Royal wedding LIVE: Meghan Markle's Givenchy dress and preacher Michael Curry steal the show
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Your support makes all the difference.After months of build-up, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are now married and hold the titles the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
The ceremony, which drew heavily on Meghan's African American heritage, took place at noon at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle and was watched by millions around the world.
100,000 people descended on Windsor, with many camping overnight in a bid to catch a glimpse of the royal couple.
Royal weddings have long been occasions steeped in tradition and ceremony, but when Harry and Meghan joined in marriage, it was diversity which was centre stage.
The influence of African-American culture was apparent throughout the service at St George's Chapel in Windsor, from the rousing address of black Episcopal Bishop Michael Curry to the spine-tingling performance of a gospel choir.
Such departures from the conventional Church of England wedding indicates the impact Meghan has had on the House of Windsor.
For she is far from a conventional royal bride.
Born in Los Angeles, California, to a white father and African-American mother, Meghan rose through the world of showbusiness with a plum role in the TV series Suits. By the time she met Harry, she was a divorcee, and today became the first mixed-race member of the royal family.
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."
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.
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."
In further break from tradition Meghan was due to make a speech at the lunchtime reception hosted by the Queen on behalf of herself and new husband Prince Harry.
The royal newlywed was one of three people due to address around 600 guests at the event, being held at Windsor Castle's St George's Hall.
Her new husband and the Prince of Wales will also make speeches, Kensington Palace said.
Harry's best man and brother, the Duke of Cambridge, will act as compere, it said in a statement.
To read how we covered the day's festivities please read what was our live coverage below. If it was all a bit too much for you, please read our alternative live blog of the day below - it was a bunting-free zone.
The moment we've all been waiting for is here! The dress reveal. Meghan Markle is entering the chapel wearing a gown by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy.
Meghan makes the first part of the lengthy walk down the aisle alone. It's the first time a royal bride has not been 'given away' by a male member of her family.
Meghan wanted to walk alone into the chapel, but asked Prince Charles to accompany her for the final few steps, before he peeled away and she walked on to Harry alone.
The Suits actress has previously blogged and spoken out on feminist issues.
Prince Harry greeted his bride at the altar saying "you look amazing," and there's not a dry eye in the house.
As the congregation sing 'Lord of all hopefulness', Prince Harry has whipped back Markle's veil, revealing a beaming smile which is reflected on the groom's face.
The new Duchess of Sussex followed in a long line of royal family members with her choice of transport to her wedding.
Meghan was accompanied on the back seat of their dark Rolls-Royce limousine by her mother, Doria Ragland, as they made their way from the Cliveden House Hotel to St George's Chapel in Windsor.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom IV was built and delivered to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in 1950 when she was still Princess Elizabeth.
Kate Middleton - now the Duchess of Cambridge - used the same model for her trip to Westminster Abbey for her wedding to Prince William in 2011.
Harry's father and the Duchess of Cornwall took that exact same car for their journey to the ceremony on Saturday.
The luxury vehicle had to undergo a rigorous repair job in time for the Cambridges' wedding after it was damaged by student protesters.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom VI, a present to the Queen from the famous car manufacturer to mark her Silver Jubilee in 1977, was splattered with white paint and had a rear passenger window badly cracked by the group campaigning against increases to student fees.
The Queen arrived in Windsor on Saturday in her state Bentley, delivered in 2002 as a Golden Jubilee gift, while the Duchess of Cambridge, bridesmaids and pageboys arrived in vintage Daimler DS 420s.
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.
But... it seems like a rather long sermon for a wedding and many of the royal party appear to be stifling smiles.
The British royals will have to get used to this American way!
The wide-ranging address cited love as the key to curing global problems such as poverty.
In a moment of light self-deprecation, Bishop Curry noted he had to soon sit down, gesturing to the couple and adding "we need to get y'all married".
The ideas of French thinker Pierre Teilhard de Chardin were called upon as the bishop brought his address to a powerful conclusion.
The Roman catholic theologian, described as "one of the great minds and spirits of the 20th century", recognised the role fire had played in advancing human history.
"Anybody get here in a car today? An automobile? Nod your head if you did, I know there were some carriages. Those of us who came in cars, controlled, harnessed fire. Fire made that possible," the preacher said.
"I know the Bible said - and I believe it - that Jesus walked on the water, but I have to tell you I didn't walk across the Atlantic Ocean to get here - controlled fire in that plane got me here."
To laughter, he then quipped: "Fire makes it possible for us to text and tweet and email and Facebook and be dysfunctional to each other."
Drawing the threads of his address together, he concluded: "If humanity ever captures the energy of love, it will be the second time in history that we have discovered fire."
Dr King, he said, was "right" in his belief that we must discover the redemptive power of love.
The address finished: "My brother, my sister, God love you, God bless you.
"And may God hold us all in those almighty hands of love."
The Archbishop of Canterbury had previously described Bishop Curry as "a brilliant pastor, stunning preacher and someone with a great gift for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ".
He was asked by the couple to perform the address despite not being personally known to them.
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