In love and in awe.

He with her. She with him.

And some 2 billion of the TV-invited who watched the royal wedding around the world Saturday morning.

“You look amazing,” Prince Harry told Meghan Markle as she arrived at the quire of St. George’s Chapel, after walking alone — 110 steps down the aisle —taking the arm of Prince Charles for the final 37 paces, the Prince of Wales standing in for the bride’s father who was too ill to attend.

Harry, to his dad, as the groom took delivery of the bride: “Thanks Pa.” Or so claimed the professional lip readers.

They could scarcely take their adoring eyes off each other, Harry and Meghan, repeatedly exchanging grins, touching each other throughout, hands entwined. Henceforth known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, an extinct title resurrected and invested by the Queen upon her grandson as part of this auspicious day.

The last royal nuptials for a long time, until the next generation begins pairing off in betrothals.

What a wedding it was, a fusion of pomp and ceremony, heritage and contemporary, convention and wildly divergent cultures: He the sixth in line to the throne, she a biracial actress from California. Zowie together from the first time they met on a blind date when, as Harry has described it, “the stars aligned.”

Never before had there been a ceremony quite like this one, blending the essence of him and her.

Certainly never before had a royal wedding audience absorbed an address the likes of which was offered by Most Rev. Michael Curry, the Afro-American leader of the Episcopal Church in the U.S., a passionate and entertained sermon that began and ended by quoting Martin Luther King, referenced slavery of antebellum American, and was infused throughout with the redeeming power of love.

“We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we do that, we will make of this old world a new world. There is power in love. Don’t ever underestimate it. Don’t even over-sentimentalize it. There is power, power in love.”

At times grandiose, at times animated Black spiritual, emotive and powerful. But surely could not have been more gobsmacking a performance for the aristocrats and class-snobs in attendance than if Meghan had entered the chapel with her hair un-shackled in a humongous Afro.

The Queen took it all in stride, having assured the couple they could craft this event as they wished. Though she did have to give special royal dispensation allowing Harry — Prince Henry of Wales as he’s formally known — to marry with facial hair, the ginger beard nicely trimmed. (But, oh dear, starting to thin up top.)

Strange, the protocol dictates of the House of Windsor.

There was an audible gasp of wonder when Meghan, to a trumpet fanfare, stepped into the chapel, having carefully negotiated the 22 steps up to the West Door of the 15th century Gothic-style edifice in Windsor Park — festooned outside with cascading hedgerows of forget-me-nots, foxglove, peonies and lilies of the valley; on the inside, arbours of beech, birch, hornbeam, wild flowers and white roses. The slow progress of the vintage Phantom Rolls Royce from the Cliveden House Hotel, where Meghan had spent the night with her mother, Doria Ragland — first peek of the bride through the car’s windows — was sped up considerably across the mile, Meghan running 15 minutes late, which would have wrecked the half-hour no-fly-overhead agreement from nearby Heathrow airport, timed to the bride’s arrival.

Emerging from the vehicle, an expectant public got, finally, a look at THE DRESS, kept a closely-guarded secret. And, oh my, such a dress: Sleek, elegant, exquisitely tailored, in matte white silk, with an open bateau neckline framing the shoulders, sculpted waist and slim three-quarter sleeves, created by British designer Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. Unfussy and sophisticated, like the bride, Thoroughly Modern Meghan. Not a ruffle, not a pouf.

On her veiled head — signature long black tresses wound into a chic chignon — the glittering Queen Mary diamond bandeau, on loan from the Queen’s jewelry vault.

Trailing a five-metre train, which, on the bride’s specification, contained the floral emblems from the Commonwealth’s 53-member nations (for Canada, the bunchberry), embroidered into the tulle by craftswomen who had to wash their hands every 30 minutes. The edges of the gossamer train were carried by John and Brian, 7-year-old twin sons of Ben and Jessica Mulroney, the latter a fashion stylist and great friend to Meghan during the years she lived in Toronto filming the cable series Suits.

The whole show almost stolen, though, by the gaggle of adorable flower girls and page boys the bride opted for instead of bridesmaids and attendants — apart from best man Prince William, of course, who brought the rings: A band of gold from a Welsh mine for Meghan, a platinum band for Harry.

The bride carried a small bouquet that included myrtle — a tradition began by the Queen — forget-me-nots (a tribute to Harry’s late mom, Diana, the Princess of Wales, and wildflowers that Harry himself, as revealed in a release, had picked the day before from the gardens at Kensington Palace.

Some traditions were scattered to the wind: Meghan approaching her intended on her own, orchestral hymns giving way, on occasion, to a gospel choir’s rendition of the soul classic “Stand By Me” and the African American church favourite “This Little Light of Mine,” a 19-year-old Black cellist from Nottingham playing for the audience as the newlyweds disappeared briefly to sign the register.

But there was certainly high octane glamour and there were personal friendships acknowledged. Among the 600 guests invited: tennis goddess Serena Williams (who tweeted her preparations toilette, “getting ready for my friend’s wedding”), Oprah Winfrey, swathed in salmon pink Versace, George and Amal Clooney (stunning in Stella McCartney daffodil yellow with matching fascinator) actors Idris Elba and Tom Hardy and Carey Mulligan, Bollywood royalty Priyanka Chopra (in Vivienne Westwood), pop stars James Blunt, Elton John and Joss Stone, rugby player James Haskell, David and the perennially unsmiling Victoria Beckham, even a brace of Henry’s serious ex-lovers, Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas, each of whom had decided the tightly regulated and endlessly scrutinized life of a wife of Windsor was not for them.

At the end of the aisle, between the chapel stalls, awaited Harry and William, the bonded motherless brothers, both in their Blues and Royals frock coat uniforms — but no swords allowed — with Harry clearly nervous.

Charles escorted the bride’s mother to her seat. And what must have been going through this low-key woman’s mind, a yoga instructor and social worker who’d raised Meghan as a single mom in a leafy suburb of Los Angeles? Overwhelmed the petite Ragland may have been, but it didn’t show as she maintained a calm poise, only 24 hours after taking tea with the Queen. It is truly the stuff of fairy tales. As in, couldn’t make it up.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Mum in pale mint Oscar de la Renta (and tidy short dreadlocks and nose-ring), Her Majesty in vivid lime with purple accents by Stewart Parvin.

Meghan’s first nuptials, to Hollywood producer Trevor Engleson in 2011, had been a destination wedding in Ocho Rios and she’d left all the ado of those I do’s to the professionals. A 36-year-old divorcee marrying a prince of the realm hardly raises an eyebrow anymore. Strange to remember how, when Charles was pretty much ordered by his father to take himself a wife, the kingdom had been scoured for an appropriate virgin Lady. Poor Diana, so keenly missed on her younger son’s wedding day.

But at the end of a tumultuous week — dominated by stories about Meghan’s ailing and reclusive dad, his absence too late confirmed to amend the formal order of service — the couple and their platoon of advisors got the wedding they deserved on a brilliantly sunny afternoon in Windsor, the Queen’s favourite castle. Diana’s memory was invoked by her sister, Lady Jane Fellowes, reading from the Song of Solomon, the marriage service conducted by Rt. Rev. David Conner from the Common Worship (2000) eschewing all the thee’s and thou’s, until they finally, at the climax, pledged their vows, which did not include “to obey.” Upon their exchange of “I will,” cheers bellowed from outside, where thousands had gathered.

Reached by TMZ, Thomas Markle Sr., dad, said: “My baby looks beautiful and she looks very happy. I wish I were there and I wish them all my love and happiness.”

Then, the obvious relief because it had gone off without a glitch, the couple smiling and nodding at guests as the processional reversed, pleasing the public with a brief kiss after stepping outside the chapel.

Into the open Ascot Landau for a carriage-trot through the pretty town, all sparkly and swathed in bunting, Union Jacks and Stars and Stripes, with snipers on rooftops and Harry’s army mates among the horseback riders accompanying the carriage, at least 100,000 well-wishers lining the route. As the landau moved into the Great Park private terrain of the estate, the Duchess put a hand to her chest in a “whew!” gesture.

What a metamorphosis it has been for the once louche lad-about-town, a hard-drinking chain-smoking prince constantly in the tabloids for his ill-advised larks and silly scandals. Now, at 33, among the Queen’s most trusted representatives after two tours of duty in Afghanistan, admirably performing his duties for “The Firm,” a champion of hereditary and charitable endeavours, very much in human-touch style of his mother, humanitarian rights equally promoted by his princess-bride long before she ever set eyes on Harry. Having waved farewell to her career, her popular blog, her multiple social media platforms, her ambassadorship with World Vision Canada, these are the new parameters of the Duchess’ life — doing good deeds, cutting ribbons, but still, she has said, advancing the causes dear to her.

Still, a social media viral-fest, 3.4 million tweets tapped out during the service, 40,000 per minute as Rev. Curry sermonized.

Six hundred of the guests snagged invites to the luncheon reception hosted by the Queen at Windsor Castle, where Elton John entertained by performing “Your Song.”

The royal newlyweds took a short trip through Windsor in a horse-drawn carriage, to the delight of thousands of well-wishers. The crowd roared as Harry and Meghan emerged from St. George's Chapel and kissed at the top of the steps. (The Canadian Press)

Read more:

We’re excited about the diversity at the royal wedding: The Kit

These celebrities wore blush to the royal wedding

The ten best royal wedding memes

The menu:

Scottish langoustine wrapped in smoked salmon with citrus crème fraiche, grilled English asparagus wrapped in Cumbrian ham, garden pea panna with quail eggs, heritage tomato and balsamic peas, poached free range chicken, croquette of confit Windsor lamb, asparagus spears with mozzarella; fricassee of chicken with morel mushrooms and leeks, pea and mint risotto with truffle oil and parmesan crisps, slow-roasted pork belly with apple compote and crackling; sweet canapes of champagne and pistachio macaroons, orange crème brulee tartlets, miniature rhubarb crumb tarts.

Meghan is a notable foodie but, in a dress that hid no bumps, she likely ate sparingly.

An evening soiree, a knees-up reception for only 200 invitees — and a wardrobe-change for the bride, into a white halter gown by Stella McCartney — was held later at Frogmore House, hosted by Prince Charles, Harry and Meghan pulling up in a Jaguar.

There were a few sour notes on the day, protests organized by die-hard Republicans and in London and elsewhere, a couple of whinges from Labour MPs, some disapproval over the wedding’s purported cost of $45 million. Say no more.

Two countries, an entire world really, that wish only happiness for Harry and Meghan, in the twilight reign of a cherished sovereign.

Long life, endless love.

Read more about: