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CNN Live Event/Special
Coverage of the Royal Wedding. Aired 7-8a ET
Aired May 19, 2018 - 7:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[07:00:06] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To those who make it all the way to the set with no (INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is a great moment for the boys too. And Jessica Mulroney is such a special friend to Meghan. When the news broke on Prince Harry, Harry stayed at their house in Toronto to sort avoid all paparazzi.
(BELLS)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The designer is Claire Waight Keller.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The first female artistic director. The historic French fashion house Givenchy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's a surprise though. Not a lot of people talk about that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. And I think a lot of names have been bandied about in the past week of different British designer. And Claire Waight Keller certainly has a huge British heritage as the designer. But she's been recently appointed to the historic house of Givenchy which is French.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, maybe this is now her feminist statement. Because for a woman to become head of a great French house is a very unusual thing. So I think this is probably anything that's a statement.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What an extraordinary moment for this country, for the British royal family.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Really.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think they're going to see a moment in history. A royal bride coming through into a church on her own for the very first time.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We'll see the procession with the dean in front, I believe. Maybe the archbishop followed by the bride, followed by the bridesmaids and page boys.
(TRUMPETS)
[07:05:56] DAVID CONNER, DEAN OF WINDSOR: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.
ALL: And also with you.
CONNER: God is love, and those who live in love live in God. And God lives in them. In the presence of God, father, son, and Holy Spirit, we have come together to witness the marriage of Henry Charles Albert David and Rachel Meghan to pray for God's blessing on them, to share their joy, and to celebrate their love. Marriage is a gift of God in creation through which husband and wife may know the grace of God. It is given that as man and woman grow together in love and trust, they shall be united with one another in heart, body, and mind as Christ is united with his bride, the church.
The gift of marriage brings husband and wife together in the delight and tenderness of sexual union and joyful commitment to the end of their lives. It's given as the foundation of family life in which children are born and nurtured and in which each member of the family in good times and in bad may find strength, companionship, and comfort, and grow to maturity in love. Marriage is a way of life made holy by God and blessed by the presence of our lord Jesus Christ with those celebrating a wedding that Cana in galilee. Marriage is a sign of unity and loyalty which all should uphold and honor. It enriches society and strengthens community. No one should enter into it lightly or selfishly but reverently and responsibly in the sight of almighty God.
Harry and Meghan are now to enter this way of life. They will each give their consent to the other and make solemn vows and in token of this, they will each give and receive a ring. We pray with them that the Holy Spirit will guide and strengthen them, that they may fulfill God's purposes for the whole of their earthly life together.
(CROWD SINGING "THE HYMN")
[07:10:12] JUSTIN WELBY, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY: First, I am required to ask anyone present who knows a reason why these persons may not lawfully marry to declare it now. Harry and Meghan, the vows you are about to take are to be made in the presence of God who is judge of all and knows all the secrets of our hearts. Therefore, if either of you knows a reason why you may not lawfully marry, you must declare it now.
Harry, will you take Meghan to be your wife? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and protect her and forsaking all other be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?
PRINCE HARRY, MEMBER OF THE BRITISH ROYAL FAMILY: I will.
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Meghan, will you take Harry to be your husband? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and protect him and forsaking all others be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?
MEGHAN MARKLE, AMERICAN FORMER ACTRESS: I will.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And will you, the families and friends of Harry and Meghan, support and uphold them in their marriage now and in the years to come?
ALL: We will.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As we stand, let us pray for Harry and Meghan. God our father, from the beginning, you have blessed creation with abundant life. Pour out your blessings upon Harry and Meghan that they may be joined in mutual love and companionship, in holiness and commitment to each other. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your son, who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit. One God now and forever. Amen.
LADY JANE FELLOWES, PRINCESS DIANA'S SISTER: My beloved speaks and says to me, "Arise my love, my fair one, and come away, for now the winter is passed, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth. The time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom. They give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love as strong as death, passion fierce as the grave, its fleshes are fleshes of fire, a raging flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If one offered for love all the wealth of one's house it would be utterly scorned.
(CHOIR SINGING)
[07:15:48] MICHAEL CURRY, PRESIDING BISHOP AND PRIMATE, EPISCOPAL CHURCH: And now in the name of our loving, liberating, and life- giving God, father, son, and holy spirit, amen. From the psalm of Solomon in the bible. Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is as strong as death, passion, fierce as the grave, its flashes are flashes of fire, the raging flames, many walkers cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it out.
The late Dr. Martin Luther King once said, and I quote, "We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we do that, we will make of this old world a new world. For love, love is the only way. There's power in love. Don't underestimate it. Don't even over sentimentalize it. There's power, power in love. If you don't believe me, think about a time when you first fell in love. The whole world seemed to center around you and your beloved. Well, this power, power in love, not just in its romantic forms, but any form, any shape of love. There's a certain sense in which when you are loved and you know it, when someone cares for you and you know it, when you love and you show it, it actually feels right. There's something right about it. And there's a reason for it. The reason has to do with the source. We were made by a power of love, and our lives were meant and are meant to be lived in that love. That's why we are here. [07:20:23] Ultimately, the source of love is God himself, the source of all of our lives. There's no medieval poem that says where true love is found, God himself is there. The New Testament says this way -- beloved, let us love one another, because love is God and those who love are born of God. And no God -- those who do not love, do not know God, why? For God is love. There's power in love. There's power in love to help and heal when nothing else can. There's power in love to lift up and liberate when nothing else will. There's power in love to show us the way to live. Set me as a seal on your heart, a seal on your arm, for love, it's as strong as death.
But love is not only about a young couple. Now the power of love is demonstrated by the fact that we're all here. Two young people fell in love, and we all showed up. But it's not just for and about a young couple who we rejoice with. It's more than that. Jesus of Nazareth on one occasion was asked by a lawyer to sum up the essence of the teachings of Moses, and he went back and reached back into the Hebrew Scriptures to Deuteronomy and Leviticus and Jesus said, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength. This is the first great commandment. The second is, like it, love your neighbor as yourself. And then in Matthew's version, he added, he said, on these two love of God and love of neighbor hang all the law, all the prophets, everything that Moses wrote, everything in the holy prophets, everything in the scriptures, everything that God has been trying to tell the world love God, love your neighbors. And while you're at it, love yourself.
Now, someone once said that Jesus began the most revolutionary movement in all of human history, a movement grounded in the unconditional love of God for the world. And a movement mandating people to live that love. And in so doing, to change not only their lives but the very life of the world itself. I'm talking about the power, real power. Power to change the world. If you don't believe me, well, there were some old slaves in America's antebellum south who explained the dynamic power of love and why it has the power to transform. They explained it this way, they sang a spiritual even in midst of their captivity. It's one that says there is a balm in Gilead, a healing balm, something that can make things -- there is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded hold. There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul. And one of the stems is actually explains why they said if you cannot preach like Peter and you cannot pray like Paul, you just tell the love of Jesus how he died to save us all. Oh, that's the balm in Gilead. This way of love is the way of life. They got it. He died to save us all. He's -- he didn't die for anything he could get out of it. Jesus did not get an honorary doctorate for dying. He wasn't getting anything out of it. He gave up his life, he sacrificed his life for the good of others, for the good of the other, for the well-being of the world, for us. That's what love is. Love is not selfish and self-centered. Love can be sacrificial.
[07:25:06] And in so doing, becomes redemptive. And that way of unselfish sacrificial, redemptive love changes lives, and it can change this world. If you don't believe me, just stop and think or imagine, think and imagine. Well, think and imagine a world where love is the way. Imagine our homes and families when love is the way. Imagine neighborhoods and communities where love is the way. Imagine governments and nations where love is the way. Imagine business and commerce when love is the way. Imagine this tired old world when love is the way, when love is the way, unselfish, sacrificial, redemptive, when love is the way. Then no child would go to bed hungry in this world ever again. When love is the way, we will let justice roll down like a mighty stream and righteousness like an ever-flowing brook. When love is the way, poverty will become history. When love is the way, the earth will be a sanctuary. When love is the way, we will lay down our swords and shields down by the riverside to study war no more. When love is the way, there's plenty good room, plenty good room for all of God's children. Because when love is the way, we actually treat each other, well, like we are actually family. When love is the way, we know that God is the source of us all, and we are brothers and sisters, children of God. Our brothers and sisters, that's a new heaven, a new earth, a new world, a new human family. And let me tell you something you, old Solomon was right in the Old Testament. That's fire.
They are Desjardins and with this, I will sit down. We've got to get you all married. French Jesuit they are Desjardins was arguably one of the great minds, great spirits of the 20th Century, Jesuit, Roman Catholic priest, a scientist, a scholar, a mystic. In some of his writings, he said, from his scientific background, as well as his theological ones. Some of his writings he said that others have that the discovery or invention or harnessing of fire was one of the great, one of the great scientific and technological discoveries in all of human history. Fire to a great extent made human civilization possible. Fire made it possible to cook food and to provide sanitary ways of eating which reduced the spread of disease in its time. Fire made it possible to heat warm environments and, thereby, made human migration around the world a possibility, even into colder climates. Fire made it possible, there was no bronze age without fire. No iron age without fire. No industrial revolution without fire. The advances of science and technology are greatly dependent on the human ability and capacity to take fire and use it for human good.
Anybody get here in a car today? An automobile? Nod your heads if you did, I'm guessing. I know there were some carriages. But those of us who came on cars, fire, the control harnessed fire made that possible. I know that the Bible says, I believe that Jesus walked on the water. But I have to tell you, I didn't walk across the Atlantic Ocean to get here. Controlled fire in that plane got me here.
[07:30:00] Fire makes it possible for us to text and tweet and e-mail and Instagram and Facebook and socially be dysfunctional with each other. Fire makes all of that possible and Desjardins said, fire was one of the greatest discoveries in all of human history. And he then went on to say that if humanity ever harnesses the energy of fire again, if humanity ever captures the energy of love, it will be the second time in history that we have discovered fire.
Dr. King was right, we must discover love, the redemptive power of love. And when we do that, we will make of this old world a new world. My brother, my sister, God love you. God bless you. And may God hold us all in those almighty hands of love.
CHOIR: When the night has come and the land is dark and the moon is the only light we see. No, I won't be afraid, no I won't be afraid just as long as you stand, stand by me. So darling, darling stand by me, oh stand by me. Yes, stand by me, stand by me, stand by me. If the sky that we look upon should tumble and fall or the mountains should crumble to the sea. I won't cry, I won't cry, no, I won't shed a tear just as long as you stand, stand by me.
So darling, darling, stand by me. Ooh, stand by me, yes, stand by me, stand by me, stand by me. Whenever you're in trouble won't you stand by me? Stand by me, stand by me, stand by me, stand by me.
So darling, darling stand by me, stand by me. Stand by me, stand by me, stand by me. So darling, darling stand by me, stand by me. Ooh, stand by me, stand by me, stand by me, stand by me.
[07:35:01] WELBY: Harry and Meghan, I now invite you to join hands and make your vows in the presence of God and his people. I, Harry, take you, Meghan --
PRINCE HARRY, DUKE OF SUSSEX: I, Harry, take you, Meghan --
WELBY: -- to be my wife.
HARRY: -- to be my wife.
WELBY: To have and to hold --
HARRY: To have and to hold --
WELBY: -- from this day forward.
HARRY: -- from this day forward.
WELBY: For better, for worse.
HARRY: For better, for worse.
WELBY: For richer, for poorer.
HARRY: For richer, for poorer.
WELBY: In sickness and in health.
HARRY: In sickness and in health.
WELBY: To love and to cherish.
HARRY: To love and to cherish.
WELBY: Till death us do part.
HARRY: Till death us do part.
WELBY: According to God's holy law.
HARRY: According to God's holy law.
WELBY: In the presence of God --
HARRY: In the presence of God --
WELBY: -- I make this vow.
HARRY: -- I make this vow.
WELBY: I, Meghan, take you, Harry --
MEGHAN MARKLE: I, Meghan, take you, Harry --
WELBY: -- to be my husband.
MARKLE: -- to be my husband.
WELBY: To have and to hold --
MARKLE: To have and to hold --
WELBY: -- from this day forward.
MARKLE: -- from this day forward.
WELBY: For better, for worse.
MARKLE: For better, for worse.
WELBY: For richer, for poorer.
MARKLE: For richer, for poorer.
WELBY: In sickness and in health.
MARKLE: In sickness and in health.
WELBY: To love and to cherish.
MARKLE: To love and to cherish.
WELBY: Till death us do part.
MARKLE: Till death us do part.
WELBY: According to God's holy law --
MARKLE: According to God's holy law --
WELBY: -- in the presence of God --
MARKLE: -- in the presence of God --
WELBY: -- I make this vow.
MARKLE: -- I make this vow.
WELBY: Heavenly father, by your blessing, let these rings be to Harry and Meghan a symbol of unending love and faithfulness. To remind them of the vow and covenant which they have made this day, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
WELBY: Meghan, I give you this ring --
HARRY: Meghan, I give you this ring --
WELBY: -- as a sign of our marriage.
HARRY: -- as a sign of our marriage.
WELBY: With my body, I honor you.
HARRY: With my body, I honor you --
WELBY: All that I am, I give to you.
HARRY: All that I am, I give to you.
WELBY: And all that I have --
HARRY: And all that I have --
WELBY: -- I share with you.
HARRY: -- I share with you.
WELBY: Within the love of God.
HARRY: Within the love of God.
WELBY: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
HARRY: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
WELBY: Harry, I give you this ring --
MARKLE: -- Harry, I give you this ring --
WELBY: -- as a sign of our marriage.
MARKLE: -- as a sign of our marriage.
WELBY: With my body, I honor you.
MARKLE: With my body, I honor you.
WELBY: All that I am, I give to you.
MARKLE: All that I am, I give to you.
WELBY: And all that I have --
MARKLE: And all that I have --
WELBY: -- I share with you. MARKLE: -- I share with you.
WELBY: Within the love of God --
MARKLE: Within the love of God --
WELBY: -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
MARKLE: -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
WELBY: In the presence of God and before this congregation, Harry and Meghan have given their consent and made their marriage vows to each other. They have declared their marriage by the joining of hands and by the giving and receiving of rings. I, therefore, proclaim that they are husband and wife.
[07:39:45] WELBY: Those whom God hath joined together, let no one put us under.
WELBY: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, for you have created joint gladness, pleasure, and delight. Love, peace, and fellowship. Pour out the abundance of your blessing upon Harry and Meghan in their new life together. Let their love for each other be a seal upon their hearts and a crown upon their heads.
Bless them in their work and in their companionship. Awake and asleep, in joy and in sorrow, in life and in death. Finally, in your mercy, bring them to that banquet where your saints feast forever in your heavenly home. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever, Amen.
God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, bless, preserve, and keep you, the Lord mercifully grants you the riches of his grace that you may please him both in body and soul, and living together in faith and love may receive the blessings of eternal life, Amen.
ROSE HUDSON-WILKIN, PRIEST, CHURCH OF ENGLAND: Faithful God, holy and eternal. Source of life, and spring of love. We thank and praise you for bringing Harry and Meghan to this day, and we pray for them. Lord of life and love.
CROWD: Hear our prayer.
[07:44:59] WILKIN: May their marriage be life-giving as lifelong, enriched by your presence and strengthened by your grace. May they bring comfort and confidence to each other in faithfulness and trust. Lord of life and love.
CROWD: Hear our prayer.
WILKIN: May the hospitality of their home bring refreshment and joy to all around them. May their love overflow to neighbors in need and embrace those in distress. Lord of life and love.
CROWD: Hear our prayer. ANBA ANGAELOS, FIRST COPTIC ORTHODOX ARCHBISHOP, LONDON: May they discern in your word product and purpose for their lives. And may the power of your Holy Spirit lead them in truth and defend them in adversity. Lord of life and love.
CROWD: Hear our prayer.
ANGAELOS: May they nurture their family with devotion, see their children grow in body, mind, and spirit. And come at last to the end of their lives with heart content and in joyful anticipation of heaven. Lord of life and love.
CROWD: Hear our prayer.
ANGAELOS: Let us pray with confidence as our Savior taught us. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
[07:50:02] CONNER: God, the Holy Trinity, make you strong in faith and love, defend you on every side, and guide you in truth and peace. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
