many bedecked in top hats, fascinators and tiaras.

An emcee quizzed the crowd with trivia to keep them entertained during the live broadcast’s commercial breaks. Union jacks waved in the air as the crowd clapped for the Queen’s arrival, many taking pulling out their smartphones to take photos of the towering screen.

In Montreal’s Burgundy Lion pub, several dozen people dined on crumpets and a full English breakfast in anticipation of the big moment.

Samantha Elfassy, 23, donned a red fascinator and pulled out a phone to snap some shots as the Queen arrived. She said she was most excited to see the monarch – and had taken bets on the length of the bride’s train.

The union of Harry, who is sixth in line to the throne, and Markle has been hailed as a breath of fresh air by many Canadians who look forward to this younger generation of royals shaking up the largely ceremonial institution.