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CNN Live Event/Special
Meghan Markle, the Modern Bride; Wedding Details Choreographed for Millions to See; Who Designed Meghan Markle's Wedding Dress; Harry & Williams' Tight Bond as Brothers; The Royal Family Meghan Markle is Marrying Into; Meghan Markle Changes Traditional Wedding Cake. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired May 19, 2018 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[01:00:00] SOPHIA MONTE-COOTS (ph), JOURNALIST: A very strong, very moving statement.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you. Thank you, Sophia Monte-Coots (ph). Sophia.
MONTE-COOTS (ph): Sophia.
LEMON: Thank you. We appreciate that.
MONTE-COOTS (ph): Thank you.
LEMON: Thank you.
So CNN coverage of the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle continues right now.
Good morning to everyone all over the world. The world is watching. I'm Don Lemon.
CLARISSA WARD, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Clarissa Ward, inside the Windsor Castle. The building behind me, St. George's Chapel. Crowds are gathering. Final preparations under way. The count down to the royal wedding is very nearly over, Don.
LEMON: That's right. In just a few hours, a thoroughly modern bride will walk down the aisle, alone for part of it. For part of it. Breathing new life into a century-old set of customs and traditions. Every microscopic detail of Prince Harry's marriage to Meghan Markle has been choreographed. And the world will see it play out in front of millions.
WARD: That's right. The union, of course, will be a bridge between two cultures, a Hollywood actress, born and bred in California, and a prince sixth in line to the crown, born and bred under intense public scrutiny. The bride and groom will use a modern set of wedding vows, breaking from generation of tradition. Even the wedding music will break new ground. In addition to the classic music and hymns, we'll hear a choir will sing the 1960's classic song, "Stand by Me." And the newlyweds will leave the chapel to "This Little Light of Mine," a gospel song that is synonymous with the U.S.'s civil rights movement. LEMON: So, Clarissa, let's talk about the public portion of the
ceremony. Will last just a half hour. After that, the newlywed's day is really far from over. They have more to go. After the nuptials at St. George's Chapel in Windsor, the couple will attend two receptions. One with their 600 wedding guests, and a private one with 200 of the closest friends.
So Meghan Markle spent Friday escorting her mother, Doria Ragland, to the Clydon House (ph), where they're staying. That's just before the wedding. There they are. You see them walking there.
WARD: That's right. Meanwhile, Prince Harry spent his last hours as a bachelor meeting crowds in Windsor with his older brother, Prince William. They spent about 10 minutes talking to well-wishers and shaking hands, taking pictures. This really was an electrifying, exciting moment. People were packing the streets to get a glimpse of the two princes.
Let me tell you, Don, CNN is covering this monumental day in a way that only we can. We have our team of reporters and analysts, correspondents, fanned out across Windsor.
LEMON: So, people here are waking up around the world. In the U.S., they haven't gone to bed. Maybe even the bride and groom didn't go to bed because they are so excited about it. I wouldn't be able to sleep. They won't be at Windsor Castle for a few hours just yet. But wedding day frenzy already in full force. Planners are putting the final touches on everything.
Can you imagine scurrying around behind the scenes? Making sure everything has to be perfect. It's got to be perfect.
And royal correspondent, Max Foster, joins us now.
Max, last minute details but lots of star power. The wattage is huge. A-Listers, who are they going to be?
MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: The people we expect are the people they're friends with. Everyone on list has to be a personal connection. So there's going to be the Clooneys probably, Elton John probably, the Beckhams, "Suits" cast.
LEMON: Oh, wow.
FOSTER: It will be interesting. Because on Meghan's side, you have the glamorous, very good-looking Americans.
LEMON: Of course.
FOSTER: On Harry's side, you see rosy cheeks, well-fed aristocrats. You'll have quite an image there.
But it's really a big sort of symbolic moment when you see the guests. What we have here is true modernization of the monarchy. It's not just that Meghan is American, her background. It's so many different things about her. People can identify with her. And the monarchy needs modernizing. It has become accessible because of her.
[01:05:01] LEMON: We love it in the U.S. We're looking forward to this. We're like, we're invading the royal family. Is there resentment?
FOSTER: Not at all. Within the royal family, they are absolutely thrilled. The queen, she might not look like a revolutionary, but what she's done over her reign is extraordinary. She's invited the media in. She invented the walk about.
LEMON: Yes.
FOSTER: She wants to be relatable. When she said to Margaret, you can't marry the man you love, that was because she felt the public wasn't ready. She feels the public is ready now to accept someone like Meghan Markle.
LEMON: One question before we go and get back to Clarissa. They're young. This is youth. People can relate to them. The royal family is now modern and relatable not only because of Harry and Meghan, but William and Kate as well.
FOSTER: Yes, but I think Meghan does take it to a new level.
LEMON: Yes.
FOSTER: People identify with Meghan when they can't with Kate, or necessarily with Diana. It's more of a fairy tale, the ultimate fairy tale.
LEMON: Absolutely. It is the ultimate fairy tale.
Clarissa, who, what young lady, what girl doesn't want to grow up being a princess? I want to be a prince.
WARD: That's right.
LEMON: Or king.
WARD: Everyone wanted to be a princess. What's funny, Don, Meghan Markle was born just a few days after the fairy tale wedding between Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Fairy tales abound in this incredible story.
You guys were talking about some of the celebrities who will be attending today's nuptials. They will be walking in the entrance to St. George's Chapel behind me. I'll have a front row seat on this. It is really exciting day.
And of course, after the service, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will start their married lives with a two-mile, roughly 3.2-kilometer carriage procession around the town of Windsor. They will leave St. George's after the ceremony in a carriage. It should be an open carriage. It will be a beautiful day. There will be a military procession. And they'll make their way down Castle Hill, through the high street, greeting the scores of fans and well-wishers all along the way. And they'll move back up the long walk before reaching St. Georges Hall for the reception.
We're joined by Jason Carroll, on the long walk where the parade will pass by.
Jason, what are you seeing and how are the energy levels where you are?
JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. The long walk, it's about one-mile long. That's how long the carriage will come down. It will end right up there at Windsor Castle.
And, Clarissa, look at all the lovely people who have come out, braving the cold weather.
Hi, ladies.
These all of these ladies met on the train this morning.
You came from Texas.
You're from the Lake District.
You decided you ladies look nice. If I can join with them.
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I did. I did. I heard them saying they're going to the wedding. And I was like, I crept up to them I said, can I join you? They're like, yes! We came together.
CARROLL: What are you hoping to see? Would it be surprising -- obviously, you're hopping to see Meghan and her new prince? What is so surprising to me is how close you are right here.
I don't know if you can make it out on camera, but anyone who comes out here, you'll be about 20 feet or so.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right. Ten feet.
CARROLL: Ten feet.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're excited.
(LAUGHTER)
CARROLL: Obviously, best new friends.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
(LAUGHTER)
CARROLL: Tell me why? Tell me why, coming out here today, could have watched at home on the telly.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The atmosphere.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We wouldn't meet these people. You wouldn't see this. Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Once in a lifetime.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Especially for me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You see more on the television, but you don't get the feeling of that --
CARROLL: That in-person experience.
We want to give a shout out and props to Canada, over here, the Canadian ladies.
Thank you, ladies, by the way, who don't have fascinators? Look, this is just as good. Isn't it?
And this is what you're really experiencing out here, Clarissa. A lot of folks coming out wanting to get the firsthand experience of seeing Meghan and Prince Harry come through here, ending at the fairy tale sort of like scene there at Windsor Castle. We'll be front row for it when it happens.
Back to you, Clarissa.
WARD: That's right, Jason. I'm sure the crowds will be arriving by the hour.
Just a few hours left now before we reach the momentous moment.
Don, how is everyone feeling where you are? I'm sure the excitement is rippling through the air.
LEMON: I just can't get over how dashing Jason Carroll is. And how beautiful you look. My colleagues look amazing. We should dress like this all the time and read the news and in tuxes and gowns.
[01:10:00] It's barely three hours before the first wedding guests are expected to arrive. Harry and Meghan, they've invited more than 2,500 members of the public to gather on the lawn outside the St. George's Chapel. And 1,200 of them have been chosen from every corner of the U.K., the United Kingdom.
So I want to bring in CNN's Kate Bennett, who is watching for any arrivals from a great vantage point.
Kate, hello to you.
First of all, tell us exactly where you are and what you'll be able to see.
No Kate Bennett?
Kate can you hear me?
No Kate. So we'll move along.
You're looking at live pictures. Take a look at this. Folks again beginning to gather. We expect hundreds, thousands more people to gather now.
And I'm here in front of the long walk, right in front of Windsor Castle. I'm just watching people gather. They're so excited to be here. There's High Street. In the distance, there's the castle.
Meghan Markle is bringing her own brand of glamour to Britain. One of the biggest questions of the morning is, who is the mystery designer that made Meghan's dress? We will know soon. We'll talk about it. We'll try to figure out who it is when we come back from break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:15:19] LEMON: So I hope you're watching around the world. This is spectacular. This is the big day for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. It is a big day for a lot of folks. We can relax. It's a wedding. We can smile and have fun. We look at the fashion. We can wish them the best. They're joining -- this is a union that everyone is excited about. This is America and Britain coming together.
WARD: Yes.
LEMON: And the big question in all of this, as we look at the live pictures of St. George's Chapel and the folks down on the street and see Windsor Castle there as well, the big question of the day -- those are beautiful. We have seen those. We want to know, who is Meghan Markle wearing down the aisle? What dress is she going to wear? What will it look like, what designer?
To help us find all the answers to this, resident fashion expert, Sally Bedell Smith. She's the author of seven biographies, many on the members of the royal family.
Including who?
SALLY BEDELL SMITH, AUTHOR & OFFICIAL ROYAL BIOGRAPHER: Diana, Princess of Wales, Elizabeth II and a biography of Prince Charles. It makes me an official royal biographer. One of the reviewers referred to me as a British biographer. I figured I finally arrived.
LEMON: We'll talk about the dress. Let's put that to the side. We want predictions.
What about the jewelry? How big? How bold? BEDELL SMITH: Jewelry. It's clear she'll wear a tiara. Probably not the halo, which is what Kate wore. I'm thinking maybe she'll wear the Spencer tiara that Diana wore --
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Wasn't that gifted to her by --
BEDELL SMITH: That was a family from the family vault. That would be a nice gesture. That would incorporate Diana into the ceremony. Pure guess.
LEMON: Pure guess?
BEDELL SMITH: Yes. But I think a tiara would be in order.
LEMON: We have predictions as we try to figure out who it is.
Let's bring in Clarissa Ward, my co-anchor and lovely colleague, who is dressed quite lovely today, beautifully today.
Do you have predictions, Clarissa? What do you think?
WARD: Well, I don't know. A lot of people are saying Stella McCartney. She is definitely a favorite. Traditionally, doesn't really do a lot of bridal wear design. But none-the-less, an extremely well-known, well-respected, very hot, very popular with celebrities. Other people said it could be Ralph & Russo, which is a British designer. Again, she wore those for the beautiful engagement photographs. That wonderful dress reportedly cost $70,000.
Whatever designer she wears, it will be beautiful, it will be classical. It's likely to be more understated than Princess Diana's dress, designed by Elizabeth Emanuel, who you were speaking with earlier on, Don. That dress hasn't stood the test of time, so to speak, because it was considered to be very 1980s in its style. But at the time, it was a huge boom for Elizabeth Emanuel and her husband, the co-designer. And whoever Meghan wears today, you can be sure that designer is going to be selling like hot cakes because she is really a style, a taste maker.
LEMON: Oh, yes.
WARD: Huge influence, Don.
LEMON: Yes. I really liked Diana's dress. The '80s are back. The poof dress is back. She looked beautiful.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Clarissa said -- yes, it was iconic. Clarissa said Stella McCartney or Ralph & Russo?
BEDELL SMITH: I'm putting my bet on Ralph & Russo. There were photographs of Harry coming in and out of the Ralph & Russo place. And there were other pictures of both, looked as if they were destined for Ralph & Russo. She wore the Ralph & Russo dress for her engagement photographs. And I know he's just a very - they're Australian and very popular.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: But what about Harry?
(CROSSTALK)
BEDELL SMITH: What I wanted to say was I think we're not going to see what is often the fashion in the states -- I don't know about here -- but the strapless dress is probably not something we'll see. A couple of weeks ago, she went to service in West Minister Abbey and wore a sleeveless dress. Somebody who I know, who is close to the queen, said that was not on. She has to wear sleeves. I don't know if she'll be quite as demure as Kate was. But maybe we'll see some kind of cover. She'll be covered I think.
[01:20:08] LEMON: Let me just say, that we in the U.S. would love to have that sort of controversy. Remember Mrs. Obama, the first lady, wore sleeveless and everyone criticized her.
BEDELL SMITH: Yes. When she had --
LEMON: That's the least of the concern.
BEDELL SMITH: She had great arms.
LEMON: She had great arms.
BEDELL SMITH: So does Meghan.
LEMON: What about --
BEDELL SMITH: As does Harry.
LEMON: Yes, what about Harry? What's he wearing.
BEDELL SMITH: The dress code here is morning coach and a vest, waistcoat, they call it, and striped trousers. I don't think he'll wear that. I think he'll wear a uniform. He was for 10 years an officer in one of the regiments of the Household cavalry, the Blues and Royals. But it's not banned, but it is, by tradition, very discouraged if you are -- for you to wear at your wedding the uniform of your regiment. So for Harry, he is now, as of December, he became a captain general. The captain general of the Royal Marines, which he took over from his father -- his grandfather, from Prince Philip, who --
LEMON: Retired, yes.
BEDELL SMITH: For 63 years. It's a very handsome uniform. He actually will wear the maximum dress uniform which is of a field marshal.
LEMON: Oh, my goodness. BEDELL SMITH: So that is a black uniform. And he'll probably have beautiful gold. He'll have a beautiful gold belt and probably a sash going across.
LEMON: So, we should be --
(CROSSTALK)
BEDELL SMITH: We should look for a beautiful black Royal Marines captain general uniform.
LEMON: We should be just as excited about --
I think so
LEMON: -- what he's going to wear.
BEDELL SMITH: I think so. He could wear morning dress, which is what the guests will wear.
LEMON: We'll see. We'll know. We'll know.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: It will be great.
BEDELL SMITH: That's what I hope for. It will look smashing.
LEMON: All right, we're going to move on because we have more we have to talk about.
Thank you very much.
We have to talk about the brothers.
(CROSSTALK)
BEDELL SMITH: They are. They are.
LEMON: They're brothers through thick and thin. From losing their mother to growing up in the spotlight, Prince Harry and Prince William have remained close through the years. We'll discuss their very special bond as Harry embarks on a new chapter of his life today, not long from now. Stay with us, everyone.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:25:41] LEMON: It is a beautiful, beautiful morning in Windsor. It's chilly. But it's beautiful. The sun is coming up over the castle, over the chapel, and over the people who are gathering out now along the procession route. This is a long walk you're looking at. People have been gathering since early this morning. There's Windsor Castle. Beautiful site. Golden. This is the magic hour in the morning.
Welcome back, everyone. I'm Don Lemon.
WARD: I'm Clarissa Ward.
Don, right behind me, St. George's Chapel. In just a few hours, the British royal family will have a brand-new member when Prince Harry weds Meghan Markle in a spectacular wedding seen around the world. So much excitement generated around this wedding. The Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wedding will be steeped in but not bound by tradition. This is likely to be modern in many ways. Almost every detail has been poured over and considered in light of royal precedent, Don.
LEMON: Pored over and pored over a million times. However we're talking about an American bride. So it's going to be a personal touch that represents Meghan's style. The music and the dress are some of the ways she's making her American mark on a very British ceremony.
WARD: Of course, everybody here will also be looking at Prince William, Harry's brother, his best man. As far as brothers go, the two princes really are quite close. The two of them endured the unbearable loss of their mother at a young age. They have grown up in a strange lifestyle, very much under the microscope. The glare of the media never far from them. It's a world really that very few people can understand.
So it's no surprise, given that, that Harry did choose Prince William to be his best man. And let's take a moment to discuss that bond a little more closely.
We're joined by royal watcher, Hilary Fordwich, with us from Washington, D.C.
And, Hilary, thank you so much for being with us.
Give us a sense. Do you think that losing their mother at such a young age brought these two men closer together?
HILIARY FORDWICH, ROYAL WATCHER: Clarissa, thank you for having me.
Absolutely. They had a strange world and a strange life. They had a brutal start, obviously, with the loss of their mother. But they had a happy childhood, so a foundation of happiness. They had a brutal experience. We can look directly to "a picture says a thousand words." Look at all the photographs of them together. They have that very special bond and they glisten when they're in each other's company.
It's very telling to hear what Prince William said when he was asked his reaction to the engagement. He was in Finland and he said he wished them well. And it was a proper response. And then he added, "And I hope that he stops scrounging out of my fridge." The fact he would make a comment like that, add some comic levity, it proves they are close and it's very natural. And also, he said that "revenge is sweet."
[01:30:00] He's looking forward to giving some remarks tonight. Of course, you remember it was Prince Harry who gave him grief talking about his bald spot at the first wedding that he had to Kate. So the bond between them is natural. There's a lot of comic relief between them. And they need each other, they love each other, and it's very real.
CLARISSA WARD, CNN ANCHOR: You do sense that, as you said, there's an intimacy, that naturalness and the humor.
I wanted to ask you about the four of them, have become something of a unit here in the U.K., the Fab Four. Talking about William and his wife, Kate. And of course, Harry and Meghan. This the face of a modern monarchy now, is it not?
FORDWICH: It is, Clarissa. And of course, the Fab Four is relating back to the Beatles, the Fab Four. And, yes, what's really important I think to notice is that both the ladies, you think about Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, they have come into this very mature. There's a lot of comments relating back to when Sarah Ferguson and Princess Diana were together. They got into a lot of trouble. They were young and giddy. These two ladies are mature in terms of their attitudes and mature in terms of what they want. They are both very established in their own rights. Meghan Markle brings a new wave of the monarchy. If you look at the history of the royal family that's lasted over 1,000 years -- not many companies have done that, not a lot of countries have, and none of the other European royals. This royal family is embracing Meghan Markle. Why? She's going to help the be part of a Fab Four that will take the royals into the next obviously century, but also the new generation. And I think that's very important. I think the royal family has learned lessons in the past and welcomes the breath of fresh air and what Meghan stands for, and that is the new world.
WARD: Absolutely. Hilary Fordwich, that is why so many people have come to see this incredible event. There's so much excitement.
Thank you so much for joining us.
FORDWICH: Thank you very much.
Coming up, it is a joyful day for Meghan Markle. But it's also capping off a week of family drama that has probably given her no end of stress and distress. We'll look at some of the brides more difficult times and this complicated family life. That's when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:36:55] DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: And we are back. Look at that. Isn't that beautiful? Look at Windsor Castle. It's just gorgeous. I can't stop looking at it. It's 6:36 in the morning. Sorry, that's St. George's Chapel. It's 6:36 in the morning here in Windsor. It is just beautiful. That's the chapel. Of course, the castle, there it is. Ask and you shall receive.
Let's talk about the family tree here. Meghan is joining a royal family. Take a deeper dive on the Windsor family. We'll start with the Windsor family. Our royal correspondent, Max Foster, expert on all things royal and Windsor.
So let's talk about the family, starting at the top.
MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: This castle was started, was built initially by William the Conqueror a thousand years ago.
LEMON: OK.
FOSTER: And Harry is a direct descendant of William the Conqueror. This is the world Meghan is moving into. Very traditional for a very long period of time. The tradition was that royals would marry other royals, unite the royal houses around Europe, and create alliances with France and Spain. That's how royal wed. Even the queen continued that tradition by marrying another royal. Prince Philip is a Greek and Danish prince.
LEMON: Speaking of, let's put them up. We have Prince Philip and the queen.
(CROSSTALK)
FOSTER: So at the top, you have blue blood marrying blue blood. There's been a rapid -- considering this 1,000 years of history, there's a rapid modernization in monarchy. If you go to the next level, you have Prince Charles marrying Diana Spencer, who wasn't blue blooded. She was an aristocrat. Then Camilla Parker Bowles, very posh. Not quite an aristocrat. You have that level there. Go down to William. William married Kate Middleton, who was a commoner. She's a middle-class girl from the countryside. And then Prince Harry is taking to another level, Meghan Markle. Going to America, she's an actress. Crucially, she's a career woman. She's very ambitious. She's had a successful career. She's 36 years old. She is the true modernization of the monarchy. And that's happened in a few generations.
LEMON: She's older than the prince. She's divorced.
There's been a lot in the press about her family. And listen, my family is dysfunctional. I'm sure yours is. They're not in the spotlight like Meghan's family has been. Just thrust into the spotlight. I wonder if that -- at home, we're fascinated by it. It makes her more real.
FOSTER: I agree. She only has one member of the family there today, her mother.
LEMON: Yes.
FOSTER: Obviously, the half-brother and half-sister, she doesn't get along with. They're selling the story, which is blasphemy in the royal family. A lot of sympathy, a lot of concern about her father, Thomas Markle. For six months, he's been under intense pressure from photographers and journalists. She's worried about him, not just physically, but, I have to say -- LEMON: Emotionally, yes.
FOST: -- emotionally. And so they're desperate for the media to give him a break. She has a relationship. Hasn't been affect at all by all of this. She wants him here. It's not good for his health.
[01:40:06] I felt the same about the dad. You have to have sympathy. I have to say, though, the sister, shut up, it's not your moment.
FOSTER: Yes. Stop asking for money.
LEMON: Stop asking for money. Just shut up and go away. Let your sister have her moment. This is not about you. And even the brother as well, get out of the spotlight.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Amazing.
FOSTER: She had tea with the queen yesterday. She met with Charles and William the day before. Harry and Meghan (sic) are helping her through the process. That's all she has to worry about. But she's been utterly embraced. The family are thrilled to have her involved.
LEMON: You see where she gets her beauty. Her mother is very beautiful. Very beautiful.
Speaking of beautiful women, you know who else is?
FOSTER: If you're going to say Clarissa Ward, and I have to agree. I share an office with her.
LEMON: I know.
FOSTER: I have things thrown at the back of my head.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: Stunning.
Hi, Clarissa.
FOSTER: This is someone who just had a baby.
LEMON: Oh, my goodness. Look at that.
WARD: Thank you. Thank you. Yes, two and a half months ago. I wasn't going to miss this event for anything. It really is such a special day.
You can see behind me the sun coming up. It is going to be a beautiful day. Beautiful weather. It's been light now here in Windsor for an hour and a half. More and more well-wishers are congregating in the streets. They're here to celebrate the royal wedding. All of them hoping they might be the ones to catch a glimpse of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Some of them have been camped out along that procession route for days.
We're joined again by Anna Stewart. She is on Windsor High Street. She has been talking to different people on the street, getting a feel for what the crowds are talking about.
Anna, what are you learning, who are you seeing? What's the feeling on the street?
ANNA STEWART, CNN LONDON JOURNALIST: Clarissa, since I last spoke to you, thousands more people have been flooding into Windsor. I'm actually stood right now in a sea of people. Actually, there's a tucked away here one person who has been fast asleep. I may have just woken him up.
We are joined by many people that traveled a long way to get here. This morning, we have Emma Stephens (ph), from Yorkshire, in north of England. They have come here.
You were at the last royal wedding.
EMMA STEPHENS (ph), WEDDING VIEWER: I was, yes.
STEWART: That's why you wanted to come here?
STEPHENS (ph): It was fantastic. My brother lives in New York. It was wonderful. It's fantastic. And Harry is my favorite.
STEWART: Harry's my favorite. What about Meghan?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I love Meghan. Lovely girl. He made a good choice.
STEWART: Good choice. And we like she's American?
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We love she's American. Yes.
(CROSSTAK)
(LAUGHTER)
STEPHENS (ph): He's a fellow American in New York.
STEWART: And someone tucked way behind me from Atlanta.
Give us a wave.
(LAUGHTER)
Really, everyone has traveled from far and wide. And we're very much feeling royal wedding ready.
(CHEERING)
WARD: Thank you so much, Anna. It sounds like an infectious crowd. I'm jealous of the guy who found a place to sleep. Maybe I can nap later.
There's certainly a new flavor in town. We don't just mean Harry and Meghan's non-traditional wedding cake. We speak to a chef who knew the prince as a little boy and find out what she thinks of the hottest couple in the world right now. We'll have that is so much more, when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:47:49] LEMON: Oh, it's getting close. Look at the castle. You can barely see it, there's so much sun. It is a beautiful day here. It's a little chilly for an American. This is supposed to be spring. It feels like winter. Who's complaining? These folks aren't. They're out on the procession route getting ready for Meghan and Prince Harry to make their way along the route. A royal union. That's what they're waiting for. They're all excited. They're not that cold.
Let's talk about Meghan Markle. She's wasting no time putting her own spin on some royal traditions. She is walking herself part way down the aisle. And now, she's changing up the traditional royal wedding cake. Fruitcake out. No more fruitcake for her. Lemon elderflower cake. I like that. It's lemon. That sits well with me. It's by a London baker. That's in. I'm so hungry looking at that. The idea is showcase a taste of British spring. But will this change go down with the royals? How will they like it? Will they like it?
Carolyn Robb should know. She was a first female personal chef to Prince Charles and the boys when she lived at Kensington Palace for eleven years. And she joins me now.
Thank you so much.
What do you think? I don't like fruitcake. I'm happy about that. How do feel about that?
CAROLYN ROBB, PERSONAL CHEF TO PRINCE CHARLES, PRINCE WILLIAM & PRINCE HARRY: I feel the same.
LEMON: You feel the same.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Do you think -- how do you think they'll embrace this? She's changing the cake. She's doing non-traditional things. What do you think?
ROBB: It's all good. It's lovely she's putting her mark on things. And the cake does sound delicious.
LEMON: It does.
Since you lived, eleven years, right?
ROBB: Yes. LEMON: What are the conversations like when they prepare for something like this and someone wants to do something that's non- traditional? Does everyone discuss it or how does it work?
ROBB: They would have been open to this. As a family, they love their food. And something like this sounds so delicious. There's a little bit of American in it. The lemons from California, from the west coast. Elderflower is very English. It's the two coming together, the English and American. And I think it will be fantastic. It will be pretty. And it will be contemporary. Possibly gluten- free. Probably organic.
LEMON: Wow.
[01:50:03] ROBB: Healthy. A healthy cake --
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Yes, as healthy as you can get with all that sugar.
Is it all done on site? Is everything done on site?
ROBB: I understand it's being made at Buckingham Palace, with some of the ingredients from Sandringham, from the royal estate, possibility the elderflower.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: She's using, what, a lot of British produce. Is that the best of British? Do you think she's calling for the best of British?
ROBB: Definitely. I think it will be seasonal. There's so much fantastic local produce. William and Harry grew up eating a lot of produce that was grown in their father's garden and farm. I think it's important to them.
LEMON: I understand all of the guys in the army with Harry, they're expecting a huge spread. They're going to want to eat, those guys, right?
ROBB: I think they will.
(CROSSTALK)
ROBB: I'm sure there will be plenty for them.
LEMON: Good.
Let's talk about this. You talked about William and Harry growing up in the palace. You lived there for quite some time. You probably have amazing stories about their youth. Harry was pretty cheeky. That's a word you guys use, cheeky.
ROBB: Cheeky, that's right. Yes, mischievous, cheeky. But the most gorgeous little boy. He grew into a wonderful teenager. Loved coming in the kitchen and wanted recipes as a teenager so he could go back to school and make things himself. I'm sure he's a very accomplished cook himself now.
LEMON: I've heard stories how he used to steal candy. The mom knew, right? He would hide it in his jacket or what have you. Do you have stories like that?
ROBB: Always up to something, yes.
LEMON: Who was the most mischievous one?
ROBB: Oh, definitely Harry. William was the responsible older brother and very much kept him in check. But together, they made a good team.
LEMON: We talked about, Clarissa talked about the bond they had. William is going to be his best man. He was William's best man. Talk about that bond. You saw them actually, you saw them at the start of it.
ROBB: Yes. They were 4 and 7 when I first started cooking for them. As brothers, they seemed to get on really well and support each other. And through the toughest of times, they've done that. I think it's wonderful to see they're there for each other. I know that William will be a fantastic support to Harry today, just as Harry was to William a few years ago when he was married.
LEMON: Not many people get to have the perspective that you have.
ROBB: No. It's a huge privilege.
LEMON: What do you think about that? Talk about that.
ROBB: When I look back on it now, it's sometimes hard to believe that I was actually there. It was such a privilege to be a part of that, their growing years, when they were growing up. They were just like any other family in so many ways. Obviously, they're very special. But growing up like any mischievous little boys. They grew into fantastic teenagers and now to incredible young men. We're so lucky to have them.
LEMON: Carolyn, did you realize then the huge impact that Diana was having on the world as you were there behind the scenes?
ROBB: Yes, definitely. When you met her, she was so unassuming, but always so welcoming and so kind and so open.
LEMON: What do you think she would think of this day?
ROBB: Oh, she would be so delighted, so happy. I think Meghan would have adored her and she would have adored Meghan. She would be so happy to see Harry with someone who is clearly going to support him through all that he does.
LEMON: Thank you so much, Carolyn Robb. Appreciate.
ROBB: Thank you.
LEMON: Fascinating stories.
ROBB: Thank you.
LEMON: Absolutely.
So, Clarissa, you know, it's getting close. Are you excited and ready for this?
WARD: I'm so excited. I don't know if you can hear outside, Don. We're hearing the crowds, they are cheering and cheering, more and more of them gathering by the minute. Everyone really feeling such anticipation and excitement for this incredible event. People have been waiting for months and months. Now, it's just hours away, Don. Hard to believe.
Can I just say, on the cake front, listening to your conversation about the cake, I'm so excited for the lemon and elderflower cake? I don't think anyone, with the exception of my dear father, who was British to the core, really likes fruitcake. It will be great to have a cake that is truly delicious. Maybe, Don, if there's some spare, we can try to nab a piece.
LEMON: You're closer to it than I am. I certainly would love some cake. Listen, you know I like it. It bears my name. It's lemon.
WARD: Lemon.
LEMON: What is not to like. If you get some cake, wrap it in a napkin or something and bring it back to me and I'll certainly --
WARD: I'll save you a slice if I get some.
LEMON: Can we talk about the chapel where this is all going to be held?
[01:54:50] WARD: It's right behind me. It's one of the most historic buildings. We've heard Max Foster say it before. This is a chapel where the royal family have had baptisms, marriages and many funerals. Meghan will actually walk other the tomb of a number of different kings, most particularly Henry VIII. The building was started construction back in 1345. It was completed in the time of Henry VIII. Really an extraordinary rich history and some stunning gothic architecture. This is a wonderful building. This is a unique building.
In terms of royal weddings, some of the ones we've seen more recently, the queen's eldest grandson, Peter Phillips, his Canadian wife, Autumn Phillips. The queen's son, Prince Edward, he married Sophie Rhys- Jones here. And perhaps most prominently, Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles. This is where they had a blessing ceremony. There's so much history here. Very important and significant that they have chosen this to be the venue. We're in that final countdown, Don. It is so exciting.
LEMON: Yes. The final countdown, Clarissa, to the royal wedding is on. Meghan Markle is making the final preparations for her big, big moment.
WARD: That's right. We'll go live outside the bride's hotel and all across Windsor as the crowds continue to gather. The anticipation continues to build.
Stay with us. Max Foster and Isa Sesay coming up. CNN has the coverage that no one else does. Stay with us.
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