Meghan Markle & Prince Harry Married in St. George's Chapel
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: An exciting day for the British royal family. Perhaps a new day for the family. Today's royal wedding had all the trappings of a fairytale with a very modern twist. The American bride, Meghan Markle, bringing a taste of home and a new kind of history to one of the most tradition-bound ceremonies in England. Churchgoers listened to a rousing performance of "Stand by Me" by a gospel choir, and an impassioned sermon given by the American Bishop, the likes of which surely have never been seen in St. George's Chapel. Meghan and Prince Harry, a modern couple, so clearly in love, exchanging vows in front of the queen, the "who's who" of Hollywood celebrities, hundreds of guests, millions of people watching around the world. Quite a day. I'm Anderson Cooper. Thanks for joining us.</s>ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: I'm here with Don Lemon with more of CNN's special coverage of the royal wedding. So, it's been quite a moment. Harry and Meghan, who are now known as the duke and duchess of Sussex. I love the ring of that. There's something symmetrical. They capped their marriage outside with a kiss outside of St. George's Chapel. She wore a long-sleeved gown. It was modest. It was --</s>DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Was it? You think so?</s>CAMEROTA: Yes. It had a beautiful neckline. But it was -- this was a modest gown. It was designed by the first female artistic director of Givenchy. And a Queen Mary diamond bandeau tiara, lent to her by Queen Elizabeth. Harry wore his military uniform. And he was sporting a beard, Don, which was unexpected.</s>LEMON: Yes. The dress showed a bit of shoulder and I thought that might be controversial. This morning we were talking, and people were saying, no, she must wear sleeves. She has to cover herself. The queen wouldn't like it. But I thought that was modern and beautiful.</s>KATE WILLIAMS, CNN HISTORIAN & ROYAL COMMENTATOR: This is very typical Givenchy neckline. Think back to Audrey Hepburn, perhaps Givenchy's most-famous client, a lot of the dresses she wore were this neckline as well. So very classic for the house.</s>CAMEROTA: Yes. This has many echoes of Audrey Hepburn, right.</s>WILLIAMS: Absolutely.</s>CAMEROTA: After the ceremony, the newlyweds rode in the open-air carriage through the town of Windsor, celebrating their happiness. There were throngs of people lining the streets. Some had been there for days. I saw tents popping up along the route because people wanted to catch a glimpse of them.</s>LEMON: Yes.</s>CAMEROTA: At this hour, they're attending the first of two receptions. This one hosted by the queen for about 600 wedding guests. Let's talk about the rest of their lives.</s>LEMON: And 600 wedding guests, right?</s>CAMEROTA: Exactly. All of this wedding, which Richard Quest has told me not to get into the price today. But in -- OK, but in terms of the -- let's start with the moments, OK, that we just saw. There was very beautiful, romantic moment when she first walked down the aisle and she met Prince Harry. Everybody, of course, is reading -- OK. So we believe -- he looked at her. The very first thing he said was, you look amazing.</s>LEMON: Yes. That's love. That's love. I mean, he's -- he only sees one person and one woman. And she looked beautiful.</s>ANGELA LEVINAND, AUTHOR & PRINCE HARRY BIOGRAPHER: It was terribly touching. They held hands nearly throughout the ceremony. They were both holding each other's hands tighter and tighter. As soon as they got in the carriage, they held each other's hands again. It's very bonding. It's very moving. And --</s>CAMEROTA: You know him. You spent time with him.</s>LEVINAND: Yes.</s>CAMEROTA: You had unprecedented access. What did you see when you saw Harry's face and reaction?</s>LEVINAND: I saw him when he went in. I thought he was incredibly tense. He kept wiping his upper lip with his white glove. And that was because he was sweating with anxiety, I think. Took the white gloves off and he sat down. He looked very tense to me as he talked to William. But the minute he saw her, you could just feel the relief in his face. This most-happiest moment, I think.</s>LEMON: I wonder if it had anything to do -- when he's wiping the military uniform because folks were wondered if he would wear a morning suit, but he wore the military uniform.</s>RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The military uniform of the royals, which is the regiment of which Harry was in. William also in military. Interestingly, we got totally excited about the beard because whether or not you can have a -- you're not supposed to have a beard in military uniform, but he is the --</s>CAMEROTA: Yes. This is the moment -- Richard, sorry to interrupt -- where they held hands throughout the ceremony. Very unself- unconsciously. They just held hands because they wanted to.</s>LEMON: That's what we were talking about. This is, in many ways, a nontraditional wedding ceremony for a royal wedding ceremony. They held hands. They truly love each other. You know, when I say this is not just about the pageantry. This is about love. So, you know, it's beautiful to talk about the gown and all of that, but this -- these two love each other. Let's hope they do make a difference.</s>QUEST: I think we really have to talk about what I call the "buy one, get one free" syndrome. With William and Harry, you are seeing a future monarchy unlike anything we've seen before. It's not like Margaret and Elizabeth. They have an agreement, a pact in standing that Harry will support William. And the British people are going to have, as I say, "buy one, get one free."</s>CAMEROTA: Here's the dress.</s>CAMEROTA: I'm sorry to interrupt. This is the moment of the dress reveal when she got out of the car. And everybody who have been speculating for weeks and months, Kate, of what it would look like. Your thoughts?</s>WILLIAMS: The most important part to me of this dress was the veil that had the most personality to Great Britain. There are 53 different flowers embroidered for the 53 different countries of the British monarchy. That felt very personal to England. Otherwise, clearly, she wanted to be modern, clean-lined. Some of us thought it would be beaded, embroidery, looking for a little more pizazz. I personally think it's a little plain. But certainly she -- you know, she's maintaining this modern, clean way of dressing. It will be knocked off like this.</s>WILLIAMS: It'll be knocked off like this.</s>LEMON: What about having the first woman of Givenchy? Is that --</s>WILLIAMS: I think that's important. I think that's a message. I think it's an unusual pick. Let me say that. Givenchy is classically French. You think of France. It's a lovely gesture, a nod to the first woman running the house. However, it's typically French. Again, I think there was thought behind it. This is very easy for other brands to knock off. I think it's going to be copied many, many times. We'll see this boat neck come back, the three-quarter sleeves. It'll be all the rage next season.</s>QUEST: I have the lunch menu.</s>CAMEROTA: Breaking.</s>WILLIAMS: All right. Please, tell us immediately.</s>QUEST: Guests will be served a selection of canapes, including Scottish langoustine served in smoked salmon, grilled English asparagus, garden peas, heritage tomato and basil tartar with balsamic pearls. Then a selection of bowl foods, including free-range chicken with morel mushrooms, pea and risotto, and 10-hour slow-roasted Windsor pork belly.</s>LEVINAND: There's no seating plans. Everybody has --</s>LEVINAND: It's going to be a real challenge if you have your glass in one hand and a bowl in the other.</s>CAMEROTA: Are there no seats? No seating plan? Is it just so people can mill around and mingle?</s>LEVINAND: So everyone can mix and be friendly.</s>LEVINAND: That's fashionable in the U.K. at the moment, these small bowls.</s>LEMON: Is that something that's new?</s>LEVINAND: It's been around for 18 months, two years that people have food bowls.</s>QUEST: You basically have a standing buffet.</s>LEVINAND: Yes. So you can talk, you can mix with Prince Charles. It won't be a high table. Everyone can mingle. And very important. Really to suggest that the royal family is moving very quickly into this zone of change. I'm also anxious to see the cake. Apparently, it's not the usual cake we saw with William and Kate. It's going to be an art installation, is what I heard.</s>LEVINAND: A unique cake.</s>LEMON: You're right. Many of us may be underestimating the power of youth. This is a very young monarchy. Except for the king and queen, this is a very young, very modern, very hip. The cake is gluten-free. We keep talking -- again, I don't want to keep going back, but this is change. I don't think it's revolutionary, but I think we're moving in it is right direction.</s>LEMON: Meghan Markle is pushing them in the right direction.</s>WILLIAMS: She's like an Instagram bride. She had a blog called The Tig. She's very savvy about being an influencer, a social influencer.</s>LEMON: There you go.</s>WILLIAMS: These are things she saw and liked and took notes, as brides do, starting off on a Pinterest board or whatever. She's very modern in that sense.</s>LEMON: Yes.</s>QUEST: And the toast. She's going to, we believe, she is going to make a toast herself, which would be the first --</s>LEVINAND: To Harry.</s>QUEST: To Harry. Which would be the first time that's happened.</s>CAMEROTA: She is trailblazing in that respect. Let's talk about the ceremony. I want to know what your thoughts were in terms of the flourishes that we think that Meghan brought. Obviously, we can start with everything from the minister and his service --</s>LEVINAND: I found it a little uncomfortable. I've been a royal watcher for a long time. I've watched the royal weddings over and over again. This, to me, was a little uncomfortable.</s>CAMEROTA: What part? What part was uncomfortable?</s>LEVINAND: I love gospel singing. It's my favorite, actually, type of singing. But I just didn't think it fitted in there. This is a very English place and a very English institution.</s>WILLIAMS: I thought it was great.</s>LEMON: See, that's the point. You and I are on the same page.</s>WILLIAMS: Because we're Americans.</s>LEMON: No. That's because we are -- I think people are missing the moment. In is a middle -- this is the beginning of a revolution worldwide.</s>LEMON: Listen, I don't want -- I don't think the royal family's going to change overnight. But this is the beginning. Look at this ceremony. This ceremony was basically adapted around Meghan Markle. Everyone else had to adjust to it. I don't think Meghan Markle is concerned about her husband becoming the king or about her ascending to the throne. They don't have that worry and that pressure. So, she will be free to be who she is, to talk about policy, to tell people --</s>LEVINAND: No, I disagree.</s>CAMEROTA: The royal watchers --</s>LEMON: They can disagree, but they cannot force them -- she'll have her voice. They cannot do that. Maybe with William and Kate. That's a different story.</s>LEVINAND: She wouldn't want to upset Prince Harry.</s>LEVINAND: She's already done -- said things that princesses have never said before.</s>VICTORIA ARBITER, CNN ROYAL COMMENTATOR: Not direct politics --</s>LEMON: Harry adores his grandmother, but he's not married to his grandmother.</s>LEVINAND: No, no. But I think he does adore his grandmother. He would not want to upset her. I mean, he's worked - he's told me he hasn't had a career because he wanted to help his grandmother and he has taken over a lot of responsibilities. How would she feel if he went somewhere and she really didn't like how they both did it? I think you've got to --</s>LEMON: Hang on. Hang on. Let me say. He doesn't want to upset her. He married a woman of color.</s>LEVINAND: That's different.</s>QUEST: All I will say is on this question-- all I will say on this question of Meghan involving herself in --</s>LEMON: Look at the pictures.</s>QUEST: Hang on a second.</s>QUEST: Yes. But what I will say on this question of Meghan involving herself in policy issues or questions of policy, it is this, every time a member of the royal family has done so, it has usually ended badly. Because half the people won't agree with you. And they're the half of the people also paying for the royal family.</s>LEMON: Let's look back at Diana. Diana was revolutionary in her time.</s>LEVINAND: HIV/AIDS was --</s>LEMON: It did not matter. To heck with the royal family. She did her thing and became the love of the world. Adored by the world. But they did get divorced, but she made her mark. It did not change her.</s>CAMEROTA: But let's watch this. I want to get back to you, Angela, about what you said was uncomfortable because I know you can channel the royal family. There was this moment, this passionate sermon from this American bishop, Michael Curry. Let's listen to this and watch some of the royal family reaction. OK, so you don't hear the sound, but you see the reaction. Anything we should take from their faces here, Angela, where the bishop was talking in this passionate way? It was unusual for a royal wedding.</s>LEVINAND: I thought Kate looked as if she was holding herself back. The queen, you could never tell, but she's got the most incredible mask. She doesn't believe in revealing emotions in public. It's all stiff upper lip and duty. I didn't mind that, actually. You might be surprised. I thought that that worked. And I think a bit of passion around religion is a good thing. I was very happy with that. And I thought it showed both their interests in doing this in sort of a religious way.</s>LEMON: I thought it was uncomfortable but spectacularly uncomfortable in a good way.</s>CAMEROTA: That Don likes.</s>LEMON: You saw some emotion that we don't see from the royal family. Maybe put people on the edge and didn't know where he was going to go. I loved it.</s>CAMEROTA: I want all of your thoughts. But Nick Watt was watching from his vantage point. Nick, what were your thoughts with the crowd?</s>NICK WATT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm going to agree with Angela. I thought the bishop was spectacular. But I'm going to strongly disagree with her. I thought the choir was fantastic. Something Bonnie Greer said immediately after the service that really struck me. She said, there are people in that chapel who will have never seen a service like this. And she is dead-on right. I mean, I grew up in the Anglican Church. I have sat through dozens and dozens of dry, dusty weddings. At school, I went to church every single day. This was next level. Somehow, they managed to make it personal, profound. Listen, there are maybe a billion people watching this on TV, but they still managed to steal those moments, the lifting of the veil, as we talked about, just little bits of eye contact, the smiles. It was amazing. It was inclusive. It was powerful. It was profound. And I think it may have changed some people's minds. Listen, I can, and I will speak for maybe a chunk of this country. I can be a bit of a cynical old goat sometimes when it comes to the royal family, but this -- I had a tear in my eye. On Twitter, some people I follow say, what, in 20 minutes, we've all become royalists? It's not that fast but it's the start, a change. It is a sign, I hope, we hope, of things to come. Back to you, guys.</s>CAMEROTA: Now to another --</s>CAMEROTA: -- G-O-A-T, Richard Quest. What did you think of the bishop and the royals -- I know you were studying their faces and body language.</s>QUEST: Oh, it was wonderful.</s>CAMEROTA: Not the service, but their reaction.</s>QUEST: Look, you have to put it into context. He was wonderful. They were uncomfortable. But they knew what they were going to get. Having said that, it is not the bishop's job to make the queen uncomfortable at a wedding in her own chapel. But she wasn't uncomfortable. Others might have been, but that's because it's different. There's nothing wrong with being different. It wasn't so different as to be off the reservation, no. This was a warm, welcoming, loving address that added a different tone to the day.</s>LEMON: Well, my -- I love the stand by -- I loved the choir. I loved them singing "Stand by Me." And they were standing by each other, holding each other's hands. It might not have been the right place/of venue --</s>LEVINAND: But not there.</s>ARBITER: We've had black people in this country since the 11th century, since they built St. George's Chapel. When Catherine of Aragon came over to marry Henry VII, she brought black attendants with her, people of color with her. We should reflect that. England's culture, Britain's culture is about black culture just as much as the dry, dusty sermons Nick Watt was talking about. It was incredible sermon, to hear. The aristocracy did benefit from slavery. And to hear the bishop talk about resilience of faith and slavery in the chapel, to many people who had benefitted from slavery, that is, I think, an unforgettable moment. Historians of the future will write huge books about this.</s>LEMON: Yes.</s>CAMEROTA: I often thought this particular rendition was particularly heart-rendering.</s>LEMON: Yes.</s>CAMEROTA: There were the flourishes that they put in there and the sort of pace. This is when I was starting to well up.</s>WILLIAMS: I liked it. It was a London-based choir singing this Ben E. King. We all think of the movie. There's this melding of British and Americanism in this one song, in this one piece.</s>LEMON: People who are not necessarily interested, especially in the United States, in the royal family, they think it's all about pageantry and don't get it, are really tuned into this. They're dialed in. And they're looking to the royal family now, hopefully, Meghan and Harry, to change things to be transformational, transitional. That's, again, my takeaway from today. But, listen, there's lots of light and love --</s>LEVINAND: Can I add something about that?</s>LEMON: Yes.</s>LEVINAND: The words "Stand by Me" does epitomize what they both needed --</s>LEMON: Yes.</s>LEVINAND: -- since childhood. I mean, he has gone through a great deal as --</s>LEMON: With his mother.</s>LEVINAND: But he hasn't had the support of somebody he met years ago at university, like William had with Kate. So he's really tried to do it on his own, Harry, and he's done it through his charities. It's been really hard for him. He mentioned he had mental health issues. And he's wanted someone who would stand by him.</s>LEMON: Previously, when he dated -- the women he dated before didn't necessarily want to be part of the royal family.</s>LEVINAND: They couldn't take --</s>LEVINAND: They couldn't take the spotlight.</s>LEMON: And Meghan is standing by him.</s>LEVINAND: She's standing by him. And I think she needs him to stand by her because she's only had one member of her family there. It's been a very difficult week with all the half-brothers and sisters and fathers and all those things. And if they found a patch where they feel they both found the person who would stand by them for the future -- I'm getting quite emotional.</s>CAMEROTA: It's so beautiful.</s>LEVINAND: I think that that makes the song OK. I don't mean to be mean about it, but I think be they possibly thought through and they both need and have found, which is just amazing.</s>LEMON: What did you think of "This Little Light of Mine," did you like it?</s>CAMEROTA: I did like it.</s>CAMEROTA: I like music we can all sing along to at weddings.</s>CAMEROTA: I'm not sure if they can do that.</s>ARBITER: And wasn't the cellist incredible? 19-year-old cellist who won the BBC music awards. Many of us were quite near to weeping when we heard him play.</s>WILLIAMS: I went through three handkerchiefs.