The royal wedding - Meghan and Harry, where, when, who said and wore what?

American Meghan Markle and Prince Harry before marriage. Photo from Wikipedia,

Problem
I had trouble sorting out who was who, who is married to whom, who wore what. In previous grand weddings, the BBC has had veteran commentators such as Dimbleby. I know from observing the training of a London official tourist guide (who must take an exam) what a veteran journalist would do. They would have a series of card index cards for each of the main members of the royal family and famous guests, and role players.

The guide or commentator would be able to read from the cards to fill in dull moments and keep the TV and radio audiences entertained. They would read the cards several times in advance (as well as probably doing their own research) so that they could read out without stumbling, and fill in from memory when the camera changes angle or something unexpected happens.

I gave a speech on the British royal family, how to sort out George V and George VI. (F F George Fifth was first world war. Remember S S, George Sixth, and Second world war. I have attempted to find visuals as memory aids, images and colours, as well as some humorous matches and contrasts of characters.

George V
George V had a moustache and beard, despite the fact that soldiers in WWI had to shave off facial hair in order to wear gas masks. George VI in the second world war had a stammer, hence the film the King's Speech, so all the rousing speeches were made by Winston Churchill.)

The George V hotel in Paris (where Harry's late mother Princess Diana was having dinner the evening when she died) is named after British King George V.



George VI
George VI was the clean-shaven king during WWII which ended in Europe in 1945 and George VI died less than ten years later in 1951 and after a year of mourning his daughter Elizabeth was crowned Queen Elizabeth II in 1952. So George VI was the queen's father, and Prince Charles's grandfather, and Harry's great grandfather.

I discovered that many people in my audience in Singapore, from all around the world, were completely clueless about even the most well-known British royals. So here's a list:

Answers
Royal Wedding
Who are the bride and groom?
HR Prince Henry, Prince of Wales (known as Harry).
He wore military uniform, as did his brother William.

Meghan Markle (Yes, there's an h in the middle of her name.) American. Former actress.
She wore white, although she has been previously married. She had a long white train to her dress and a white veil. 16 foot long veil. The veil's embroidery design apparently incorporated symbolic flowers of all the countries in the Commonwealth, although I admit from the distance, I did not notice any.

We eventually found an overhead photo looking down on the aisle and we could blow it up to show the flowers around the edge.

Cardboard cutout of the couple at an office party on Friday, the evening before the wedding.

Brother of the groom,  best man Prince William. Also wore military uniform.
Prince William's wife is Kate Middleton.

Succession to the throne
If the Queen retires at the age of 95, her son, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, is next in line for the throne.  Second is his older son, William. Then come William's three children. Charles' second son, Harry is currently (2018).

Pippa Middleton is the sister of Kate, and was bridesmaid at Kate's wedding. Pippa, tall and slim, standing behind the bride (Kate) through the wedding ceremony, and captured attention from her, Pippa's, bottom-hugging rear-view dress.

Father of the Groom
Prince Charles.
Prince Charles's wife is Camilla. Camila wore a large leafy pink hat. I thought it was very fetching.

Grandmother of the Groom
H M Queen Elizabeth II. Wore a lime green or pistaccio greeny yellow dress and hat with contrasting purple. Lovely.
The Queen remains silent, no comment, few smiles. She is supposed to refrain from taking sides in politics.
The Chinese have sayings, that to appear silent is more dignified, serious and intelligent.

Grandfather of the Groom, Prince Philip (husband of HM Queen Elizabeth). A great relief that he was able to make it despite recent spells in hospital. Usually Prince Philip makes humorous and sometimes embarrassing remarks. I seem to recall he once said something about slit eyes. His Greek mother, quite a character, was deaf, and notably during WWII, she helped hide Jews in her palace, saving them from the Nazis.

Guests
Oprah Winfrey, TV show hostess with popular book programme, a large lady wearing a tight pink outfit.
Elton John, composer and singer, wearing a suit and distinctive glasses.

Victoria Beckham, was one of the Spice Girls, later married footballer David Beckham. She was unsmiling and wearing an elegant dress. However, the combination of the dark dress and unsmiling look, caused some commentators to say she looked like she was going to a funeral.

My Favourites
Who is that stunning tall, slim lady in yellow dress and yellow hat! Amal Clooney.

The pretty girl in the perfect dress with flowered skirt and plain green bodice and hat framing her perfect tiny features? Spencer. Niece of Princess Diana.

Polka dots in white on navy blue with Peter Pan collar, and black hair neatly tucked up - another Spencer, presumably not related, American actress who appeared in the American TV series Mad Men.

My Question Marks?
The lady wearing what looks like tapestry. Looks a bit heavy for summer.

The lady wearing cleavage. The bride and all the other guests wore high necks and elegance.

Etiquette and dress code
The ladies' dress code was apparently wear a hat.  I am not sure if it said anything about cleavage. Maybe next time. If the bride is wearing white, as at British weddings, no other woman wears white in order not to distract from the bride, rival her, nor cause strangers to think you are the bride.

Eugenie and Beatrice. Both in blue, won approval.

The ceremony was held in St George's Chapel (rather large for a chapel) in Windsor, England.

The service included a wonderful address by the American Bishop Curry who spoke of love healing the world. He made effective use of pauses.

He is from an American Episcopalean church, which is an Anglican church. (Church of England is in England. Anglican can be used to mean founded by those from England who went overseas, in the style of churches in England (protestant era) and under the umbrella, direction of or affiliation to the Church of England.

Useful websites
Wikipedia royal wedding

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_tree_of_English_and_British_monarchs

visittheusa.com

Royal family official website
www.royal.uk

visitbritain.com

Who wore what and where you can buy something similar:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5751241/So-Beckhams-Clooneys-invited-royal-wedding.html

Author, Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.