Meghan Markle and Prince Harry royal wedding: breakdown of the schedule

PRINCE Harry will marry Meghan Markle in front of a whopping three billion viewers across the globe. Here is your armchair guide to how the day will unfold.

PRINCE Harry will marry former US actor Meghan Markle in front of 600 guests at St George’s Chapel and about three billion viewers across the globe.

The chapel sits in the grounds of Windsor Castle, about 32km west of London.

The service will not start until noon in England (9pm AEST), but Aussies can tune into live coverage from 6.30pm AEST.

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Here is your armchair guide to how the day will unfold:

Watch Meghan and Harry say ‘I do.’ Picture: AP/Matt Dunham

THE PREPARATIONS:

● From 6.30pm AEST (9.30am UK): Guests will be transported by buses from Windsor Farm Shop, 4.8km from the chapel, after undergoing rigorous “airport style” security checks. They will be dropped at the castle’s Round Tower, then make their way to the chapel’s south door.

● 8.20pm AEST (11.20am UK): Royal family members begin arriving by foot or car, entering via the Galilee Porch. Those driven to the chapel will be chauffeured from the Royal Mews in state cars including Bentleys and Rolls-Royces.

● 8.30pm AEST (11.30am UK): Ms Markle, 36, and her mother Doria Ragland will be picked up by car from Cliveden House, the palatial five-star hotel where they are staying.

The pair will drive past thousands of adoring fans lining Windsor’s Long Walk, the elm-lined road that leads up to Windsor Castle.

● 8.45pm AEST (11.45am UK): Prince Harry, 33, and his best man and brother William are timed to arrive at the chapel’s west steps.

The pair will walk past 2460 members of the public, including wounded soldiers and local schoolchildren, who have been invited inside the castle grounds to watch the arrivals. The brothers will have a chance to briefly greet wellwishers surrounding the chapel.

● 8.55pm AEST (11.55am UK): In line with royal tradition, the Queen will be the last member of the family to enter.

Lining the chapel’s steps will be 24 dismounted soldiers from the Household Cavalry, dressed in their famous plumed helmets and breastplates.

The Band of the Household Cavalry will play the royal salute on 20 silver plated trumpets to mark the arrival of both the Queen and Ms Markle.

THE SERVICE:

James Vivian, Director of Music at St George's Chapel in Windsor directs the St. George's Chapel Choir during a rehearsal ahead of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Picture: Steve Parsons/WPA Pool/Getty Images

● 9pm AEST (Midday UK): Ms Markle will enter the chapel with six bridesmaids and four pageboys. Making up the party will be Prince William’s children Prince George, 4, and Princess Charlotte, 3; the three children of Ms Markle’s best friend, Canadian stylist Jessica Mulroney — Ivy, 4, and 7-year-old twins Brian and John; Harry’s three godchildren Zalie Warren, 2, Florence Van Custem, 3, and Jasper Dyer, 6; and Ms Markle’s two goddaughters Rylan Litt, 8, and Remi Litt, 6.

The Dean of Windsor David Conner will conduct the service, while the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will take the couple’s vows.

Chicago priest Reverend Michael Bruce Curry and Princess Diana’s sister Lady Jane Spencer will also give readings.

The service will run for an hour and The Lord’s Prayer will be recited before the final blessing.

THE CELEBRATIONS:

Frogmore House — where Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's private wedding reception will be held. Picture: Karen Roe/Flickr

● 10pm AEST (1pm UK): The newlyweds will take a 25-minute carriage journey through Windsor, travelling along the High Street before returning to the castle by the Long Walk, where more than 100,000 people will have gathered to see them.

They will be in the Ascot Landau carriage — the same one Harry travelled in during his brother’s 2011 wedding.

● 10.30pm AEST (1.30pm UK): The couple will join 600 guests at St George’s Hall where the Queen is hosting their reception. They will be served lunch and a lemon and elderflower wedding cake.

Both St George’s Hall and St George’s Chapel will be decorated in branches of beech, birch and hornbeam, along with white garden roses and peonies — some of which have been cultivated in the royal gardens for the occasion.

● 4am AEST (7pm, UK): Harry and his new bride will head to Frogmore House for a private evening reception held by Prince Charles. The building is also on the grounds of Windsor and is where the couple’s engagement photos were taken.