Prince Harry told Meghan Markle she ‘navigated everything with such grace’ in emotional Royal Wedding speech in apparent nod to dad missing her big day
LOVED-up Prince Harry moved his wedding guests to tears when he praised his new wife during an emotional speech to family and friends.
The Royal said he and his new wife make a "great team" and told her: “I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”
The couple have now left Windsor Castle to begin their married life together at Kensington Palace.
The Prince last night praised Meghan, saying she had “navigated everything with such grace” - with even her hair stylist said she was calm and chatty on the morning of the wedding.
Harry's comment appears to have been a thinly veiled reference to Meghan’s family troubles in the weeks leading up to the wedding.
Her dad Thomas Markle was due to be at Meghan's side, but pulled out after he underwent a heart operation earlier this week following revelations that he had posed for paparazzi.
How the Royal Wedding unfolded...
- Harry and Meghan have now left Windsor Castle to begin their married life together
- Meghan wore Diana’s ring as Harry drove the pair to their star-studded reception after tying the knot
- Meghan changed out of her Givenchy wedding dress into a bespoke lily white high-neck silk crepe gown by Stella McCartney for the party
- Celebrities including George and Amal Clooney, the Beckhams and Oprah Winfrey partied the night away at the lavish bash
- Elton John entertained guests by singing his hit songs ‘Tiny Dancer’, ‘Your Song’ and ‘Circle of Life’ at the party
- Prince Charles ‘had reception guests in stitches’ with gags about changing Harry’s nappy before a glittering firework display
- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle earlier sealed their marriage with a kiss after a groundbreaking modern Royal Wedding
- Meghan stunned in a Givenchy gown with a 15ft veil embroidered with flowers for the ceremony
- Princess Charlotte and Prince George melted hearts with their outfits for the big day
- At the ceremony American Bishop Michael Curry stole the show with an eccentric speech
The Royal Wedding has also been dogged by Meghan's family speaking out against her.
She has faced criticism from half-sister Samantha Markle, who claimed Thomas was alone and upset in hospital following his surgery for a dangerous heart condition.
And her brother Thomas Markle Jr also hit out at the former actress - telling Prince Harry not to marry her, blasting the wedding as a "fake fairy tale".
But the newlyweds put all that behind them as they had a right Royal knees up at their lavish reception - complete with "naughty" speeches and James Corden playing the court jester.
And Wills also didn't disappoint - reportedly making a "naughty" speech before Meghan broke tradition and stood up to thank the Royal family for "welcoming" her.
A guest at the wedding told : "Charles spoke about feeding Harry a bottle and changing his nappy, and then said look how well he turned out.
"That's about as embarrassing as it got."
Meghan and Harry were later pictured driving to the evening reception in an E-type Jaguar with the licence plate bearing the date of their wedding.
The bride looked stunning in her second dress - a lily-white Stella McCartney halter neck silk crepe gown, and shoes from Aquazurra.
She also had on an emerald-cut aquamarine ring which Princess Diana wore just weeks before her death in August 1997.
Harry looked dapper in a fitted tuxedo as he helped his wife into the eco-friendly electric version of a 1968 Jaguar E-Type.
Guests danced the night away to Harry's favourite House tracks, which were curated by Sam Totolee, who performed at Pippa Middleton's wedding.
The couple locked lips for a second time as they were taken around Windsor after their gorgeous ceremony
Guests were picked up in a double decker coach and taken to Frogmore House for the lavish reception in a £300,000 glass marquee at around 7.15pm.
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie arrived in a black Bentley at 7.30pm.
After the reception ended, boozed-up guests reportedly travelled to the trendy Chiltern Firehouse in London to carry on the night.
Some of the A-listers who attended the wedding held an "after after party" at the bar in Marylebone at around 1am.
The raucous party followed on from the lunchtime reception, where Harry had guests in tears with his speech.
The beaming Royal paid tribute to his bride, and joked that guests should leave quietly to avoid waking the neighbours.
Elton John also brought the house down with a barnstorming set - after Prince Harry quipped: "Can any one here play the piano?"
The superstar played a set including Lion King classic Circle of Life, Tiny Dancer and I'm Still Standing.
Charity boss Suhani Jalota: "Some people were even crying. I think it was just a very, really nice atmosphere to be in where everybody felt really loved.
"Essentially it was just about how Harry was as a child and growing up. And now just about the couple and how beautiful they are together.
"So I think it was just about their personalities and how they gel really well together.
"He [Harry] was talking about his wife and you know everybody was clapping because it was the first time he was using that term for Meghan so it was really nice."
Jalota, who founded the India-based Myna Mahila charity, told how Elton John then wowed guests with a small concert.
She said: "He was incredible. It became like a mini-concert in the reception area. It was great."
But the party was lacking a father-of-the bride speech after Meghan's dad Thomas Markle Snr pulled out of attending over health fears.
Guests at the lunchtime bash nibbled on luxury canapes and quaffed Pol Roger Brut Reserve Non Vintage Champagne.
The canapes included Scottish langoustine wrapped in smoked salmon with citrus crème fraiche as well as croquette of confit Windsor lamb, roasted vegetables and shallot jam.
Also on offer were poached free range chicken bound in a lightly-spiced yogurt with roasted apricot and warm asparagus spears with mozzarella and sunblush tomatoes.
They were treated to bitesize slices of the stunning £50,000 lemon and elderflower wedding cake designed by East London baker Claire Ptak.
The Royal Wedding yesterday was a modern affair - with the couple hailed for their multicultural ceremony.
Their nuptials at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle featured a rip-roaring sermon from an American preacher and a moving rendition of Stand By Me by a black gospel choir.
The Most Rev , the first presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church in New York, moved millions watching the ceremony as he spoke about the power of love.
The loved-up pair gazed at each other during the ceremony, with Meghan wowing in her spectacular gown by designer Clare Waight Keller of Givenchy.
She teamed it with a dazzling Mary Diamond Bandeau tiara – lent to her by the Queen.
Meghan expressed the wish of having all 53 countries of the Commonwealth with her on her journey through the ceremony.
Harry greeted his beautiful bride at the altar yesterday and told her: “You look amazing.”
Meghan was walked down the aisle by Prince Charles — standing in for her absent father Thomas.
Harry, 33, who had nervously fiddled with his cuffs while waiting, turned to Charles and said: “Thank you, Pa.”
The Suits star said “Thank you” and asked “Are you OK?” Harry grinned and replied: “Absolutely.”
As his bride made her vows, her watching mother Doria Ragford appeared tearful as celebrities including the Clooneys and Beckhams watched on.
A huge cheer rang out from the crowds gathered outside in the spring sunshine as the couple shared a kiss.
They were then whisked away for a Royal procession across Windsor - where they treated more than 100,000 well-wishers to a second kiss.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.