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CNN Live Event/Special
Meghan Markle Signals She's a Very Strong Independent Woman; Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Marriage Has the Power to Shape the British Monarchy; The Big Question, Is US Interest in This Wedding a Reaction or an Escape from American Politics Right Now? Did the Scope of His Daughter's Royal Union Exacerbate Thomas Markle's Health Conditions?. Aired 12m-1a ET
Aired May 19, 2018 - 00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:00:00] DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR, HOST OF CNN "TONIGHT": Uh here we go, the pomp and the pageantry, the flags and the fascinators, the royals and the romance, the sun is rising on what is truly an historic day not only here in Windsor, England but around the world, everyone is watching. Good morning everyone no matter where you are, I'm Don Lemon.
CLARISSA WARD, CNN FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT BASED IN LONDON: And I'm Clarissa Ward, just outside Windsor Castle, it is a brisk but beautiful morning, crowds are gathering, final preparations underway, and the countdown to the royal wedding, after six long months is nearly over.
In just hours Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will tie the knot right behind me and begin a brand-new chapter in royal history. The bride- to-be waking up in a nearby hotel after introducing her mother to her new royal in-laws and rewriting tradition by deciding to walk herself down most of the aisle.
LEMON: Waking up Clarissa, as if she went to bed, I'm sure she couldn't sleep. Well let's talk about the Prince though, there he is spending his last day as a single-man, greeting the well-wishers, there he is with his brother walking around, camping out at a separate hotel with his brother and the best man.
The big questions this morning, we're going to try to answer for you but they are, what will the bride, wear, who will she be wearing, what titles will the new royal couple be given, and how will they honor the late Princess Diana.
We're covering this monumental day in a way that only CNN can do it. Our team of reporters, our analysts, and our correspondents, they're span out across Windsor just we're going to be joined by a personal friend of Meghan Markle, a former staffer in the royal household, a guest at today's ceremony, and a designer of Diana's wedding dress herself.
Clarissa as we get closer to the ceremony you know, we've got more details about just how the day will unfold so what do you think we can expect?
WARD: Well Don understandably this lavish affair has a lot of moving parts so let's take the viewers through what we're going to see happen in the next few hours.
Starting at 4:30 a.m. Eastern time guests will begin arriving, starting out with members of the public who are invited then various guests will be inside the chapel, followed by the royal family. Then at about 6:50 Eastern time Meghan Markle will enter the castle, she will be driving through that road just behind me in a car with her mother.
Before she even goes into the chapel though Don, she's going to have to navigate 20 steps so it will be interesting to see whether she's wearing high-heels or not.
Now of course there's been -- speculation about who would walk Meghan Markle down the aisle because her father of course will not be attending because of health issues. We now know she will do most of the walk by herself, this is really unprecedented, sending a strong message here that she is a strong, independent woman.
Once she reaches the choir which is the main area where the royal guests will be sitting Prince Charles will then take her, he will escort her to the altar not officially giving her away, Prince Harry will then come to meet her, her groom, and it should be mentioned that even if her father Thomas Markle was going to be at the wedding, Meghan Markle always intended to walk the first part of the procession alone; this makes her Don the first royal bride in the UK to walk unescorted down the aisle at their wedding ceremony.
And of course, once Markle reaches Prince Harry, the service will begin but this is going to be a very different, very modern type of ceremony Don.
LEMON: You know, this is a big deal Clarissa and we have moving graphics. As you were talking about that we saw, the graphic actually moved down the aisle going over where Meghan and -- Meghan and Prince Charles ago to be going.
I have to say though you look gorgeous, I'm looking at you in the return monitor here, (INAUDIBLE) dress but I'm looking at you, you look fabulous, you're wearing a beautiful brooch and I believe it is royal blue, the big question is who are you wearing?
WARD: Well Don, I am wearing not one of the super designers that Meghan will likely be wearing, I'm wearing a smaller designer called Windsor but I did think it was appropriate to be wearing Windsor on a day when the House of Windsor will be celebrating such a beautiful and historic moment.
Who you are and Don? You're also looking very dapper.
LEMON: (Why), thank you very much you can -- I can thank Brooks Brothers for this outfit and you're not wearing a fascinator but I'm wearing a fascinator, my fascinator is much lower. I'm going to show these to you, these are my velvet loafers that they loaned to me so I'll try not to mess them up because I have to give them back (when this is...
WARD: I love it.
LEMON: ... all over [00:05:00].
My fascinators are on my feet but thank you I look forward to it. We're going to be here for a couple of hours, and you and I will be guiding the viewers all over the world through this so look forward to it.
Hang on because I want to bring somebody else in, all right Clarissa, all right.
So, the wedding ceremony...
WARD: Right.
LEMON: ... will be filled with extraordinary sometimes emotional moments including, including the dress, the vows, even the fancy hats, which are -- they call fascinators right, Max Foster, he's joined with a look at what we should be watching for in the ceremony.
MAX FOSTER, CNN ANCHOR, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT BASED IN LONDON: Look at this.
LEMON: Isn't that beautiful?
FOSTER: This is where it's not, this is the long walk...
LEMON: Yes.
FOSTER: ... which used to be a hunting forest and then (King Charles) (INAUDIBLE)...
LEMON: It's gorgeous.
FOSTER: ... (INAUDIBLE) and people are flooding in with their fascinators.
LEMON: Yes.
FOSTER: So, Clarissa is in the castle, she's not wearing a fascinator. These guys are -- and with proseccos, the drink, they're all sort of coming in with them, they'll be drunk by 10:00 o'clock by the wedding.
LEMON: Where are ours? Why don't we have any?
FOSTER: We're too much of a risk.
LEMON: Yes.
FOSTER: And then there's big screen all the way down there, this is really the place to come so I just come from up in town, it's absolutely jampacked, people literally sleeping in the streets, (this is -- been) (INAUDIBLE) (glory).
LEMON: It's cold, I'm -- I'm not sure what the temperature is but it is cold here and people started to arrive, what do you say about 30 minutes, an hour...
FOSTER: Yes.
LEMON: ... ago.
FOSTER: Three days ago.
LEMON: Well I mean, (INAUDIBLE)...
FOSTER: Yes, yes, absolutely but this will be a really amazing scene later on.
I mean, Britain -- in Britain we're -- we are not very good expression ourselves...
LEMON: Right.
FOSTER: ... we're not very patriotic, only rarely, royal occasions I'd say where we really come out and we're proud of ourselves.
LEMON: Yes. How far down are these -- how far down is that castle, Windsor Castle?
FOSTER: That's about I think two miles (INAUDIBLE)...
LEMON: That's...
FOSTER: ... (INAUDIBLE)...
LEMON: ... two miles. No, maybe a mile I don't know.
FOSTER: ... I don't know. I think (INAUDIBLE) yes, maybe you're right, the whole of the long walk, the (half-way) down is 2-1/2 miles.
LEMON: But it's a -- that -- I mean it's a beautiful shot and the sun really is starting to come up here and you can just see just how grand and just how beautiful.
So, do you expect -- you know, I mentioned that you know, they're going to -- she's going to pay tribute I think Princess Diana through flowers and...
FOSTER: Music.
LEMON: ... the music. Do you think there are going to be any tearful moments?
FOSTER: I do. Jane Fellowes is Diana's sister and she is the matriarch of the family and she's going to do a reading today. The last time we heard her voice was at Diana's funeral.
LEMON: Right. FOSTER: She's become very close with Harry over the years. There's lots of Diana connections throughout. I think Harry actually is Diana you know, his character is Diana, he's much more Diana than he's Charles.
William -- he's more Diana than William, well Diana looks -- William looks like Diana but actually in terms of character.
I spoke to someone last night who was with Meghan last night and she's in fine form, very excited...
LEMON: Yes.
FOSTER: ... she hasn't been -- I mean obviously these problems with her father over the week were pretty traumatic but the way it was described to me was, this has been building up for six months since he was (outed), his location in Mexico, huge amounts of pressure.
LEMON: Well -- just as -- just as I mean you know, I'm a -- I'm an American, I -- we in America give him a -- cut him a little bit of slack because he's not used to that attention, right?
FOSTER: Yes.
LEMON: And I mean imagine your daughter is going to become a princess and the whole world...
FOSTER: Yes.
LEMON: ... is watching...
FOSTER: (He can't be here).
LEMON: ... and that's a lot of pressure and he can't be here. I mean he's not used to the spotlight no -- this is in all families, there's no family that's perfect, either...
FOSTER: No.
LEMON: ... the royal family is not...
FOSTER: And I think...
LEMON: ... perfect.
FOSTER: ... that's what...
LEMON: Yes.
FOSTER: ... Mexico with more people...
LEMON: Absolutely, exactly.
FOSTER: ... (INAUDIBLE) story has helped.
LEMON: Right. FOSTER: Just like you know, the diversity story, just like the divorce story, just about all these things, she's much more relatable than either Kate or Diana and I think it becomes more of a fairytale.
LEMON: Yes.
FOSTER: And this is the fairytale setting.
LEMON: It is a fairytale setting, it is, quite fantastic and as the sun continues to come up and more people start to arrive we'll just see even the grandeur of this place even more.
Thank you, Max Foster. I'm glad you're here to guide me.
FOSTER: (Drinks while you're here)...
LEMON: (INAUDIBLE)...
FOSTER: ... you fly in for 24 hours, the event of the decade...
LEMON: ... I'm...
FOSTER: ... (INAUDIBLE)...
LEMON: ... exhausted and lots of red bull.
FOSTER: ... that's how you roll, caffeine.
LEMON: So, let's go back to Clarissa, Clarissa you're out among the people there, the sun has started to come up, are you starting to see the crowds?
WARD: Well the crowds are going to be gathering in the next few hours. Just (out) -- we're -- we're right next to the castle but just outside here people have been gathering for days Don, it's incredible.
Now Harry and Meghan have invited more than 2,500 members of the public to gather on the lawn outside the chapel. They're inviting them to share in their special day, 1,200 of them have been chosen from every corner of the United Kingdom. Again, breaking with tradition a bit making a little bit modern putting their own personal touch on what will fundamentally be a very traditional affair.
I want to bring in now CNN's Kate Bennett who has a great vantage point she can actually really see those crowds. And Kate it looks like you have got some real super fans around you, some of these people presumably have been waiting for this day, for days and days, tell us what are you seeing, what are you hearing, what's the vibe on the street like?
KATE BENNETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER & CO-AUTHOR OF CNN POLITICS COVER/LINE: Considering how early it is, the vibes have been great. I'm here on Eton Bridge which connects Eton and Windsor and a lot of the invited guests, the ones were part of the charities, over a thousand people who are coming to watch the wedding inside the walls, not in -- not in the chapel but have been lucky enough to be chosen, will [0:00:11] come this way, they're going to park and come in just over this bridge so we'll get a lot of attention at some point.
And it's (INAUDIBLE) it's like their swans and the sun's coming up it's very beautiful but these ladies care more about getting a spot, a good watching spot than they do about being on CNN so I want to get them to those spots.
But so, where are you ladies from?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're from the Midlands.
BENNETT: The Midlands, so...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
BENNETT: ... Birmingham is how far for us Americans.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Two hours, two hours' drive.
BENNETT: And what's -- what are you looking forward to seeing the most here today?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The dress.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The dress.
BENNETT: The dress.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And the little children...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Children.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... the schoolchildren and (INAUDIBLE).
BENNETT: And how long have you been anticipating this day, have you been -- I mean the (INAUDIBLE) are obviously coordinated but how long has this been...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well...
BENNETT: ... the planning?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... since the date was announced, wasn't it (Grace) but we've been -- it's been just -- it's been crazy, we've just (got a glimpse).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We were waiting for the wedding date to be announced (INAUDIBLE)...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... (INAUDIBLE).
BENNETT: How do you feel about the American princess, do -- Meghan, are you happy?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh yes, she's gorgeous.
BENNETT: And you feel like she's resonating here in England, people are loving the fairytale?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They've accepted her and I think it's so nice that she's just blended in so well (INAUDIBLE).
BENNETT: Terrific.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just -- so in love when you...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... see the interviews.
BENNETT: Yes.
LADIES: (INAUDIBLE).
BENNETT: All right.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're proud that Lady Diana would be proud of her children, right (yes).
BENNETT: Right, that's lovely.
All right, thank ladies so much...
LADIES: Thank you.
BENNETT: ... to get that last -- that last sentiment that Lady Di would be happy for her son today is just so lovely and certainly people here in England have the -- Princess Diana on their minds and in their hearts.
Clearly, where -- I walk here this morning when there were people who had slept overnight, along the barricades on the High Street, right in the middle of Windsor, certainly no one was cranky this morning at about 4:00 a.m., they were very excited, there were lines already for coffee and people were getting excited, carrying their Union Jacks, thanks ladies, getting set and is going to be a big day.
Thank you, guys.
WARD: Kate, it's just incredible you know, I was walking through Windsor last night and I also saw just huge crowds of people, I mean it was almost like a mosh pit, so many people, all over the world, coming out wanting to participate, wanting to be a part of this incredibly exciting event.
And now Don I know you're going to give us some more details on the real question which is the dress, who will she be wearing...
LEMON: (Yes).
WARD: ... what will she look like; we know she's going to look gorgeous but what are we learning?
LEMON: Well here's the thing, you know, -- you ask Kate, you said -- when Kate asked the crowd, "What you think, what do you want to see most?" They said, "We want to see the dress."
Everyone...
WARD: The dress.
LEMON: ... wants to see the dress and what the bride will look like.
So, let's bring in now British Fashion Designer, Elizabeth Emanuel for some insight on that. By the way she designed the wedding dress worn by Prince Harry's mother, Diana in 1981.
Welcome, good to see you. Thirty-seven years ago, can you believe it's been 37 years?
ELIZABETH EMANUEL, CELEBRATED BRITISH FASHION DESIGNER: No. It's incredible, it's gone so quickly.
LEMON: Yes. So -- the -- it's a big moment, for the...
EMANUEL: Yes.
LEMON: ... bride, is this like -- is this a most -- she probably pays more attention to this than any -- than any other detail in the wedding, right?
EMANUEL: Yes. Everybody's looking forward to seeing this dress. There's so much speculation -- that's the fun of it anyway, everybody's got an idea of what it's going to look like.
LEMON: Is it fun or is it exhausting for the bride?
EMANUEL: Oh, she -- I would imagine she's quite nervous so I was thinking today you know, did she get a good night's sleep, was she worried...
LEMON: Yes.
EMANUEL: ... about it...
LEMON: She does.
EMANUEL: ... you know, but...
LEMON: Yes. I said at the beginning of the show when Clarissa said that she's waking up now, since she's not waking up, would you be able to sleep if you are going to become a princess the next morning?
EMANUEL: No. When we were making Diana's dress, we didn't sleep at all, we were... LEMON: You just...
EMANUEL: ... very nervous, yes.
LEMON: ... interesting thing before we talk about it a bit, it's so much stress do they usually lose weight before the wedding because they're all stressed out and you have to continue to (pull) the dress in and...
EMANUEL: That's right.
LEMON: ... (tailor) it?
EMANUEL: Yes. Because brides usually lose weight you know...
LEMON: Right.
EMANUEL: ... so you expect that so you have to continually you know, check the calico (trail), pull it in, get the fit right and everything and then cut it out in the fabric.
LEMON: OK, so then you have any idea, can you give away any state secrets, do you know, who she is possibly going to wear and who the designer is going to be?
EMANUEL: Well, so many ideas. People say Ralph & Russo...
LEMON: Yes.
EMANUEL: ... it could be Christopher Bailey, (Odham)...
LEMON: Yes.
EMANUEL: ... you know, it could -- that -- from -- it just could be anybody maybe it's somebody that nobody knows...
LEMON: Yes.
EMANUEL: ... you know...
LEMON: So, you -- when you designed the dress, I mean Diana -- Diana's dress was beautiful but it was -- would you say it was a bit more traditional sort of -- or was it...
EMANUEL: It was -- I think it was very different, it was very dramatic and theatrical but that was you know, the '80s, wasn't it really?
LEMON: Right. But I -- the reason I'm saying that is because it was a -- it seems like it was a a bigger dress, it was a style in the '80s right? You...
EMANUEL: Yes.
LEMON: ... had the -- you remember the (Pooch) dress...
EMANUEL: Yes.
LEMON: ... and whatever.
EMANUEL: Absolutely.
LEMON: So, now she seems to be a modern woman so you think she's going to sleeker and more pull-to-the-body, what you think?
EMANUEL: She's got a wonderful style, it is very elegant [00:15:00] sort of very streamlined, I wouldn't imagine there's going to be a lot of fuss on that dress...
LEMON: Yes.
EMANUEL: ... you know, the frills, the flounces so I think it's going to look very elegant, classic, but with a bit of -- a bit of an edge I think.
LEMON: Do you think Elizabeth that there's going to be an (ode) to Diana there?
EMANUEL: I hope so. I think it would be lovely. I mean they've got two very different styles but you know, maybe it's something very, very slim but with big puffy sleeves...
LEMON: Yes.
EMANUEL: ... could be.
LEMON: Yes.
And it's interesting you know, it's not -- it's not the traditional wedding I mean -- she's walking herself halfway down the aisle and then Prince Charles is going to walk her the rest of the way but not give -- not give her away.
She's as I said a modern woman, she has her own style, she's decided to go a different way with the cake and all of that so you think it's going to be sleeker, any chances that it's going to go -- veer that much away from the -- you know, the style of the royal wedding -- traditional style?
EMANUEL: Well you know, the -- for the last few years it's -- all the wedding dresses have been very classic and traditional you know...
LEMON: Right.
EMANUEL: ... but I think this time, wouldn't it be great to have a sort of very sort of fashionable element in there...
LEMON: (INAUDIBLE).
EMANUEL: ... well I think it should be (short). I think...
LEMON: You do?
EMANUEL: ... wouldn't it be fun because (INAUDIBLE) she's got great legs.
LEMON: She does?
EMANUEL: Yes. It would be...
LEMON: She does.
EMANUEL: ... fantastic so you know, that's what I'm thinking (it will) maybe a different color.
LEMON: So, if you -- if you have any advice for the designer and for her (INAUDIBLE) because I'm sure you learn some things like when you saw Diana going, you said, "Oh maybe I should have done this," or, "I should have done that"...
EMANUEL: Yes.
LEMON: ... what's your advice?
EMANUEL: Enjoy the moment, I think.
LEMON: Yes. And not worry so much about (INAUDIBLE)...
EMANUEL: Exactly.
LEMON: ... take it all in.
EMANUEL: It will be all right on the day.
LEMON: Yes.
It's such a pleasure to meet you.
EMANUEL: It's so nice to meet you...
LEMON: Thank...
EMANUEL: ... too.
LEMON: ... you so much, you're so stylish and just gorgeous, I love the hair...
EMANUEL: Thank you.
LEMON: ...(that you've got). Thank you so much.
Elizabeth Emanuel, we appreciate that.
So, the clock is ticking down towards the wedding of the year. Look how beautiful it is behind me, there's Windsor Castle and folks are coming in, to the long walk right here.
So, it's time to chill your champagne, tie on your fascinators, get your bowties ready, get your popcorn wherever you are.
Coming up we're going to take a look at the British headgear, giving the royal wedding some contemporary style.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:20:00] LEMON: So, let's talk fascinators, we're talking hats like really creative hats, they're towering sometimes, gravity-defying hats that grabs the world's attention, that Prince William and Duchess Catherine's wedding, that was back in 2011 but they've been around for a while.
Sally Bedell Smith is here with me and she's the author of seven biographies, of many members of the royal family and she's here to give us some fascinating insights on fascinators. Good morning?
SALLY BEDELL SMITH, AMERICAN HISTORIAN AND AUTHOR: Good morning.
LEMON: How are you?
SMITH: Wonderful to be here.
LEMON: (INAUDIBLE), isn't it beautiful? Look at it, I keep...
SMITH: The dawn is breaking (INAUDIBLE)...
LEMON: ... I know, I (INAUDIBLE)...
SMITH: ... the crowds are gathering, its...
LEMON: ... I don't want to keep turning my...
SMITH: ... I know.
LEMON: ... back to the audience...
SMITH: No.
LEMON: ... but I it's so beautiful...
SMITH: Yes.
LEMON: ... we're really enjoying it.
So, tell me -- you have a fascinator?
SMITH: I do.
LEMON: (INAUDIBLE).
SMITH: I actually organized an Anglo-American wedding nine years ago, my daughter was married to a British army officer and so it was a thoroughly British wedding...
LEMON: Yes.
SMITH: ... with one exception, she had adult bridesmaids except for what we're seeing today which is very typical of British weddings but... LEMON: Yes.
SMITH: ... British women love to coordinate their hats or their fascinators with their dresses so...
LEMON: Yes.
SMITH: ... I had a dress to match...
LEMON: Well let's see.
SMITH: ... and so this is a hat, it's called actually a "hair accessory"...
LEMON: OK.
SMITH: ... technically and they come in all sizes, they come on headbands or come just as a headband and a comb.
LEMON: Let me see that? So, the headband is to hold it and then...
SMITH: Yes.
LEMON: ... the comb you put...
SMITH: And what you do...
LEMON: ... it into your hair.
SMITH: ... is you put the -- you put the headband on with -- here we go and you have to put the -- here we go and -- in a minute and you have to come down a little bit, forward, there we go and there you go; give it a little (jaunty)...
LEMON: So...
SMITH: ... and it's a -- it's a -- it's really interesting the way you have it made which is you go in and you talk to the milliner and she puts you in front of a mirror and you look at all different kinds of shapes and sizes and she looks at your shoulders and figures out what the proportions and you always have to think about things like will the lights -- how the light will -- if your -- face for photographs, whether you can kiss people.
And then you can have them with a -- with a brim or without...
LEMON: (Without a brim).
SMITH: ... a brim or so lots of them have feathers and...
LEMON: But so...
SMITH: ... you know...
LEMON: ... do you -- you have to make sure that the wind, like a strong wind doesn't blow it off so that's why... SMITH: Yes.
LEMON: ... you have the thing and then you cover...
SMITH: Yes.
LEMON: ... it with -- you have that (INAUDIBLE)...
SMITH: But the...
LEMON: ... (INAUDIBLE)...
SMITH: ... great thing I mean their obviously...
LEMON: ... hair cover it.
SMITH: ... they're obviously big-structured hats (INAUDIBLE)...
LEMON: The more bombastic the better, the more outrageous the better, is that it?
SMITH: Well actually, for wedding, no. I think and then this has little structural curls on top but the -- but the thing that is so -- was fun about this, it's straw underneath but it's silk organza on top so you figure out the fabric so this makes it -- this makes it sturdy.
LEMON: So, what did you think of the one Princess Beatrice wore...
SMITH: Yes.
LEMON: ... 2011 at William and Kate's wedding...
SMITH: One of the...
LEMON: ... gravity-defying?
SMITH: ... one of the...
LEMON: ... it looks like a pencil.
SMITH: ... one of the cardinal rules at a -- at a wedding is that you're not supposed to...
LEMON: Overshadow.
SMITH: ... overshadow the bride, you're not supposed to carry -- defer -- you know, deflect attention from the bride and that's what she did which was unfortunate. You're not supposed to wear big, big hats because then people can't see...
LEMON: Right.
Submit: ... but in her case she was ill-advised or she was young or she just said, "OK I'm going to do it; I'm going to do my own thing," and of course it turned into -- in an instant, Internet meme and there were all sorts of (INAUDIBLE)... LEMON: What is that supposed...
SMITH: It's a Phil...
LEMON: ... to be, in a bow?
SMITH: ... it's a -- it's a Philip Treacy hat...
LEMON: Yes.
SMITH: ... and you know, you would think that he's such an experienced hat designer that he would have said, "Why don't you just dial it back a little bit" but...
LEMON: How do you think Kate felt about that?
SMITH: ... Well, you know, I think she probably -- I mean she's invited them both to the wedding, she did that -- I mean not Kate but Harry has...
LEMON: Yes.
SMITH: ... so I think he's probably forgiven her.
LEMON: So, what [00:25:00] men is there -- is there an equivalent for men?
SMITH: No. Well I I've -- actually men sometimes wear top hats. There was one guest at my daughter's wedding who wore a top hat...
LEMON: Yes.
SMITH: ... actually but there is no equivalent -- and you know, what it is, when they wear morning dress...
LEMON: Yes.
SMITH: ... they wear a waistcoat underneath and that can be fairly gaudy...
LEMON: It will.
SMITH: ... actually...
LEMON: I almost wore one but then...
SMITH: Yes.
LEMON: ... the -- when Brooks Brothers dressed me they said, you're not actually going to the wedding.
SMITH: You're not going to the wedding and also...
LEMON: But I would love to wear one.
SMITH: ... you would have to wear a morning coat, you would have to wear a morning or waistcoat...
LEMON: I had one.
SMITH: ... and...
LEMON: I had one.
SMITH: ... striped trousers.
LEMON: I had one.
SMITH: Well you could have worn that.
LEMON: I could have worn that but you know, I'm not actually going to the wedding.
But listen I think that the fascinators should be for men...
SMITH: Yes. They're...
LEMON: ... (INAUDIBLE), look at that, that matches, (you don't think they)?
SMITH: Yes.
LEMON: Yes.
SMITH: Yes.
LEMON: They're nice.
SMITH: But it was fun...
LEMON: So funny and (INAUDIBLE)...
SMITH: ... and I had -- I hadn't looked at it in...
LEMON: ... Yes.
SMITH: ... nine years and also when people make hats like this, they have to look at it from the front, from the sides, from the back...
LEMON: From everywhere.
SMITH: ... you have to figure out how you can kiss people.
LEMON: We're -- we're having too much fun.
Thank you so much. Let's see if we can hug.
SMITH: We can hug...
LEMON: Look at that.
SMITH: ... we can kiss too.
LEMON: (INAUDIBLE) good. Thank you -- thank you Sally.
SMITH: (That for a good flight).
LEMON: We have -- that's right, we have to do a proper, English.
So, thank you so much.
SMITH: OK.
LEMON: It was amazing.
SMITH: (Sure).
LEMON: This is an historic day, don't go away, this historic marriage has the power to shape the British monarchy. Meghan Markle is an American biracial actress, how her identity could impact the future of the royal family.
We'll be right back from Windsor.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:30:00] LEMON: Welcome back everyone. And good morning or evening depending on where you are. I'm Don Lemon.
WARD: And I am Clarissa Ward, it is a chilly but beautiful morning, the big day has just arrived. In a matter of hours Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be wed in front of British royalty and the rest of the world.
LEMON: You are certainly right and at this hour the final preparations are being made for the royal wedding.
WARD: The crowds already making their way to St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle just behind me where the couple will of course affirm their vows.
LEMON: And you know, the day before the ceremony Prince Harry and his brother, Prince William, greeted crowds in Windsor, the gentlemen were out walking, they shook hands, they waived, they even -- they took a few selfies. The brothers are going to spend the night -- they spend the night before the wedding at Coworth Park, that's where they spent the night before the wedding, I should say.
WARD: And Meghan Markle of course Don, escorted her mother, Doria Ragland to Cliveden House where Meghan spent her last night before becoming royalty.
Now Don I know you haven't seen this yet but we just got something into our newsroom that a British poet laureate has written a poem for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their wedding day, I thought I would read it to you Don; don't worry it's short, so here we go.
"It should be...
LEMON: OK. WARD: ... private, the long walk on bereavement hard stones and when
people wave their hands should not be mobile phones nor their faces lenses so your heart dressed in its, uniform on. Then one blessed step and the long walk ended where love had always been aimed. Her arrows of sweet flowers gifting the air among bells. Yes, they all looked and sang your name."
It's sort of beautiful, don't you think, Don?
LEMON: OK, you read that beautifully but I mean the one part in there where "it shouldn't be cell phones," good luck with that, don't you think because everyone is going to want to take pictures and video and take part in this, they'll have memories of this -- these moments.
WARD: That is certainly very true, everybody certainly here in Windsor is so excited, royal wedding fever is now truly taking hold.
Dawn just broke a short time ago but already well-wishers from across the world descending on this beautiful historic town, many camping out to try to get a good spot so that they can see Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, they're among the tens of thousands of fans who have poured in to this town for the big event.
Many more are expected, our own Anna Stewart has been mingling with the crowds for a couple of days now. She joins us live from Windsor, High Street.
Anna, give us a sense, what is the atmosphere like there?
ANNA STEWART, CNN JOURNALIST: It's totally electric, it's been building every single day and now we are at fever pitch. You know, some campers have been here for four nights, the mega fans, no longer, hundreds possibly thousands camped last night and it was like 40 degrees Fahrenheit, it was not warm but they all want to get a good spot for the procession.
I'm joined by some of these crazy people, now all the way from Texas, here we have (Janie, Debbie) and (Amber).
Now how cold was it -- they still had a really expensive hotel room by the way, why didn't you use it?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We had two hotel rooms and you don't get this atmosphere in a hotel room, you don't get a thousand roommates in a hotel room; we had a great time. It was -- it was -- it was fun.
STEWART: And you, this is the most incredible fascinator, I think I've seen so far. It's got a very American thing about it, where did you get it?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I got it off Etsy, a friend of mine told me that (INAUDIBLE) all the swans so I search for swans, fascinator and this is what I found.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We thought it would get us into the wedding but (apparently) we got (INAUDIBLE)... UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Our invitations...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... It didn't get us into the wedding...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... got lost.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... but hey CNN, is the next best thing, right?
STEWART: Totally is.
I'm going to have to get the details of that fascinator, I think I might need one for the next wedding I'm actually invited to.
Anyway, so I'm going to let you ladies get back because they need to nab their spot otherwise it's going to get stolen and having camped all night that would be a disaster.
Back to you Clarissa.
WARD: Anna, I'm glad that all of you for that (INAUDIBLE) got the memo about the fascinators, all of you looking beautiful.
Don.
[00:35:00] LEMON: Yes?
Yes?
Hey look, you're...
WARD: Let's...
LEMON: ... you're out there and it's beautiful on the green out there and I'm sure it's really chilly. You are a lot closer to the castle than I am but I just want to take our viewers to this place.
Look how gorgeous that is, you see the sun coming up, you see the beautiful, Windsor Castle there in the distance and that is the long walk.
The procession will come -- there's a street that's just below me, they'll make the turn here and then they'll go down this road, down the long walk to Windsor Castle for the ceremony.
And people are starting to gather already, right now it's 5:35 in the morning here and just look at that, look how beautiful and it's chilly outside.
This is the moment that people of been waiting for, for quite some time now and especially the bride, especially the groom, and thousands will gather, millions will watch, around the world and Clarissa Ward, and I, Anderson Cooper, and Alisyn Camerota, we're going to be here and we'll take you through the whole thing. So, it's not cheap as you know, to throw a wedding, no matter who you are but can you imagine what it's like throwing a wedding for the -- a royal wedding, hundreds of guests, you're going to rack up the bills in no time, millions, we're going to break down how much money goes into a wedding of the year, that's next.
[00:40:00] LEMON: I probably don't need to tell you guys out there that weddings in general are really, really expensive affairs as we look at Windsor Castle, we come back live here on CNN.
That -- well add royalty to all of that, throw that in the mix, the price just really skyrocketed. The afternoon reception hosted by the Queen, Windsor Castle, 600 guests a hundred and thirty-five dollars per person, Clarissa that's a lot of money, that's $81,500; that's a lot of dough?
WARD: That is a lot of money and don't forget Don on top of that you have the evening reception which is being hosted by Prince Charles at Frogmore House, we're talking 200 guests, $340 per person, total $68,000.
LEMON: OK I'm lucky because I get the dress, I get to tell you how much the dress will cost, that's what everyone is looking at, that's what everyone wants to see. The designer is still a secret, no one knows but guess how much Clarissa?
Three hundred and forty thousand dollars; I could buy many sports cars with that money.
WARD: Ouch, that really is a huge price tag, I'm sure it will be worth every penny though.
But the real icing on the cake here in terms of cost Don, is of course security. We're hearing reportedly about $8 million, that's right $8 million, that's primarily of course to cover the officers, policemen's overtime pays and that will be paid by the British taxpayer; ouch, that has got to hurt but all the press here in the United Kingdom are saying that most of that money will be made up for with tourism, with all the memorabilia, certainly this wedding is generating a huge amount of excitement Don.
LEMON: Yes, and you're right but especially because it's in American and there's lots of people coming over for -- from America, there are lots of tourists. As I went through customs, I went -- earlier people who visit the UK all the time and they said, "I've never seen it -- this many people here," the lines were just staggering, it is unbelievable.
But you know, look at the people, this is out right in Windsor, I'm looking at the crowds here, these are people that are lined up and they have been out -- when I got here yesterday, they were out already some of them camped out overnight.
I understand from Max Foster, Clarissa, that some of them have been here for days and if you -- if we can take it back to the long walk, I'm just as American I'm not sure what -- do we -- do we know types of trees these are behind me on the long walk, it's certainly just a beautiful, picturesque site here as we look at Windsor Castle.
What are you seeing my dear?
WARD: It's -- it's so beautiful you know, part of what makes it so lovely is that light Don, is that early morning light, it's soft, it's pink, you see the ground is covered in this dew. It is very chilly at the moment but it is supposed to be a spectacularly, beautiful day, you can probably see there is not a cloud in the sky.
Believe me, I grew up here in the UK and I can tell you that that is not a usual occurrence, most people dread having weddings here in May because there's always the fear of rain, not so today it is shaping up to be a beautiful day and so many people, as you said from all over the world, flooding in to this small, beautiful historic town, all of them wanting to play some small part in this electrifying and exciting wedding Don.
LEMON: Yes. We didn't -- we -- in the cost we didn't add the beautification process of the city, that cost money, the military is going to take -- play role play, the British Army is going to play a role in the wedding as well Clarissa.
And coming up the special role the British military is going to play in this royal wedding, we're going to talk about that and lots of other things to cover here as we celebrate the -- they celebrate one of their own, the bond between Prince Harry and the military that's coming up. Don't go anywhere, we're live from Windsor.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Oh, there he is.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:45:00] LEMON: All right, here's how -- this is how things are going to go now. Prince Harry, Meghan Markle they're going to start their married lives with a two-mile or a 3.2-kilometer carriage procession around Windsor so let's take you through it.
They're going to leave St. George's after the ceremony in a carriage with a military procession. And then they're going to make their way down Castle Hill, then through High Street, greeting fans and well- wishers all the way. Then they'll move back up the long walk before reaching St. George's Hall for the reception so there you go.
And on that long walk they're going to be some beautiful trees that I've since found out what kind they are. Max Foster joins me to talk to me about that. Max you know, everything, you've done your homework on the Google machine so tell us about this beautiful walk and the beautiful trees here?
FOSTER: So, this used to be a Norman hunting forest...
LEMON: Right.
FOSTER: ... back in the day and that was 1680, Charles II created this long walk and you're only seeing half of it here, it goes up the other way as well, really quite spectacular.
These are oaks and horse chestnuts, we've just discovered...
LEMON: Yes.
FOSTER: ... while you were talking.
LEMON: They're -- they're beautiful now I mean this -- they're blooming now right?
FOSTER: Yes. So -- and the castle as you can see is quite a big structure but there's a private area which actually you can see from this end, there is a courtyard and that's where all the royal family will be right now.
And the queen still rides through this park every day that she's here, she's got a little pony, a trusted pony...
LEMON: Right.
FOSTER: ... so she still rides at the age of 92...
LEMON: Yes.
FOSTER: ... so this is really [00:50:00] important to her.
LEMON: So, I see folks down with flowers?
FOSTER: Yes.
LEMON: I see folks down there with flowers, do they hand -- do they (INAUDIBLE)...
FOSTER: Well I...
LEMON: ... (INAUDIBLE) also?
FOSTER: ... don't know -- what you'd normally do on a walkabout is bring flowers and hand them to the royal...
LEMON: Right.
FOSTER: ... a bit tricky when there in a carriage...
LEMON: When there in a carriage...
FOSTER: ... passing through.
LEMON: ... and they won't let you throw -- if you throw them at her you might get in a bit of a trouble.
FOSTER: Yes, exactly. But they'll be -- this is where the procession route will go back into the castle so it's a -- it's a quite nice little place.
LEMON: Look at the sunrise over the castle here, I mean look right here, look at it -- on the screen you can see better but I mean this is -- this means -- I think the morning is officially under way...
FOSTER: Yes.
LEMON: ... right?
FOSTER: Morning has broken. You know, this is a big day obviously for the couple but why they want it to be as a private ceremony is quite -- it's -- it's an odd one this, it's not a state occasion...
LEMON: Yes.
FOSTER: ... so they've only invited people they personally know.
LEMON: Right.
FOSTER: So, you're not going to have the Prime Minister for example; Donald Trump wasn't invited, interesting story about Barack Obama, (INAUDIBLE) who you know, Harry and Barack did come quite close and Michelle Obama...
LEMON: Right.
FOSTER: ... on various projects and the palace -- the only people the palace announced weren't coming were the Obamas and my feeling is that they did invite the Obamas, they were concerned that it might cause some tension with the Trump camp and I think the Obamas said -- they declined the invitation to save Harry embarrassment -- save the Foreign Office and the government embarrassment.
LEMON: Well I'm just enjoying, over the next few hours I won't have to say the word that -- I'll let you say that word because I have to say so much at least two hours I mean (INAUDIBLE)...
FOSTER: Oh huge, you think...
LEMON: Yes.
FOSTER: ... interest in this wedding is a reaction or an escape from American politics right now?
LEMON: Absolutely. I mean we're -- we're bombarded, we're inundated with it and yes, I think it's a distraction. I can't believe that I'm getting texts and tweets from people saying, "I'm watching." "I'm making coffee," "I'm making sandwiches," "I'm having champagne," in the US I mean...
FOSTER: Yes.
LEMON: ... you know, and it's in the middle of a (INAUDIBLE)...
FOSTER: And why Americans are interested in this story?
LEMON: Well, it's -- it's a fairytale. It's a fairytale but also in that fairytale quickly, if you can just quickly, his -- Harry's regiment in the Army...
FOSTER: Yes.
LEMON: ... they're going to lead the procession?
FOSTER: Yes. So, he's got lots of (INAUDIBLE)...
LEMON: Near and dear to his heart.
FOSTER: ... Yes, and what he says is -- I spent time with him in Afghanistan, he served on the front lines, it was very important to him...
LEMON: Yes.
FOSTER: ... he (has get pulled back) because (it got leaked again) but his normality, well he can be normal...
LEMON: Yes.
FOSTER: ... treated like a normal guy is in the military.
LEMON: Yes.
FOSTER: So, it's massively important to him...
LEMON: (INAUDIBLE).
FOSTER: ... and he's got multiple uniforms he can wear today so we're going to see which one he...
LEMON: We'll...
FOSTER: ... (INAUDIBLE).
LEMON: ... talk more about that. Thank you, Max Foster, you save me...
FOSTER: Thanks for having me...
LEMON: ... with the trees and all things oaks...
FOSTER: ... (INAUDIBLE).
LEMON: ... (INAUDIBLE) a marriage bridging cultural divide, it really is, a prince born and bred into royalty and an American biracial actress, how Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's union could redefine the British monarchy.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:55:00] LEMON: We're back now live, CNN's live coverage of the royal wedding.
Look at Windsor Castle, you see the sun coming up in the background, glaring, glaring right there.
We're getting closer and closer to the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, this marriage really has the potential to redefine the British monarchy. We're already seeing some breaks from tradition today so why don't we discuss it now with Sophia Money-Coutts, she's a Journalist who spent years studying the British aristocracy, is a Features Director at Tatler. Thank you so much for joining us.
She's going to shake up the (INAUDIBLE) by the way, thank you -- good...
SOPHIA MONEY-COUTTS, JOURNALIST & FEATURES DIRECTOR AT TATLER: No worries.
LEMON: ... to see you. She's going to...
MONEY-COUTTS: (INAUDIBLE)...
LEMON: ... shakeup...
MONEY-COUTTS: ... (INAUDIBLE).
LEMON: ... the royal family, don't you think?
MONEY-COUTTS: Yes. I think so. We've seen -- we've seen her seeing informal -- I mean right from that engagement interview I think...
LEMON: Yes.
MONEY-COUTTS: ... she was pretty relaxed and informal, more so than you know, say Kate and William's engagement interview so yes, and I expect that will continue because -- there was a story going around last weekend about Meghan apparently hugging the security guards at Kensington Palace and saying, "I hug. I'm American"...
LEMON: (INAUDIBLE).
MONEY-COUTTS: ... so yes, I expect that will probably continue, that...
LEMON: Yes.
MONEY-COUTTS: ... sort of attitude.
LEMON: So, let's talk about -- what about the role race is going to play and how that going to change the monarchy?
MONEY-COUTTS: Yes. I think obviously that's being endlessly discussed. The front page of "The Times" today has a picture of Meghan and her mother Doria and the headline is, "Welcome to the family," and I think -- it's amazing, it's a very touching picture, really symbolic of how really the royal family has changed.
It -- I was reading yesterday, it reminded me I think -- Charles and Diana met 13 times before they married and I think...
LEMON: (INAUDIBLE).
MONEY-COUTTS: ... Meghan marks a break you know, with tradition in a lot of ways but that is very symbolic as well, it marks the difference between the generations a lot they say.
LEMON: What I think is interesting and what we in the US want -- are waiting to see...
MONEY-COUTTS: Yes.
LEMON: ... a royal baby, that's -- that's of color...
MONEY-COUTTS: Yes.
LEMON: ... and how that -- what affect that's going to have on the family.
MONEY-COUTTS: With ginger hair.
LEMON: Yes, -- with -- it's going to be the cutest thing you have ever seen. Have you ever seen -- I mean, come on...
MONEY-COUTTS: Oh no, no, I think we're all very excited...
LEMON: ... biracial...
MONEY-COUTTS: ... about that.
LEMON: ... babies are gorgeous...
MONEY-COUTTS: Yes.
LEMON: ... (INAUDIBLE).
MONEY-COUTTS: Yes. No, I think well I'm -- hopefully soon we'll see; we've just had Prince Louis with Kate and William so yes, hopefully a little cousin will come along very soon, fingers crossed.
LEMON: The -- that's going to have -- that really is going to have an impact on the family, think about that?
MONEY-COUTTS: Yes. No, I think so but then I think Harry and Meghan are trying to do -- they've been very clear about wanting to do things their own way, not be too (INAUDIBLE), they have been more relaxed with fans and -- and I think yes, they're going to break tradition in lots of ways, I think.
LEMON: Do you think this will push Brits along in -- when it comes to race relations or the UK?
MONEY-COUTTS: I hope so. I think -- yes, no, I think it will help attitudes change dramatically...
LEMON: That's good.
MONEY-COUTTS: ... if you -- if you -- you know, yes, I think it -- it can only do that and that's a great, great thing.
LEMON: You said it's been talked about endlessly, right? It's...
MONEY-COUTTS: It's being discussed...
LEMON: ... is it...
MONEY-COUTTS: ... a lot.
LEMON: ... slowing down or is it still bubbling?
MONEY-COUTTS: No. I think it still -- I think it's still going. I think, it's discussed, newspapers and you know, back -- Harry issued that statement when it was first announced, the relationship...
LEMON: Yes.
MONEY-COUTTS: ... to try -- it's condemning the trolling and what I think he called the racial undertones of certain commentary pieces in the newspaper, it's feel -- I think it's probably being quite a very difficult ride but yes, it's a great one to...
LEMON: Yes.
MONEY-COUTTS: ... think.
LEMON: And it was a very strong statement from him...
MONEY-COUTTS: Very...
LEMON: ... very strong.
MONEY-COUTTS: ... strong, very moving statements.
LEMON: Thank you.
MONEY-COUTTS: Yes.
LEMON: Thank you Sofia Money-Coutts -- Sophia...
MONEY-COUTTS: Sophia.
LEMON: ... Money-Coutts -- Sophia Money-Coutts, we appreciate...
MONEY-COUTTS: You're welcome
LEMON: ... that.
MONEY-COUTTS: Thank you.
LEMON: Thank you very much.
So, CNN's coverage of the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle continues [00:59:59] right now.
