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.
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.”
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 last week following revelations that he had posed for paparazzi.
The Royal Wedding has also been dogged by Meghan’s family speaking out against her.
She (Meghan) 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 newly-weds 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.
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.
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.
The bride looked stunning in her second dress – a lily-white Stella McCartney halter neck 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.
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.
“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.
“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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
