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CNN Live Event/Special

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Royal Wedding. Aired 8-9a ET

Aired May 19, 2018 - 08:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[08:00:00]

(WEDDING CEREMONY)

[08:06:04]

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: And history has been made. An extraordinary service, an extraordinary moment. This is what the crowd has been waiting for as they descend the steps. Members of the cavalry house forming staircase, the household cavalry providing ceremonial support.

Max Foster, many of the people who are assembled there, who were able to witness the kiss, those are those that have worked for charities that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry --

MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: They planned to go down and greet some of these members of the public, or at least that was the plan. This is a big message. They want the public involved in their royal futures. They want their causes deeply involved as well in anything that they do in future.

And you're going to see now the rest of the royal family, Doria Ragland as well, gather on the steps in that spectacular scene outside the west door as they wave them off.

COOPER: Let's listen in.

(CHOIR SINGING)

COOPER: Princess Charlotte waving as Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, begin their procession. The military regiments, which have a personal association with Prince Harry. Just in terms of that ceremony that we saw, I've never seen anything like that, certainly in a ceremony for a British royal family. To have a gospel choir singing "This Little Light of Mine" as they depart to "Stand By Me."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To hear a preacher from my hometown of Chicago preach in this royal personal chapel of the queen is a moment that is not describable. And that they did it is -- these people allowed it to happen is quite amazing. And it's a signal, as well as a friend of mine Reverend Rose Wilkins preaching as well, this is a signal this is a new day.

Now whether it will happen is another thing. But the royal family has said, we're ready to make a change. It's over to you, people. It's wonderful. It's just indescribable.

[08:10:12] COOPER: If there was any question about Meghan Markle bringing some change to the royal family, this ceremony certainly was the beginning of some change.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, she did it in a way that was incredibly bold. It wasn't a sort of tiptoey gesture. She actually -- I was going to use the word colored -- but she changed the tenor of that ceremony completely. She had people sitting there who had never heard that music before in a church like this.

She's already made her mark as well as wearing a dress created by the first woman of the House of Givenchy, a huge couturier. She's doing things in a bold and subtle way. I'm quite impressed with her.

COOPER: we're joined by Harvey Young, Meghan's northwestern professor, knew her from university. Harvey, I'm wondering what you thought of that service just in terms of the change that Bonnie was speaking about.

HARVEY YOUNG, MEGHAN MARKLE'S NORTHWESTERN PROFESSOR: Absolutely. It was an extraordinary ceremony. If you think about the fact that Meghan has written about this, about her mother being subject to racial slurs and Meghan witnessing that, her mother being called -- or recognize as a nanny when Meghan was a kid.

When Meghan talks about the need to embrace all of who she is as a biracial woman, it's to celebrate her blackness as well as her whiteness. You saw that on display with Michael Curry, who was born in Chicago but grew up in Buffalo. My great aunt, went to his church, actually.

That episcopal service is one that brings together everyone across lines of race and division and class and health and wealth. You saw that. I think that you saw an example of sort of black virtuosity. It was wonderful. Meghan should be proud of the ceremony.

COOPER: Is it what you expected, Harvey, from Meghan, that she would bring this and so quickly to the family?

YOUNG: Absolutely. I mean, Meghan is -- she's an adult. I mean, she is a self-confident, self-possessed woman who knows what she wants. She's a feminist, a crusader for women's rights, she believes in conversations about race and equality. You saw that from her public statements on her own platform in the public spotlight. The fact she uses this stage, this spotlight to amplify those causes that she believes in, I'm not surprised at all.

COOPER: It's -- Nick Watt, I think the procession is coming your way, yes?

NICK WATT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The procession is passing us right now. Those four Windsor greys, that ascot landau carriage that is open. Thank goodness the weather is good today. They had the Scottish state coach on standby in case it was raining. This gives us a much better view. It's called the ascot landau because the queen rides in it so the races. Harry rode in it back from William's wedding. He and his new -- those horses are Sir Basel, Tyrone and Storm. They are about to go out into the public. Remember, this wedding took place inside the castle. Castle have high walls. They're about to go out to the public right now.

COOPER: There's 100 carriages, I believe, in the --

FOSTER: In the royal mews.

COOPER: In the royal mews. They're holding hands, as they did throughout the ceremony. Harry apparently said to her when he came -- first came into contact with her said that, I believe the words were, you look lovely. I missed you. You look amazing. I missed you.

FOSTER: At the end of the day, it's a wedding, two people in love. All the setting really adds to it. But, you know, two emotional moments were when he caught sight of his bride. Also, when Doria Ragland caught sight of her daughter. Two key moments.

As Bonnie said, as much as this has done for the public, I think it's done as much, if not more, for the royal family. None of this happens without the permission of the queen. I don't think she's been that involved but she's basically said, you can do what you want.

So, when I asked the palace about whether this is a feminist move on behalf of Meghan, they said, well, she's just trying to be herself. You can't imagine how difficult that is in that system to be yourself.

COOPER: Isha Sesay, the carriage is coming your way, or passing by you, yes?

ISHA SESAY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It is.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's Queen Victoria standing at the top.

SESAY: You should be able to hear the crowds as it is -- as the crowd takes up the cries of celebration. It is really quite something to be here, standing about ten deep on the sidewalk and seeing the procession as it comes by, the new royal couple. You can hear the cheering and that open carriage.

And this is really what they have been waiting for. I have been here for hours and people just wanted that shot. They wanted to see Meghan as the new royal, with her new husband. They wanted to celebrate this moment. Harry and Meghan had said ahead of the wedding they wanted people to feel this was part of their celebration.

They wanted them to feel part of this wedding day. So, getting to see them in the carriage, getting to see them go by is very much part of that. You know, there's talk of Harry's mother being the people's princess and there is a feeling amongst the people I've spoken to here today that Meghan will be the next incarnation, if you will, of the people's princess. They have taken her to heart and seeing her in that open carriage, is such a treat. Such a treat. A beautiful scene. A beautiful day and just a day to celebrate. Celebrate love and to celebrate the royal family -- Anderson.

COOPER: There were moments during the service where it -- as the choir was singing "Stand by me" it looked like the royal family didn't know where to look or what to do.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This was very different for the royal family. English church it tends to be more stage, severe in its approach, I guess. The queen is very keen to get people into church. She's very devote. Zara Phillips at one point appeared to get the giggles. That was that was part of the inclusion.

I think they were thoroughly enjoying it. It was very different for them, and particularly different for a royal service because, of course, they're normally quite conservative and follow a very classical route. I think it was a nice mix today.

Looking at the cavalry escorting today, Harry -- a number of these soldiers served with Harry in Afghanistan. This is how personal every element of this wedding is. A number of these men were chosen because they served with Harry. It was a moment to reward them for their service, for their friendship, their camaraderieship. Again, in every possible way, this couple have made it personal.

COOPER: Yes, and 250 members of the armed forces from regiments and units that hold a special relationship with Prince Harry are taking part throughout the day today.

FOSTER: Just a little note from the pool reporter, only one allowed into the church, which is a bit of a controversy, but telling me Prince Charles took Doria's hand as they left to sign the register.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I think Charles will make sure she's included. It's Meghan's only blood relative here today. She's a member of the family as well by extension now.

COOPER: Let's talk about the dress and the tiara. We'll come back to Alisyn then we'll come back -- Alisyn.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Anderson, we have all been watching this moment, hankies in hand, watching this real-life fairytale unfold. This is an American gold of modest means. You know, she was born into parents and then they were divorced when she was quite young. This was not a silver spoon girl and she has married a prince. Richard, we've been talking about the stagecraft of all this fairytale play out globally before everyone's eyes.

RICHARD QUEST, CNN ANCHOR, "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS": You accused me of being heartless when I wasn't tearing up during the ceremony. You know, being British, of which I'm extremely proud, I can certainly tear up watching these because this is what we do best.

And what you are seeing here is the thousand-year institution that British monarchy, remember, changed its name very deliberately to the House of Windsor during the time of war, deliberately to get away from the German war.

They can change and shift, but they do it with purpose. What we're seeing here -- look at this. The household cavalry, the mounted regiment, the ascot landau, the duke and duchess of Sussex, riding through one of England's oldest royal cities, Windsor.

CAMEROTA: And Windsor doesn't get more picturesque and quaint than Windsor. This little town is like something out of a fairytale.

QUEST: I take issue with some of my colleagues who say that she's modernizing the royal family. She's dragging the royal family into the -- they want to be modernized. You can't modernize somebody if they don't want it otherwise you end up with a Diana situation.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But she's a vehicle for that modernization.

QUEST: Yes.

[08:20:09] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's the catalyst taking the bridge to that and I think they needed that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And she really brings in these fresh ideas. We saw this with Diana, how she really revolutionized them, talking to the people. Reverend Curry giving that address, the fact there were intimate touches, she was holding his hand, he pushed back the veil. It was so romantic. They are completely devoted to each other. It's important to remember the procession, these men on horseback are soldiers, brave heroes who fought so bravely for this country.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What really interested me is that, you know, in the '90s the royal family's popularity sunk through the floor. And here we have hundreds of thousands of people, there are crowds, the monarchy is alive and living and modernizing and doing what they can to get all the generations involved, which is very heartening.

QUEST: Which begs the question, God forbid once the queen passes and we have Charles on the throne, at what point do we end up with a Kennedy-esque, the torch has been passed to a new generation?

CAMEROTA: Isn't that happening today? I know it's not official.

QUEST: To a point. You're right. That's a -- look at this. Who could not be proud to be British?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: British or American.

QUEST: Yes, yes, thank you.

CAMEROTA: Speaking of American, let's go to Harvey Young, who, of course, was Meghan's professor at northwestern. Harvey, what have you thought watching this and seeing your old student and friend, Meghan, become part of this life?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's amazing to think of this person who when I taught her, it was a tiny student, eight students. We sat in a small circle. She was a couple feet away from me. We just wrestled with ideas every day throughout that semester. It was wonderful. Meghan is bright, smart, sophisticated, confident, a crusader for rights. You know, I think of her as this brilliant young woman who has unlimited potential. So, to see that magnified on this scale, this stage, is extraordinary.

CAMEROTA: You know, Professor, I have been studying her. First of all, I find her so compelling to look at. She's obviously beautiful but also the poise. Being in front of millions and millions of people, your wedding day is stressful any way you slice it, even if you're not on an international stage. So, she's been able to keep her poise. I wonder if you think part of it is her acting background and if she's drawing upon that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, certainly part of it is that she has great stage presence. She knows how to be in front of people. She knows how to be in the room and to control the room and to attract attention. You know, being part -- being a theater major is not just performance. It's also knowing ritual. It's knowing history.

It's being informed about tradition. It's being empathetic, to be attentive to the needs of the others. There's an ability to engage to the level of people. She can perform in front of a large number of people, but she can be there with you, there for you, in the conversation. That's something the arts can give you, a theater major can give you.

CAMEROTA: The procession is about -- go ahead.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Confident in Harry's love, I think that gives you confidence to go through a wedding feeling positive and calm at some level, that you can manage it because you have beside you somebody who's absolutely with you. And I think that's a wonderful thing to find at any age, in any situation.

And he's nurtured her and looked after her. He's a very caring man. He loves to care. He loves to hug. He told me he's very passionate. He loves to love people and she's thriving under that, too, I think.

QUEST: And she has perfected the royal wave. Remember the royal wave is a very little -- just from the wrist. You don't want to get too enthusiastic about it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Little Charlotte. There's Charlotte.

QUEST: As you watch the duchess of Sussex, she's perfected it.

QUEST: I feel she's put her own signature on the royal wave. They're about to turn onto the long walk, as it's called. That's where Anderson's position is. It's that pebbled pathway as they go down -- Anderson.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We got a wave. We got it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please tell me you got it. [08:25:02] ANDERSON: I just got to tell you --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, we got a wave.

COOPER: Literally passed by, I waved, he looked up and waved.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He did, too.

COOPER: It was really -- it's fascinating to actually -- I mean, it's one thing to see it on television but for anybody that's been to London and certainly the thousands of people who are here right now, to actually see this kind of a procession as it passes you by, it's an extraordinary thing. It's something from another time. It's something, you know, for those of us from the United States, we just don't see this sort of thing. And then to actually see them in an open coach.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And they looked up at the window and waved.

COOPER: They literally did. That was quite cool.

FOSTER: Beautiful scene going back to the castle.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's an amazing sight, isn't it? It's the pomp and pageantry that only the British know how to do.

FOSTER: You know we annoy people when we say that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I can't help thinking, you know, now the duke of Sussex, that is his new life. He is, after the queen, the most favorite royal of those who love royals in this country and so Harry, again, is going to teach us some lessons and take us on some journeys. It's quite wonderful.

COOPER: Also, just the journey he has been on --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's what I mean, his own.

COOPER: The difficulty that he has overcome. Jason Carroll is on the long walk as well amongst the crowd of thousands of people. Jason, have they passed you by yet?

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Not just yet, Anderson, but they're on their way. We have thousands of people who have been ling this roadway, waiting --

COOPER: I think we lost Jason there. In terms of what --

CARROLL: Anderson, can you hear me now?

COOPER: I hear you, Jason. Go ahead.

CARROLL: Now you can hear me. They are about to reach where we are along the long walk. A lot of folks have been waiting all morning long, Anderson. We spoke to some folks out here, the bishop speaking, they thought he was brilliant. Perhaps went on too long but they felt this was something the royal family needed to hear.

Another highlights, seeing Meghan Markle get out of the carriage and -- when she had that long train, the two page boys, Mulroney's twin sons. She had a hand in picking out the dress, in just about every aspect of this wedding. Her sons, the page boys.

Her daughter, Ivy, just 4 years old, participating as well. The prince got a real chance to get to know the family in Toronto. That's where he got a chance to give them gifts. They call her Uncle Meg instead of Meghan Markle. This is a beautiful moment for the people who have been out here, Anderson, waiting all day. Now their time is just about to come as the carriage is just about to pull up.

COOPER: In terms of what she's wearing, the tiara, what are your thoughts?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think there's been a lot of talk about which tiara she would where. It's on lone to her from the queen from 1932 and about the center brooch. That was a gift from Queen Mary, Princess Mary previously. She is wearing a piece of British history. That dress is -- the expression of Meghan's personal style to a tee.

COOPER: How so?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We asked, if she going to wear embroidery, something glitzy? There's so much classicness. The heavy double- bonded silk which gives her structure. That boat neckline is just enough to cover the shoulders, but still reveal enough.

Of course, long sleeves is another tradition that's dictated but hers is three-quarters sleeves. Those subtle things are helping to nudge things forward. I give her so much kudos in trying to push everything as much as she can on her big day.

COOPER: Will she change now? There's going to be a reception for the 600 people, the invited guest at St. George's Hall, is it?

And then later tonight there's a more private event for some 200 people that Prince Charles is giving. I assume she would change, no?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She's definitely changing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For tonight.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, for tonight. She's definitely changing for this evening, for sure. And I think at that point it's going to be something a little bit more glamorous, a little bit more sexy and fun. And it's more of a party at night, and it's private and it's --

MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: And they can dance.

(CROSSTALK)

BONNIE GREER, CNN CULTURE COMMENTATOR: Exactly. Exactly.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Kate's second dress was a little more glam, off the shoulder, she had a shrug, the belt. So it's just -- you kind of kick the glamour up tonight.

ZEE: What's so interesting about her choice of dress designer, as well, and we talked a lot about Clare Waight Keller sort of being the first female artistic director of Givenchy. But she's also a huge red carpet designer, huge. And the fact that she used one of the biggest red carpet designers from Hollywood, and she used a celebrity A-list hairdresser from Hollywood and a makeup artist from Hollywood.

FOSTER: But you were saying he was flown over, the hairdresser, from New York?

ZEE: And the makeup artist as well. The makeup artist has been her personal friend, have been doing her makeup for seven years since the beginning of "Suits," for all of her junkets and her press corps, and Serge Normant who did her hair is a huge, huge personal hairstylist for Sarah Jessica Parker, Julia Roberts, Amal Clooney. And the fact that she is using all of the really big Hollywood A-list people goes to show that sort of I'm going to bring a little bit of Hollywood to England.

FOSTER: Really had there.

GREER: But that's where she works. I mean, you know, that's her work environment for the last seven years. That is where she works. And she didn't hide the fact that these are the people she worked with as they turned out to be. They are incredible people.

ZEE: I mean, I'll give you an example. Julia Roberts, exclusive hairdresser, Serge Normant, but favorite photographer is Alexi Lubomirski, who is doing the wedding photos. And of course Julia Roberts only wears Givenchy and she's appeared in the ad campaign, so you can see where she's taking sort of a page --

FOSTER: A little moment with the photograph, I remember interviewing the photographer Hugo Burnand who did Kate Middleton's wedding photos last time. He was in tears the next day. Just 15 minutes with the whole family and all of the kids. And he got these sweets for the kids to try to tame them. And Kate ate them all.

(LAUGHTER)

GREER: Yes?

FOSTER: Yes. True story.

COOPER: You know, Harvey Young, her professor from Northwestern, was talking about, you know, her history with acting and how that may come into play for her current role, her future role. I mean, a lot of this is theater. A lot of it is.

(CROSSTALK)

COOPER: She's going to be on display now the rest of her life.

FOSTER: But I think -- sort of. She's also going to be herself, which is where the angst comes in royal life. GREER: Yes. Yes.

FOSTER: But you're not famous for your work. You're famous for being who you are. And that's where Harry, actually, has had great success in defining his role. Something like Invictus, which I know in Australia has gone down in an absolute storm.

COOPER: Invictus games, which is something that Harry created.

FOSTER: Yes. And he got the idea from America. I was in Colorado with him for the Boria games. And I spoke to him after he had been there and he said, I want to take this to the UK. And he did it himself and that was just phenomenal.

COOPER: These are games for service members who have been wounded and they had one in Toronto, they had one in Orlando. I believe the first one was in London. I think there's --

FOSTER: Then to Sydney.

COOPER: Sydney, Australia. Yes.

GREER: But I thought when you used the word caveat, is something Kate Middleton learned. What the British call the glam, for this occasion is wonderful. Now will she be able to ratchet it down and do what, in a way, Kate Middleton has done in a sense? I mean, Kate Middleton does high street to a certain extent. Can Meghan Markle do it to a certain extent because there will be criticism of her --

FOSTER: But I think the big frustration, the top micro forces, I've seen is Kate doesn't deliver on the fashion story.

GREER: Sure.

FOSTER: And they're pinning all their hopes on Meghan Markle. And I think --

(CROSSTALK)

GREER: But only to a certain level, Max. You know what I'm saying? She can't do -- have a complete designer wardrobe.

ZEE: I don't think that's going to happen. I actually think Meghan is really attuned, especially being American, to what Michelle Obama did during her entire eight years in the White House, really speaking to Americans with high-low. Yes, she can wear Versace but she can also wear $28 J. Crew coat, and that is what Meghan is going to use. You've seen her already do it on several outings with Harry. She's worn a J. Crew coat, she's worn a Marks & Spencer sweater.

COOPER: We should just point out, they just re-entered castle grounds.

FOSTER: This is the last moment we're going to see them.

(CROSSTALK) COOPER: Heading towards the reception now, I'm sorry, go ahead.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, I was just going to say, she's also going to be keen, though, to avoid becoming a clothes horse.

GREER: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That was Diana's cross to bear. Diana would turn up to an engagement and yes, she made the front page of the papers because of what she was wearing, not the cause she was supporting. So there's a balance that has to be found because of course the fashion is what so many royal watchers are very interested in, but we want to know what cause they're supporting. So hopefully Meghan will find that perfect balance that suits her and the photographers.

(CROSSTALK)

FOSTER: I just want to qualify. I mean, you were talking about earlier, but we will see her going to the reception, but apart from that we're not going to get anymore -- I'm talking Kensington Palace, we're not going to get any images from inside. Just a bit of color in terms of text.

ZEE: But I was going to say "Women's Wear Daily," which is a big industry bible, has dubbed something called the Meghan economy.

[08:35:05] And that not just designers that she's worn, where Web sites have crashed and things have sold out and there's preorders, but the fact that designers or businesses are really staying afloat because of her. I mean, there was a financial analyst that was basically guessing that she was going to be worth $212 million for the industry in terms of selling merchandise this year.

FOSTER: The Markle sparkle they called it.

ZEE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's the Kate effect and the Markle sparkle.

FOSTER: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Those are the --

(LAUGHTER)

COOPER: So she can really have that big of an impact?

GREER: Oh, yes.

ZEE: She is having an impact. And she's worn loads and loads of Canadian designers. Very small brands that do not have a global appeal, but yet Jessica Mulroney put her in them and now they have all sold out and really reached a pinnacle of having much more visibility on a world stage.

FOSTER: I'm sorry. Just on the point of royals wearing fashion, tell me if I'm wrong but one of the --

COOPER: The Gurkha regiment which is also positioned with Prince Harry.

FOSTER: Because they're not paid, you can't pay them to wear your clothes.

ZEE: And they don't accept --

(CROSSTALK)

FOSTER: They're much more authentic. So therefore they're much more powerful and which is why they're calling her this huge fashion influencer.

ZEE: Absolutely. She's very smart and specific about things. You know, I was with someone from Burberry. You know, they said that Meghan was very specific about needing to wear a certain Burberry black coat when she went to Scotland. So in a way, she understands how clothes are a message and not just fashion.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because Kate does -- wherever she turns up, there's usually a color nod to the flag, if it's a country or something that you can be connected to the organization that she's visiting. And I think, and Joe, you'll know obviously, but there was an Australian brand, a handbag designer that was on the verge of calling it quits and Meghan carried one of their handbags --

ZEE: Cross-body style and then it sold out again. And it helped sort of reinvigorate their business.

GREER: But she's going to work the next day. I mean, they're not going on a honeymoon. They're going to go to work. And this is the mark -- this is going to be the mark of their marriage and that's a very important thing for this country at this moment.

(CROSSTALK)

ZEE: She's a style icon for this country and also for young girls in America.

GREER: Yes. Yes. But she's going to be a working royal. She said immediately, I want to get my boots on the ground. And so she's ready to go.

COOPER: The Royal Foundation is something that's been set up by Prince William and Prince Harry that a lot of the work they'll continue to do is under that auspices, correct?

FOSTER: Yes.

GREER: Yes.

FOSTER: Yes. So you got -- William and Harry set up, and then Meghan was brought in as an equal partner, as Kate was before her. And all of their work is equal. This is their cause. This is what they're creating. And that, I think, dare I say, is going to be where the tension is.

GREER: Yes.

COOPER: How so?

FOSTER: The tension is that they have to agree. And Harry has already spoken that there is tension. They have to compromise. But he and William were brought up with that. For Kate and Meghan they've got to find their feet with each other. And actually whatever we're saying about modernity today, Kate has to come before Meghan. She's going to be queen. She's going to have to speak first and Meghan is going to have to sort of understand that. And I think there's going to be tension there.

GREER: I'm glad you said that. I'm glad you said that. That's actually what I was trying to say, is that she will have to understand the (INAUDIBLE) and the curly cues of this society. There are great old families here who actually have a president next to the Queen, Harry's maternal family, the Spencers, are very old. They're not royal but they're very old families. She will have to learn this etiquette, this protocol, this language quite, quite quickly.

COOPER: Much of it unspoken, much of it --

GREER: Eighty percent of it is unspoken.

COOPER: Yes. Coming up, we're going to see more of the newlyweds as they celebrate their love on this extraordinary day with family and friends this afternoon as well as this evening. A lot more to see, talking about ahead. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:42:07] ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: We have been watching the pomp and circumstance, and the kiss of this beautiful, newly minted royal couple. That was one of the many magical moments that millions of people around the world were waiting for. The kiss on the west steps of St. George's Chapel between Meghan Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry.

They have been in the open carriage of this procession, winding their way around the streets and little pebbled pathways of Windsor here in a beautiful, beautiful moment of stagecraft all throughout Windsor.

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Yes.

CAMEROTA: Just thousands and thousands of people, Don Lemon, who I want to bring in now.

LEMON: Yes.

CAMEROTA: Turned out, I mean, some have camped out for days.

LEMON: I'm lucky I got here, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Yes, you are. It's not easy to get through the streets because so many people have come here to turn out to watch this really beautiful -- I mean, listen, in a moment where there's lots of dark and troubling news around the globe, this is an international story of good news and love.

LEMON: Yes. You're my girl. I'm so glad you said that because as I was watching this, and not to, you know, bring the party down, the garden party, it's great the fashion and all of that, but really this day is way beyond that. I think we're sort of -- we're missing the boat, we're missing the point with our conversation here. This is about diversity and inclusion. This is about the royal family changing. This is about Britain, the monarchy changing. This is about the world changing.

How many times have we heard Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. quoted at a royal wedding? How many times have we seen a black choir? How many times have we seen a cellist of color? This is about learning lessons that reflectively our society as a whole is not so dependent upon whiteness, to be -- to put it bluntly. This is about the world coming together. So I mean, the fashion is great, even if you look at the fashion, the first woman to head Givenchy.

CAMEROTA: Givenchy, yes.

LEMON: If you look at the bishop -- if you look at the Reverend Curry, right, who talked about Dr. Martin Luther King. He said the late Dr. Martin Luther King once said, and I quote, "We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And we do that, we will make this world a new world. But love, love is the only way. There is power in love. Don't underestimate it. Don't ever over- sentimentalize it. There is power. There is power in love."

And he ended by saying, we must discover that love is a redemptive power of love. He's talking about bringing people together. Meghan Markle did that. Everyone is saying, well, you know, she's going to have to adapt to the royal family. They're going to have to adapt to her.

CAMEROTA: Both.

LEMON: Meghan Markle is a force.

CAMEROTA: I mean, both.

LEMON: She's going to be a force. She's going to change it. I mean, yes, she's going to have to adapt somewhat. They're going to have to adapt to her. You mark my words.

CAMEROTA: I believe it. Because you're already seeing it. People have called it the Meghan effect. So not only is she having the Meghan effect on fashion, because she's an icon.

LEMON: Yes.

CAMEROTA: But clearly from what we've just seen from the wedding, there's already been an affect. And I want to bring in our resident Brit. [08:45:05] RICHARD QUEST, CNN ANCHOR: I got tired. There's only so

long that I can sit here and stay silent.

CAMEROTA: Can stay silent. What do you think, Richard?

QUEST: I think Don has a point, but as it says in the famous book, only up to a point.

LEMON: Yes.

QUEST: This is a 1,000-year institution that constantly knows it has to change.

LEMON: Yes.

QUEST: But it changes slowly.

LEMON: And then quickly.

QUEST: No, no, no.

LEMON: And then all of a sudden it changes.

QUEST: No -- the change is acceptable. The change takes place evolutionary, not revolutionary. That is how it has survived. So when you're right, you talk about the nature of today's service and the differences which can be celebrated, don't overstate the ability of this institution to change in its own time.

LEMON: Yes. Well, listen, I think that we're seeing the change now. I don't think -- I don't think that the royal family can go back. I don't think that the world can go back. Look at the people who are here. Look at the people she brought into this. She's bringing into this.

(CROSSTALK)

QUEST: But you -- if we follow your line of argument --

LEMON: The Markle Sparkle.

QUEST: If we follow your line of positioning, you are -- we would take the logical conclusion that he chose her because.

LEMON: He chose her because he loved her.

QUEST: Right.

LEMON: Right.

QUEST: So everything flows from that. Not because of the racial issues that might have been --

LEMON: But you cannot overlook that.

QUEST: No, you can't -- LEMON: That has nothing to do with it.

QUEST: Well --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I agree with you, Don. I think when you think that somewhere like Brixton in England, someone like that didn't celebrate the last wedding, they're now having huge street parties and it's very multiracial, its biggest (INAUDIBLE) community in the country. And I do think to many people they're saying, well, the royal family is traditionally very white, household is white. I think 5 percent of our judges are white. People of color do suffer in universities and schools. It's time to --

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: You got it. As I walk through the streets here, you know, usually -- and I've been to London a lot. And people sometimes they recognize me, sometimes they don't. People on the street, Don Lemon, you're here. There are black people from different nations on the street here to celebrate this. I think this is a moment for the world. This is -- we're dealing with so much division in the United States. And it's great to come here and have Meghan and Harry and the royal family let the world know that, you know, we should be together. This is about togetherness and inclusion. I think that is the big takeaway from today.

CAMEROTA: We want to bring in Professor Harvey Young, that is Meghan's professor from Northwestern University.

Professor Young, you were telling us about the small, intimate class that you had had -- you know, for many years with Meghan. And I'm wondering what you think as you watch the Meghan effect on all of these levels.

LEMON: The Markle Sparkle.

HARVEY YOUNG, MEGHAN MARKLE'S FORMER TEACHER: The Markle Sparkle, yes. I take it this way, and sort of thinking about it in terms of a -- as a father who has a young daughter. You know, what do I want her to take from this broadcast, this wedding? And you know, for me, it's not about -- it's not about the dress. You know, it's not about being, you know, proposed to by a prince. It's that you can look at Meghan, she is a person who is -- she's accomplished. She understands the value of investing in education. She's a person who took the time to find out who she is. She traveled. She cultivated her voice.

And then that third part, in terms of voice, you know, she will not allow herself to be silenced. Like she stands tall. She stands firm. And she's a person who wants everyone to know we need to fight for women's equality, we need to fight to actually end racial division.

LEMON: Yes.

YOUNG: We need to sort of push society for diversity and inclusion. You know, so those are things that matter. So when we take the big picture out of this, the lessons for young women, young men, is that Meghan is inspirational, she's a role model because she understands where we need to go and we need to actually move in that direction where she's leading us.

CAMEROTA: Richard, what did you think just on the note -- because you've been talking so much about Bishop Curry and his, you know, speech that was so different than what we had heard before at royal weddings. How do you think the Brits responded and the royal family as they listened to that?

QUEST: They would have been -- they wouldn't have been shocked. Let's (INAUDIBLE) about that. They've seen everything before.

LEMON: They won't be?

QUEST: Of course not. They knew what they were going to get. They knew what to expect. There will have been an amused, raised eyebrow that the American bishop who came in, addressed them exactly as one would have expected. So everybody played their parts as they would have expected. The Queen might have thought, well, this is all a bit different, and that's fine by the Queen. The Queen is a wonderful woman at adapting. Believe me. She's the quintessential adapter in society. We saw Sir Philip looking a little bit bemused but no -- they would have enjoyed it.

CAMEROTA: Hold on, Don. Hold that thought until we get back. Because coming up, we will have all of the royal wedding highlights for you from the bride's epic entrance to the vows to everything that we've been talking about, what happened during the ceremony and her imprint that she put on it and to the kiss.

[08:50:06] LEMON: The kiss.

CAMEROTA: So wait until you see what happens next. Stay with us.

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COOPER: At the moment of walking into the church, of course, the ceremony now over. The reception for the 600 invited guests, that is where the -- all the guests are now inside St. George's hall. And later tonight, a reception for 200 guests, more of a party. Max Foster called it, what, a knees up, earlier?

FOSTER: I think the one later on will be a knees up.

COOPER: I'm not sure what that means, but an interesting visual.

Bonnie, you were listening to Don and Richard kind of talking about Meghan Markle's ability to really change long term this institution. You wanted to weigh in.

GREER: This has been my country for half my life.

COOPER: You're American but you've lived here for --

GREER: Exactly. I was born on the south side of Chicago, former New Yorker and this has been my country for half my life. Richard Quest nailed that. That's exactly right. This royal family has allowed this to happen because they would not be where they were unless they understood about change. And just to say quickly that their name -- they took their name from this castle because in World War I they understood, they continued with their German name --

COOPER: The German name was Coburg.

GREER: They were Coburg-Gotha. If they continued with their name, they would be in trouble. They are canny, smart really about doing that. And Meghan is there because the Queen and the prince of Wales understand --

COOPER: Richard says the change is not revolutionary, it's evolutionary.

GREER: It is totally evolutionary. This institution, as Richard said, would not be here if it did not understand how to be evolutionary. And there's a lot of talk now about the will of the people in relation to Brexit. No, the will of the people is this royal family.

[08:55:07] FOSTER: And you got an interesting alliance now, actually. If you look at the history of royalty, it was about creating alliances with European countries, France and Spain. And this is an alliance with the United States. That sounds a bit trite. But there are historians suggesting that that's the case. You now got, you know, America has married into the British royal family and what alliance do you want in the world? You want the U.S. alliance.

COOPER: You know, one of the things we haven't talked about, Joe, is the way that Meghan Markle has changed Prince Harry's fashion. Max was saying it's changed a lot. Right?

FOSTER: Well, I've noticed --

ZEE: Very subtle.

FOSTER: You can define.

ZEE: Yes. But it's very subtle. But I think, you know, Prince Harry -- I mean, Prince Harry is like a dude. So at the end of the day he's just putting on clothes, but in the time that he's been with Meghan you can see the subtle changes. The suits are more slim, it's more simple. You know, like a lot of the schloppiness, you might say, have been stripped away. And I think that is definitely Meghan's hand.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a feminine touch. He looks healthier. And of course Meghan is a really great cook.

ZEE: And they talk so much about cooking together. They've done yoga and they've done some of the vegan lifestyle. So I think they're very active in sort of her California lifestyle.

FOSTER: I think she -- she's got a lot to adjust to, though, as well, hasn't she? I mean, you were talking about the class system. But just the royal way of life. You know, isn't as glamorous as people think.

GREER: No, I mean, there are the August, the rainy August weekends up in Balmoral with the midges, with the mosquitoes, and the royal brothers shoot. And if you don't like shooting, you're not in a whole sort of culture that you need to be in.

FOSTER: But Harry missed his first boxing day last Christmas. And that's when he was with Meghan.

COOPER: Holiday. The British holiday.

FOSTER: Yes. Yes, so the day after Christmas is a famous shoot on the estate. And he didn't join that. But she -- you know, she's going to be herself. If she doesn't want to go, she's not going to go. Kate adjusted to the system.

COOPER: Yes.

FOSTER: It's kind of more her role.

GREER: And also one quick other thing. She has three titles with her marriage to Harry. She's now the countess of --

FOSTER: He's the Earl of Dumbarton.

GREER: He's the Earl of Dumbarton. She's the countess of Dumbarton when she's in Scotland. And that is a whole other tradition. When she's in Northern Ireland she is the countess of --

COOPER: I have to get a break in here.

GREER: So there's a whole different thing.

COOPER: Up next, how Meghan Markle injected her style and heritage into this wedding and how British royals responded and may respond in the future. We're standing by to see the newlyweds again as they get ready to party into the night. We'll be right back.

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