Meghan Markle weds Prince Harry: From the ceremony, procession to the cake, here's what to expect at the royal wedding

Prince Harry, sixth in line to the British throne, and Meghan Markle, American actor, and activist, are getting married at Windsor Castle on Saturday 19 May.

Here’s what to expect at the royal wedding.

The wedding ceremony
The wedding will take place at the St George’s Chapel that dates back to 1475. This chapel was the place of Prine Harry's christening, his father Charles's civil marriage with Camilla Parker-Bowles (2005) and other royal weddings including Harry’s uncle, Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys Jones (1999), and his cousin Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly (2008).

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Church decor

The church will be decorated with seasonal flowers and plants from the surrounding royal parkland, including branches of beech, birch and hornbeam, as well as white garden roses, peonies and foxgloves, all designed by Philippa Craddock, a Chelsea-based luxury florist.

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The best man, bridesmaids and page boys

While the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William takes on the best man duties, his children, Princess Charlotte and Prince George will be seen among six young bridesmaids and four page boys. Prince Charles will accompany the bride down the aisle, after Meghan's father, Thomas Markle Sr. told his daughter that he would not be able to fulfil the traditional role as 'the father of the bride' due to ill-health. 

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Music

The Kingdom Choir, a Christian gospel group, and Sheku Kanneh-Mason, a 19-year-old cellist who won BBC Young Musician of the year in 2016 will perform well-known hymns and choral works alongside trumpeters from the Household Cavalry.

Guests

600 invited guests will be present at the service conducted by the Rt Rev David Conner, the dean of Windsor, while the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, will officiate as the couple say their vows. The address will be given by the Most Rev Michael Curry of the Episcopal church in the US.

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Outside, in the grounds of Windsor Castle will be 2,640 members of the public invited by Harry and Meghan to watch their arrival at the chapel. This group including younsters, charity workers, and community organisers were earlier advised to bring their own picnic lunch.

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The procession

After the ceremony, Harry and Meghan will take to an open-topped, horse-drawn carriage for a procession around Windsor town centre. Crowds will line a route from St George’s Chapel, down Castle Hill on to High Street, through the town to Sheet Street, Kings Road, Albert Road, then along the Long Walk back to the gates of Windsor Castle.

Wedding Lunch
After the carriage procession, the newlyweds will join their wedding guests at a lunchtime reception hosted by the Queen in St George’s Hall inside Windsor Castle.

The Cake

The guests will be treated to a lemon elderflower cake covered with buttercream and decorated with fresh flowers, a creation of Claire Ptak, the American-born owner of Hackney-based Violet Cakes.

The reception

A second reception for family and close friends, hosted by the Prince of Wales, will take place at Frogmore House, a 17th-century property within the Home Park.