Royal wedding crowds pour into Windsor ahead of Meghan Markle and Prince...

Royal wedding crowds pour into Windsor ahead of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's big day



Prince Harry's has married his American bride Meghan Markle in a glittering ceremony, watched around the world by millions.



The Queen's grandson, who is sixth in line to the throne, pledged to love, comfort, honour and protect the former actress as they become husband and wife in the historic surrounds of St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.



Tens of thousands of royal fans have descended on the Berkshire town to catch a glimpse of the bride and groom, as police have effectively created a ring of steel around the castle in a massive security operation.





A German mother and daughter wearing 'Mary me Harry' T-shirts travelled to Windsor from Munich in the hope that their 'Bavarian charms' would woo the prince even as he is on the way to the chapel.



'We will be in with a chance when he sees us,' said Sarah Butzenberger, 20, a law student. 'We are both much better than Meghan. I don't mind if he chooses me or my mother, we will both be very happy.'



'He could even have us both,' her mother, Martina Lakota, 45, added. 'We would feel sorry for Meghan being stood up at the altar but it would be better for Harry to have a German bride.'



The pair got up at 4am in the hope of stealing the prince's heart. 



'We are such big royal fans and Harry is so cute,' Martina said. 'Most people love the royals in Germany because all we have is Angela Merkel.'



Royal fanatic Chito Grant, 53, spent a month fashioning a Harry and Meghan hat in the shape of a wedding cake featuring photos of the couple, dolls and fairy lights, complete with a royal train.



Mr Grant said his creation weighed in at about 13 pounds (6kg).



When asked what the royal wedding meant to him, he said: 'I breathe the royal family, we are connected.'



Meredith Kidd, from Houston, Texas, said she is here because her 'royal-fanatic' mother said 'our blood line needs to be at the wedding'.



Mrs Kidd said: 'I was born into loving the royals. My mum took the day off when Diana died, and had plates all over the house with her face on them.



'I love Meghan, she represents America so well.'



Her husband Blake Kidd, 25, added: 'Meghan's a great ambassador for us - I'm excited to witness history today





Passengers on the first train out of London Waterloo included four women who work as cabin crew for a Canadian airline. They joked they had won the 'golden ticket' by being in London on layover on Harry and Meghan's big day.



'It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. We are sending our love from Canada,' Cara Bonhage said. 'It's going to be really exciting.'



Ms Bonhage and friends, Deb Penman, Marlene Diggens and Nancy Botelho said they plan to stand at the end of the parade route to catch a glimpse of the couple as they pass.'We want to be part of history,' Ms Botelho added.



Irene Bowdry, a lawyer from California, was on the 5.50am train from Waterloo to Windsor with four friends from the US.



She said: 'My mum actually lives around the corner from Meghan's mum in Los Angeles. We booked as soon as it was announced. An American in the royal family, isn't that so exciting?'



Also on board was German surgeon Ralph Dubitscher, who said he came because 'it's the last chance to get a royal wedding for, what, 30 years?'.   





Chloe Hodges, Michelle Wagoner, Tami McBride, Heather Poynter and Molly Larsen travelled to Windsor from Houston in Texas especially for the big day.



The fivesome, wearing fetching wedding hats, toasted Harry and Meghan with glasses of prosecco in front of Stars and Stripes flags they had fixed to crowd barriers.



Chloe, 23, said: 'We are really excited to be here and just hope that we get to see them as they come past. Even just a brief glimpse.



'Were here to represent our 'home girl' and have put out the American flags hoping Meghan will see us.



'We had a bachelorette party in Soho last night in her honour!



'We had paper masks of the Royals on, it was great, there was a real party atmosphere.'



Some superfans have been camped out for days to secure their spots to see Harry and Meghan's carriage pass.



Guests eagerly awaiting the groom's arrival, followed later by his bride, have laid down picnic blankets on the small lawn opposite the West Door at St George's Chapel. 



One well-wisher took a front-row view of the procession, by taking up position in his brother Olly's home in Horseshoe Cloister.



Alex Hunt, a wine merchant, brought a bottle of Tignanello, believed to be Meghan's favourite tipple and after which she named her now defunct lifestyle blog The Tig.



He said he felt 'incredibly lucky' to have such a great view of the West Door of the chapel, while Olly sings in the choir as part of the service.



He said: 'To be able to support and join in the celebration, with a family member who is involved, is a great privilege and a personal pleasure.'