Jump directly to the content
TOP
'WE'RE A GREAT TEAM'

Prince Harry told Meghan Markle she ‘navigated everything with such grace’ in emotional Royal Wedding speech in apparent nod to dad missing her big day

The Prince's comments appear to have been a thinly veiled reference to Meghan’s family troubles in the weeks leading up to the wedding

LOVED-up Prince Harry moved his wedding guests to tears when he praised his new wife during an emotional speech to family and friends.

The Royal said he and his new wife make a "great team" and told her: “I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”

 Prince Harry paid tribute to his new bride  just hours after leaving the wedding ceremony in Windsor
Prince Harry paid tribute to his new bride  just hours after leaving the wedding ceremony in Windsor

The couple have now left Windsor Castle to begin their married life together at Kensington Palace.

The Prince last night praised Meghan, saying she had “navigated everything with such grace” - with even her hair stylist said she was calm and chatty on the morning of the wedding.

Harry's comment appears to have been a thinly veiled reference to Meghan’s family troubles in the weeks leading up to the wedding.

Her dad Thomas Markle was due to be at Meghan's side, but pulled out after he underwent a heart operation earlier this week following revelations that he had posed for paparazzi.


How the Royal Wedding unfolded...


 Prince Harry and Meghan leave for their reception together last night
PA:Press Association
Prince Harry and Meghan leave for their reception together last night
 Prince Charles walked Meghan down the aisle as mum Doria looked on
Prince Charles walked Meghan down the aisle as mum Doria looked on
 Thomas Markle said his daughter looks 'beautiful' after the young woman tied the knot with Prince Harry
The Mega Agency
Thomas Markle said his daughter looks 'beautiful' after the young woman tied the knot with Prince Harry

The Royal Wedding has also been dogged by Meghan's family speaking out against her.

She has faced criticism from half-sister Samantha Markle, who claimed Thomas was alone and upset in hospital following his surgery for a dangerous heart condition.

And her brother Thomas Markle Jr also hit out at the former actress - telling Prince Harry not to marry her, blasting the wedding as a "fake fairy tale".

But the newlyweds put all that behind them as they had a right Royal knees up at their lavish reception - complete with "naughty" speeches and James Corden playing the court jester.

The bride and groom danced the night away with Harry's favourite House tracks and Elton John on the piano while guests tucked into "dirty burgers" and candyfloss.

 Windsor was later dazzled by a spectacular firework display to celebrate the wedding
Twitter
Windsor was later dazzled by a spectacular firework display to celebrate the wedding

These were washed down with a cocktail featuring ginger and rum named When Harry Met Meghan in an apparent nod to Harry's red hair at the bash at Frogmore House hosted by Prince Charles.

James Corden also played a surprise role as compere at the evening reception in a £300,000 glass marquee in the grounds of Windsor Castle as a firework display rounded off the night.

It followed a more formal reception hosted by the Queen at lunchtime in St George's Hall where the speeches were made as Elton serenaded the newlyweds.

Prince Charles had Royal Wedding guests in stitches with his speech about changing Prince Harry's nappy.

 James Corden, here with his wife Julia, is reported to have been a surprise compere for the reception at Frogsmore House
Getty Images - Getty
James Corden, here with his wife Julia, is reported to have been a surprise compere for the reception at Frogsmore House

Harry - introduced by best man William - also delighted guests with an emotional "off the cuff" speech - and drew a rapturous reception when he referred to Meghan as his wife for the first time.

According to the Sunday Times, he also left guests in tears when he said Meghan had “navigated everything with such grace”, adding: “We make such a great team.”

And Wills also didn't disappoint - reportedly making a "naughty" speech before Meghan broke tradition and stood up to thank the Royal family for "welcoming" her.

A guest at the wedding told the Mail: "Charles spoke about feeding Harry a bottle and changing his nappy, and then said look how well he turned out.

"That's about as embarrassing as it got."

Meghan and Harry were later pictured driving to the evening reception in an E-type Jaguar with the licence plate bearing the date of their wedding.

 Prince Harry opens the car door for his bride as they leave for their reception last night
PA:Press Association
Prince Harry opens the car door for his bride as they leave for their reception last night

The bride looked stunning in her second dress - a lily-white Stella McCartney halter neck silk crepe gown, and shoes from Aquazurra.

She also had on an emerald-cut aquamarine ring which Princess Diana wore just weeks before her death in August 1997.

Harry looked dapper in a fitted tuxedo as he helped his wife into the eco-friendly electric version of a 1968 Jaguar E-Type.

Guests danced the night away to Harry's favourite House tracks, which were curated by Sam Totolee, who performed at Pippa Middleton's wedding.

 The newlyweds looked like Hollywood stars in their open top convertible with Meghan wearing an emerald cut aquamarine diamond which once belonged to Princess Diana
PA:Press Association
The newlyweds looked like Hollywood stars in their open top convertible with Meghan wearing an emerald cut aquamarine diamond which once belonged to Princess Diana
 Princess Diana, pictured with her stepmother Countess Raine Spencer, wearing the ring in June 1997
Getty - Contributor
Princess Diana, pictured with her stepmother Countess Raine Spencer, wearing the ring in June 1997
 Meghan and Harry leave for the reception in an E-type Jaguar, which has the date of their wedding on the licence plate
Rex Features
Meghan and Harry leave for the reception in an E-type Jaguar, which has the date of their wedding on the licence plate
 Prince Harry and Meghan kiss for the first time as a married couple
EPA
Prince Harry and Meghan kiss for the first time as a married couple
 Prince Charles moved wedding reception guests to tears and laughter with an emotional speech about Prince Harry's childhood
Getty - Pool
Prince Charles moved wedding reception guests to tears and laughter with an emotional speech about Prince Harry's childhood
 The incredible firework show ended a historic day for the Royal Family in Windsor
Twitter
The incredible firework show ended a historic day for the Royal Family in Windsor
 The evening reception was held at Frogmore House in Windsor
7 News
The evening reception was held at Frogmore House in Windsor
Press Association

The couple locked lips for a second time as they were taken around Windsor after their gorgeous ceremony

 Meghan was taken aback as ecstatic crowds cheered her name
Reuters
Meghan was taken aback as ecstatic crowds cheered her name
 Meghan is walked down the aisle by Prince Charles
Meghan is walked down the aisle by Prince Charles
 Meghan's dress included a 16-foot veil
Meghan's dress included a 16-foot veil

Guests were picked up in a double decker coach and taken to Frogmore House for the lavish reception in a £300,000 glass marquee at around 7.15pm.

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie arrived in a black Bentley at 7.30pm.

After the reception ended, boozed-up guests reportedly travelled to the trendy Chiltern Firehouse in London to carry on the night.

Some of the A-listers who attended the wedding held an "after after party" at the bar in Marylebone at around 1am.

The raucous party followed on from the lunchtime reception, where Harry had guests in tears with his speech.

The beaming Royal paid tribute to his bride, and joked that guests should leave quietly to avoid waking the neighbours.

Elton John also brought the house down with a barnstorming set - after Prince Harry quipped: "Can any one here play the piano?"

The superstar played a set including Lion King classic Circle of Life, Tiny Dancer and I'm Still Standing.

Charity boss Suhani Jalota: "Some people were even crying. I think it was just a very, really nice atmosphere to be in where everybody felt really loved.

 Sir Elton John performed for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at their wedding reception
Getty - Pool
Sir Elton John performed for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at their wedding reception
 Amal Clooney was hailed best dressed as she stunned in a Stella McCartney dress
AFP or licensors
Amal Clooney was hailed best dressed as she stunned in a Stella McCartney dress
 Meghan's best pal Jessica Mulroney looked stunning as she left for the glam reception
Instagram
Meghan's best pal Jessica Mulroney looked stunning as she left for the glam reception
 Serena Williams looked elegant in her outfit change for the evening
Instagram
Serena Williams looked elegant in her outfit change for the evening
 Meghan Markle made a speech at the reception following the modern Royal Wedding
Reuters
Meghan Markle made a speech at the reception following the modern Royal Wedding
 Meghan's speech took place alongside Prince Harry 's and one from best man Prince William
Press Association
Meghan's speech took place alongside Prince Harry 's and one from best man Prince William

"Essentially it was just about how Harry was as a child and growing up. And now just about the couple and how beautiful they are together.

"So I think it was just about their personalities and how they gel really well together.

"He [Harry] was talking about his wife and you know everybody was clapping because it was the first time he was using that term for Meghan so it was really nice."

Jalota, who founded the India-based Myna Mahila charity, told how Elton John then wowed guests with a small concert.

She said: "He was incredible. It became like a mini-concert in the reception area. It was great."

But the party was lacking a father-of-the bride speech after Meghan's dad Thomas Markle Snr pulled out of attending over health fears.

 The newly-appointed Duke and Duchess of Sussex waved at crowds during a procession after their wedding
The Mega Agency
The newly-appointed Duke and Duchess of Sussex waved at crowds during a procession after their wedding
 Harry and Meghan said ’I do’ at St George’s Chapel in Windsor yesterday
PA:Press Association
Harry and Meghan said ’I do’ at St George’s Chapel in Windsor yesterday
 Meghan and Harry share a loving look
Getty - Pool
Meghan and Harry share a loving look

Guests at the lunchtime bash nibbled on luxury canapes and quaffed Pol Roger Brut Reserve Non Vintage Champagne.

The canapes included Scottish langoustine wrapped in smoked salmon with citrus crème fraiche as well as croquette of confit Windsor lamb, roasted vegetables and shallot jam.

Also on offer were poached free range chicken bound in a lightly-spiced yogurt with roasted apricot and warm asparagus spears with mozzarella and sunblush tomatoes.

 This is the stunning wedding cake that was served at Harry and Meghan's lunchtime reception
Twitter
This is the stunning wedding cake that was served at Harry and Meghan's lunchtime reception

They were treated to bitesize slices of the stunning £50,000 lemon and elderflower wedding cake designed by East London baker Claire Ptak.

The Royal Wedding yesterday was a modern affair - with the couple hailed for their multicultural ceremony.

Their nuptials at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle featured a rip-roaring sermon from an American preacher and a moving rendition of Stand By Me by a black gospel choir.

The Most Rev Michael Curry, the first presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church in New York, moved millions watching the ceremony as he spoke about the power of love.

 How The Sun reported the Royal Wedding in today's paper
How The Sun reported the Royal Wedding in today's paper
 Meghan waves during the carriage procession in Windsor
Getty - Pool
Meghan waves during the carriage procession in Windsor
 Meghan wore a tiara she borrowed from the Queen on her big day
PA:Press Association
Meghan wore a tiara she borrowed from the Queen on her big day

The loved-up pair gazed at each other during the ceremony, with Meghan wowing in her spectacular gown by designer Clare Waight Keller of Givenchy.

She teamed it with a dazzling Mary Diamond Bandeau tiara – lent to her by the Queen.

Meghan expressed the wish of having all 53 countries of the Commonwealth with her on her journey through the ceremony.

Harry greeted his beautiful bride at the altar yesterday and told her: “You look amazing.”

Meghan was walked down the aisle by Prince Charles — standing in for her absent father Thomas.

Harry, 33, who had nervously fiddled with his cuffs while waiting, turned to Charles and said: “Thank you, Pa.”

The Suits star said “Thank you” and asked “Are you OK?” Harry grinned and replied: “Absolutely.”

As his bride made her vows, her watching mother Doria Ragford appeared tearful as celebrities including the Clooneys and Beckhams watched on.

A huge cheer rang out from the crowds gathered outside in the spring sunshine as the couple shared a kiss.

They were then whisked away for a Royal procession across Windsor - where they treated more than 100,000 well-wishers to a second kiss.

Newly married Meghan says F***! as they arrive through the gates after the wedding possession


We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.