Meghan Markle tells fans she is 'very excited' about her big day

Meghan Markle tells fans she is 'very excited' about her big day

Meghan Markle told well-wishers today she is 'very excited' about her wedding, with just over two months to go to the big day.

She chatted to schoolchildren and teachers outside Westminster Abbey after attending the Commonwealth service, her first official royal engagement with the Queen. 

Meghan, 36, joined her fiancé Prince Harry and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to meet a line-up of around 100 pupils in Dean's Yard at the back of the Abbey.

'The service was beautiful, especially the choir and the music,' the American actress told religious education teacher David Swindells and sixth former Liam Maloney from St Cuthbert's Catholic High School in Newcastle.

'She was very personable. I think she'll be a great addition,' Mr Swindells said

The royal bride-to-be went down the line introducing herself to everyone - 'Hi, I'm Meghan -' and asking the pupils and teachers where they were from.

'So sweet,' she said to several children in their school uniforms, as Harry asked them which part of the service they had enjoyed most. 'All of it? That's good,' he told one group.

At the end of the line stood eight-year-old Iesu Williams from Newport, South Wales, who was wearing a Welsh kilt. 'Do you wear it every day?' Meghan asked. 'No, only on special occasions,' the little boy said. 

 Among those Harry and Meghan chatted to was Holly Hartley, principal of Thistley Hough Academy in Stoke on Trent, and her pupils.

Ms Hartley said: 'She was saying what a lovely service it had been and her first service at Westminster Abbey. We congratulated her on her engagement.

'She was delighted and said she was 'very, very excited' she stayed chatting with us for quite a while - what a lovely, lovely lady.'

Meghan joined the royals in singing the National Anthem at the start of the service, which was also attended by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Cameras focused on the Suits star singing the words 'happy and glorious'.

Screams and shouts from the public greeted Meghan and Harry when they arrived and the US actress looked stylish in a dress and coat by Amanda Wakeley and hat by Stephen Jones.

The Duchess of Cambridge, who was joined by the Duke one month before she is due to give birth to their third child after Prince George and Princess Charlotte, wore a dress and coat by Beulah and hat by Lock and Co.

Commonwealth Day is celebrated across the region and billed as an opportunity for each of the institution's 53 member states to highlight the positive values of the family of nations.

In her Commonwealth Day message, which is printed in the event's order of service, the Queen praised the 'Commonwealth connection' that allows people from different nations to bond and celebrate 'diversity'.

London will soon host a gathering of leaders from the family of nations and the Queen, who is head of the Commonwealth, also paid tribute to the biennial event as an example of how consensus can 'help to create a future that is fairer, more secure, more prosperous and sustainable'.

With the UK leaving the European Union the importance of the Commonwealth may increase, according to some commentators.

Members of the royal family arrived ahead of the Queen including the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, Duke of York and Princess Royal as did the Prime Minister Theresa May.

However the Duke of Edinburgh, who has effectively retired from public duties, did not attend.

During the service Prime Minister Theresa May gave a Bible reading, former One Direction band member Liam Payne performed singer-songwriter John Mayer's hit song Waiting On The World To Change, while the Portsmouth Gospel Choir sang Bridge Over Troubled Water.

Also among the 2,000-strong congregation was the prime minister of Malta Joseph Muscat, Commonwealth Secretary-General Baroness Scotland, high commissioners, ambassadors, senior politicians from