Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are now just days away from making their vows in a wedding that is expected to attract millions of viewers.
CTVNews.ca will have full coverage of the grand event at CTVNews.ca/Royals, with plenty of exclusive content, pictures and videos. CTVNews.ca will be live streaming the wedding, which will also be available on the 麻豆影视 GO app.
麻豆影视鈥� live coverage of the event begins at 4:00 a.m. ET and will be led by Chief Anchor and Senior Editor Lisa LaFlamme in Windsor. She will joined by royal historian and biographer Hugo Vickers, as well as Canadian music icon Jann Arden, a recipient of the Queen鈥檚 Diamond Jubilee Medal and longtime fan of the Royal Family who will contribute her own unique perspective.
The special will feature live reports from 麻豆影视 reporters in Windsor who will cover every angle of the nuptials, including the arrivals of Royal Family members and celebrity guests, as well as the complete details behind Markle鈥檚 dress and designer.
麻豆影视 Chief Anchor and Senior Editor Lisa LaFlamme will be joined by Royal historian Hugo Vickers and Songwriter Jann Arden, a recipient of the Queen鈥檚 Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Our reporters on the ground will be using the #CTVroyalwedding hashtag on Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and Twitter. Search the hashtag online to find behind-the-scenes tidbits from the visit:
- The 麻豆影视 and accounts will highlight any landmark social media moments that occur during the trip
- Our account will showcase behind-the-scenes pictures and can't-miss videos from the tour
- To see exclusive behind-the-scenes moments as they unfold, make sure to add us on Snapchat for live updates from our reporters covering the royals. Search for the username 'CTVNews' on the app.
Be sure to follow our team of reporters on the ground for more live coverage:
- Daniele Hamamdjian
- Rosa Hwang
- Jill Macyshon
- Todd Battis
- Paul Workman
- Mary Nersessian @
- Marcia MacMillan
- Anne-Marie Mediwake
Here鈥檚 all you need to know to be prepared:
When
The wedding begins at noon GMT on Saturday, May 19. That's 7 a.m. ET; 4 a.m. PT.
Following the traditional service, the newlyweds will set out in an open carriage called an Ascot landau along a procession route through Windsor, before returning for an afternoon luncheon reception at 1 p.m.
In the evening, they will enjoy a second reception hosted by the Prince of Wales at an undisclosed location that will be attended by the bride and groom鈥檚 200 closest friends and family.
Where
The couple will wed at St. George's Chapel, the 15th-century church on the grounds of Windsor Castle that has been the backdrop for many royal occasions, and is the final resting place of scores of kings and queens -- including Prince Harry鈥檚 great-grandparents. The chapel seats 800 guests, though only 600 have been invited for this event.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who baptized Markle in March, will marry the couple.
The steps of the chapel will be lined by members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and members of the Queen's Guard Windsor Castle will line the streets within Windsor Castle.
The dress
For many, the most anticipated moment of the wedding will be when Ms. Markle walks down the aisle and reveals the dress she chose.
Royal wedding dress designs are always closely guarded secrets, and while we won鈥檛 know what kind of dress Markle will choose, we do have some hints as Markle herself has said she prefers 鈥渃lassic and simple... with a modern twist.鈥�
Among the designers that bookmakers think are likely contenders are British fashion house Ralph and Russo, Erdem -- a Canadian designer based in London, French-born Roland Mouret, and Jenny Packham, one of Kate Middleton鈥檚 favourites.
Markle will almost certainly change into a second dress for the evening reception, which is more casual. (The Duchess of Cambridge chose a cream-coloured dress with a soft jacket for the evening reception after her wedding to Prince William.)
Dress code
As for the guests, the dress code is 鈥渄ay dress with a hat鈥� for the women, while the men are asked to wear a 鈥渕orning coat鈥� -- which is a long jacket normally worn with a vest -- or a 鈥渓ounge suit鈥� -- which is what most of us think of when we think of a suit.
The third option is 鈥渦niform,鈥� which could be a good indication that Harry, Captain General of the Royal Marines, will choose to wear his uniform for the ceremony.
The wedding party
Kensington Palace confirmed early on that Prince William will act as best man at the wedding, as many expected, since Harry was William鈥檚 best man at his wedding.
And though there had been speculation that Canada鈥檚 Jessica Mulroney -- a stylist and one of Markle鈥檚 close friends 鈥� would act as matron of honour, in fact, Markle has chosen to forego a maid of honour, choosing instead to have several friends support her through the day.
Markle will arrive at the chapel accompanied by her mother, Doria Ragland, a social worker and yoga instructor.
Markle鈥檚 father, Thomas, a former television lighting director, was initially slated to walk his daughter down the aisle, but she later said her father will not attend the wedding due to health problems.
Instead, .
As for the rest of the bridal party, it will consist entirely of children, which is customary at royal weddings.
Prince William and Kate鈥檚 children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, will be members. Ben and Jessica Mulroney's three children are also among the bridesmaids and page boys chosen.
Ivy Mulroney, age four, will join Princess Charlotte as one of six bridesmaids, and John and Brian Mulroney, both age seven, will join Prince George as one of four page boys, the .
The list of bridesmaids (https://www.royal.uk/bridesmaids-and-page-boys-wedding-prince-harry-and-ms-meghan-markle) also includes Florence van Cutsem, age three, goddaughter of Prince Harry, Markle鈥檚 goddaughters, Remi, age six, and Rylan, age seven, and Zalie Warren, age two, another one of Prince Harry鈥檚 goddaughters.
The roster of page boys also includes Prince Harry鈥檚 godson, Jasper Dyer, age six.
Details about the bridesmaids鈥� dresses and the page boys鈥� uniforms will be made available on the wedding day.
The guest list
The actual guest list is another closely guarded secret, but there are several guests who seem like sure things.
Harry has more than 50 close relatives who will dominate the guest list, including several first and second cousins. Several non-royals also have guaranteed spots, including the Duchess of Cambridge鈥檚 sister, Pippa Middleton, her husband James Mathews, and brother James Middleton.
All three siblings of Diana, Princess of Wales, will be in attendance, with one sister, Lady Jane Fellowes, giving a reading at the ceremony.
It鈥檚 still not certain if Prince Harry grandfather, Prince Philip, will attend. He has been in poor health in recent months.
It鈥檚 not clear if Markle鈥檚 siblings 鈥� Thomas Markle Jr. and sister Samantha Grant -- will attend; Kensington Palace has made no mention of them.
The friend who is said to have introduced the couple, Violet von Westenholz, will likely get a nod. Harry's buddies Thomas and Charlie van Straubenzee, and Thomas Inskip also seem likely.
Markle's friends include tennis star Serena Williams, stylist Jessica Mulroney and husband Ben, "Suits" star Patrick J. Adams, and former "Made in Chelsea" cast member Millie Mackintosh may also make an appearance.
As for politicians, British Prime Minister Theresa May, U.S. President Donald Trump, former U.S. president Barack Obama, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have all said they won鈥檛 be attending.
The flowers
Harry and Markle have chosen self-taught London floral designer Philippa Craddock to create the church flower arrangements. They will include peonies 鈥� Markle鈥檚 favourite flower -- white garden roses, and foxgloves, set off by branches of beech, birch and hornbeam sourced from the English countryside.
Markle herself will likely carry a bouquet containing at least one sprig of myrtle, which has been in every royal wedding bouquet since 1840.
The flower arrangements will be on display to the public the day after the wedding, within St. George鈥檚 Chapel, which will open to the public for one day. The flowers will then be donated to charities.
The photographer
The couple has chosen Alexi Lubomirski to take photos at the wedding -- the same photographer who took the couple's engagement photos.
The music
The couple plans to mix traditional choral works from the St George's Chapel choir with gospel music from the Kingdom Choir, a gospel group from southeast England.
The carriage ride
After the ceremony, the happy couple will ride in either an open Ascot landau or a covered Scottish State Coach, if it rains, for a 25-minute carriage procession through Windsor.
But 2,640 invited guests from all walks of life will gather on the grounds of Windsor Castle to watch the procession.
About 1,200 will be members of the general public, and another 200 will represent charities and other organizations supported by the couple. Local schoolchildren, residents of Windsor and members of the Royal Household will make up the balance.
The afternoon reception will be held in St. George's Hall and will be hosted by the Queen.
The menu
Kensington Palace has not revealed what delectable items will be on the menu at the afternoon reception. But it has revealed that guests will toast the happy couple with a lemon elderflower cake with buttercream, decorated with fresh flowers. It will be created by celebrated pastry chef Claire Ptak, who uses only organic flour, milk and eggs.
As for wine, Markle鈥檚 now-defunct lifestyle blog, the Tig, was named after her favourite red wine, Tignanello, which might find its way onto the drink menu.
The gifts
There will be no need for a gift table at the wedding; the couple has said they would prefer donations to charities instead.
Harry and Markle have chosen seven charities that represent a range of issues they are passionate about, including the empowerment of women, environmental conservation, and help for HIV sufferers.
The seven organizations are: CHIVA (Children's HIV Association); Crisis; the Myna Mahila Foundation; Scotty's Little Soldiers -- a charity for bereaved Armed Forces children; StreetGames; Surfers Against Sewage; and The Wilderness Foundation U.K.
The honeymoon
The bride and groom will be spending their first night as husband and wife at Windsor Castle, but they have no plans to head out on honeymoon right away. In fact, they have an engagement to attend about a week after the wedding. Kensington Palace has not said when and where the couple will eventually go for a honeymoon.
