Royal wedding LIVE: Meghan Markle's Givenchy dress and preacher Michael Curry steal the show
Follow our live updates
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
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.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have chosen Cleave and Company to make their Wedding rings, Kensington Palace has revealed.
"Markle's ring has been fashioned from a piece of Welsh Gold, gifted by Her Majesty The Queen," the statement reads. "Prince Harry's ring will be a Platinum Band with a textured finish. Both rings were crafted in the Cleave workshop.
"The rings will be carried to St George's Chapel on the day of the Wedding by The Duke of Cambridge, in his capacity as Best Man."
The Duke of Cambridge does not wear a wedding ring, and it remains to be seen whether Prince Harry will opt to wear his.
Prince Harry has now left his hotel, Coworth Park, and is on his way to Windsor with his best man, the Duke of Cambridge.
The wedding guests continue to arrive in their finery: Michael, Carole, Pippa and James Middleton have all been spotted, as have James Blunt, Oprah, Idris Elba, Dan Snow and Harry's ex Chelsy Davy. Check out our gallery of wedding guests here.
Hold the front page -Britain's other royal family, the Beckhams have arrived!
Presumably not pleased to be forced to sit for an hour and a half in the chapel before the service begins, Posh has opted to observe Victorian mourning etiquette with a black outfit complete with absolutely no sign of a smile.
In contrast Amal Clooney of world saving lawyer fame arrived wearing a fantastic canary yellow dress, with matching hat. She also brought husband George, who admittedly did scrub-up well.
The members of the public who've been invited to line the entrance to the chapel have reportedly been given commemorative bags containing Harry and Meghan-branded water, chocolate and shortbread - fortunately they were advised in advance to bring their own snacks to supplement the nibbles provided.
The stars of Suits have now arrived at Windsor Castle, including Sarah Rafferty, Gabriel Macht and Patrick J Adams. Along with James Corden, Carey Mulligan, Elton John, Idris Elba, Oprah, James Blunt, Serena Williams, the Beckhams and Clooneys, it's certainly a star-studded event.
We're outside St. George's Chapel in Windsor for Harry and Meghan's big day chatting to two wedding and bridal experts about what we can expect for the rest of the day. Watch live here.
↵
Meghan Markle has just departed from Cliveden House with her mother - although the whole dress cannot be seen through the car, the bride is, somewhat surprisingly given her feminist credentials, wearing a veil. Her hair is up and her shoulders are covered, however this could be a jacket over the top of her dress.
On the ground in Windsor Maya Oppenheim has been mingling with more royal fans:
Superfans and daytrippers have gathered outside Windsor Castle in heady anticipation for Prince Harry and Meghan's wedding.
From wide-eyed young couples holding hands to visitors from tropical Miami climes frantically waving their stars and stripes, the atmosphere is jingoistically jovial.
As plastic union jacks blow in the wind, women flaunt swan-adorned fascinators and teenage girls wear loveheart sunglasses.
Not long now until this lot will see the royal bride in the flesh...
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies