What time is the royal wedding? Full hour-by-hour schedule and running order in Windsor

Martin Coulter19 May 2018

As if planning a wedding wasn't already stressful enough, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have a whole melee of extra tasks, duties and honours to perform on their big day.

The royal couple will greet guests from around the world, take a carriage ride past thousands of well-wishing supporters and pay tribute to a host of associated charities on Saturday.

Harry's bride will walk down the aisle with Prince Charles.

Ms Markle confirmed on Thursday that her father had pulled out of the ceremony, which will be held at St George's Chapel, Windsor, following a heart attack and after it was revealed he staged paparazzi photos.

Read below for a full rundown of the day's schedule.

Officials take part in the royal wedding rehearsal on Thursday
Reuters

9am

Members of the public who have been invited to watch the wedding day from the grounds of Windsor Castle begin to arrive.

9.30am-11am

Wedding guests arrive at the Castle’s famous Round Tower by coach and enter the chapel through the South Door and take their seats.

Ms Markle and her mother will stay in the same overnight location (Getty)
Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

11.20am

Members of the royal family begin to arrive and enter via the Galilee Porch, some on foot others by car.

Ms Markle and Ms Ragland will depart from their overnight location.

Their journey into the Castle will take them along part of the Long Walk, allowing members of the public gathered there to see the car as it passes.

There will also be a brief stop at the Castle where Ms Ragland will head onto the Chapel and Ms Markle will be joined by some of the bridesmaids and page boys before she continues her journey to the church, where she will enter via the West Steps.

Performers announced for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Wedding

1/6

11.45am

Harry and his brother the Duke of Cambridge arrive at the Chapel’s West Steps, probably on foot walking past the thousands of spectators invited into the grounds of the castle.

Ms Markle arrives for her wedding rehearsal on Thursday

The moment will give Harry the chance to acknowledge the 200 representatives from charities he is associated with gathered in the Horseshoe Cloister at the bottom of the steps.

Getty Images

11.55am-11.59am

Following protocol, the Queen will be the last member of the royal family to arrive for the wedding service.

11.59am

Ms Markle will meet Prince Charles at the Chapel’s West Steps, travelling by car from her overnight accommodation, with some of her bridesmaids and pageboys.

Use the 'Castle', 'Chapel' and 'Schedule' buttons to find out everything you need to know about tomorrow's big day.

She will start her journey, which will take her past some of the crowds in the Long Walk, with her mother Doria Ragland – but when the car stops at the castle her mother will exchange places with he bridesmaids and pageboys.

Ms Ragland will enter the chapel by the Galilee Porch, unless she is selected to walk Ms Markle down the aisle.

12pm

Service starts.

The event is set to be the most watched of 2018
Reuters

1pm

The service ends and the newlyweds emerge at the West Steps of the Chapel. They will be waved off on their carriage procession through Windsor by members of both families.

Extra security will be on guard around Windsor Castle
AP

The congregation will file out of the chapel to see the newlyweds leave before heading to St George’s Hall for the lunchtime reception hosted by the Queen.

The Queen will host a lunchtime reception for the happy couple
PA

1.05pm

Around this time the carriage procession through the streets of Windsor begins, taking 25 minutes. They will the then head to the daytime reception with 600 guests at Frogmore House.

Prince Charles is set to host the evening reception
EPA

7pm

Bride and groom departing Windsor castle for the evening reception Frogmore House hosted by the Prince of Wales.

For more Royal Wedding insights, subscribe to Robert Jobson’s Royal Podcast. It's an intimate look at life inside the royal household, told through conversations with those who have lived and worked with the royals. Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts

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