More than 100,000 people turned out in glorious sunshine at Windsor to soak up the royal wedding atmosphere – including special guests from the north and north-east invited into the castle grounds.
Royal fans – from as far away as Australia, Canada and California – had camped out on the pavements for days to get a prime spot for the carriage procession through the winding streets of the beautiful Berkshire town.
Others woke up on Saturday morning to be there as early as 4.30am.
VIDEO: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle marry at Windsor Castle
And it was a day to remember for some lucky locals who were among the 1,200 people invited into the grounds of Windsor Castle on the big day to recognise their community endeavours. There, the VIP guests stood within yards of the royals and their celebrity guests as they arrived at the chapel.
They sat and enjoyed picnics and Champagne, and were handed royal-themed “goodie bags” which included a souvenir order of service, shortbread and gold chocolate coins.
Among them were Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust employees Helen Houston and Beverley Hill, who in fact nearly missed the start of the day’s action.
Mrs Houston said their taxi driver was unable to take them up to the entrance gates because the road to get there was unexpectedly closed off. And with no one initially able to point them in the right direction, they were left panicking.
But she said that with 20 minutes left to get there for the arrival of the wedding guests, a nearby police chief constable stepped in “to save the day” after noticing their stressful situation – and they were taken up to the grounds in a police car.
Speaking yesterday, Mrs Houston said: “We showed them our passes and they put the blue flashing lights on and took us up to the grounds. We felt like royalty as the road barriers were moved and the crowds parted. We were chuffed to bits.”
As the heat soared throughout the morning, spectators could be seen slapping on sun cream, while children walked past licking their melting ice creams. Every now and then a popping Champagne cork could be heard as crowds soaked up the atmosphere.
Street vendors were selling everything from red and white roses to day programmes and soft drinks, while others handed out free double-sided British and American flags.
Crowds were able to hear the moving ceremony from inside the chapel through a street speaker system, and they erupted with cheers as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex exchanged vows and the Archbishop of Canterbury pronounced them man and wife.
Minutes later, the carriage came past carrying the newly-weds, who waved and smiled at the ecstatic crowds. The bride wore a white boat-neck style dress – with Commonwealth flowers in the veil – by British designer Clare Waight Keller.
Royal fan Bridget Bell, from East London, who waited for five hours to see the procession, said: “It was really emotional. The carriage went a bit too fast, it should have been a bit slower, but I really loved the atmosphere. And Meghan looked beautiful.”
Surrey-based sisters Joanne and Louise Bunn, and Louise’s daughter Maisie, managed to secure a prime spot by the street for the procession. Joanne said: “She looked beautiful. Just seeing her and their happy faces has been brilliant.”
After the procession, spectators were in fine fettle as the pubs and restaurants of Windsor quickly filled up – although the queue from the main street towards the train station came to a standstill on several occasions.