Monday 12 February 2018

Royal Wedding Details Confirmed: A Wedding at Noon, A Procession Through Windsor & Two Receptions!

With less than 100 days to go until the big day, the Palace has released additional details ahead of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding on 19 May! Kensington Palace said "Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle are hugely grateful for the many good wishes they have received since announcing their engagement. They are very much looking forward to the day and to being able to share their celebrations with the public. They have made the following decisions about their wedding day."


A Wedding at Noon... Mark your calendars! The service will begin at St George's Chapel at 1200 U.K. time, or 7 a.m. EST/4 a.m. PST. for our friends across the pond.


The Dean of Windsor, The Rt Revd. David Conner, will conduct the service. The Most Revd. and Rt Hon. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, will officiate as the couple make their marriage vows. Following the engagement announcement, the Archbishop said Harry and Meghan's "profound sense of commitment and love" is a model for the nation.


A Carriage Procession Through Windsor... A highlight of the day promises to be the carriage procession at 1 p.m. The newlyweds will travel along a route from St George's Chapel, leaving Windsor Castle via Castle Hill and processing along the High Street and through Windsor town, returning to Windsor Castle along the Long Walk. The two mile route is expected to be lined with thousands of well wishers promises to produce fantastic memorable photos of the day. It's a terrific way to properly include Windsor in the celebrations. The Palace added "They hope this short journey will provide an opportunity for more people to come together around Windsor and to enjoy the atmosphere of this special day".


A graphic of the route from The Times.


More The Times:

'The couple will be following royal tradition: when the Duke of Cambridge married Catherine Middleton they were driven from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace in the 1902 State Landau, the carriage used for the weddings of the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer and the Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson. They will be accompanied by a mounted escort of the Household Cavalry.'

Edward and Sophie married at Windsor in 1999. Their open carriage ride after the ceremony took them along streets thronged with well wishers and through the castle grounds.

Embed from Getty Images

A St George's Hall Reception... Following the service, there will be a reception at the majestic St George's Hall for the couple and guests from the congregation. Harry and Meghan will join this on return from the carriage procession. It has been reported it will be a luncheon for up to 300 guests where speeches will be made.


A Glittering Evening Reception Hosted by The Prince of Wales.. That evening, Prince Charles will give a private evening reception for up to 600 close family and friends. The dinner will be for the couple's wider circle of friends. With both Harry and Meghan involved in the planning of each detail - it promises to be an evening filled with wonderful moments, romantic music and sumptuous food.


The choice of venue hasn't been announced yet, however multiple reports suggest Frogmore House, in the grounds of Windsor Great Park, where the couple's official engagement photos were taken is a strong contender. It's a very special place for Harry and Meghan. It's been said they spent quite a bit of time there during the early days of their relationship.


The Palace concluded with: "We look forward to sharing further details about the wedding day in the weeks and months ahead." It's shaping up to be a very beautiful wedding :)

We'll see Harry and Meghan on Tuesday for their visit to Edinburgh. ITV reports they are due to arrive around midday.

79 comments:

  1. All so very exciting. It is so close and with all the new info it just seems more real, if that makes sense.

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  2. OK, Charlotte, I will be up probably before 3:00am my time for the wedding at 4:00am. I assume you'll be live blogging it? Will you be here or on Twitter?

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    1. I'm thinking a Live Blog here from about 9 a.m. covering the wedding and procession. Then afterwards, a full separate post on the wedding. What do you all think?

      3:00 am is one crazy early start, but it's worth it :)

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    2. If you start your live blog at 9:00am, that is 1:00am my time. I will probably be up because the TV coverage will have started already. This probably wouldn't get the attention William and Kate did over here but marrying an American woman is definitely ramping up the interest so I expect stuff will be on all night. BBC America may have the BBC coverage. I'll watch that if they do.

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    3. bluhare,
      Infact after appreciating Charlotte's post in converting UK time to EST and PT, I thought of you immediately. I remembered that it is some kind of tradition for you to watch it early enough.

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    4. Charlotte,
      The wait and the suspense until 12:00 noon will be exhilarating. Well, at least it gives people some flexibility to join the blog early, and rejoin later on if they have to go to work ( It will be on a week day Friday). For you, it will be an extra-long day.

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    5. Charlotte- any news on where the wedding will be broadcast in the US? I don’t remember where they did William and Catherine. Maybe NBC or ABC?

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    6. Definitely a live blog, Charlotte!! It would be wonderful and I´ll be glued to the screen, for sure!!!! HUGE THANKS to you in advance, for giving us another opportunity to witness your extraordinary work!! You´re THE BEST!! Can´t wait for the big day and I´m SO glad we´re finally able to talk again about something so positive!! YAY!! :-))))
      And tomorrow...another official visit, another treat!!! Can´t wait for that, either, LOL!!!

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    7. I am very happy to find thie wonderful blog and I am thrilled about the wedding. See you tomorrow!

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    8. Molly, I think maybe NBC? They televised William and Kate's. And BBC America had the BBC feed for William and Kate, so I'm hopeful they have it this time also. CNN might as well.

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  3. I like that suggestion. Thanks, Charlotte.

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  4. If I have done the math right (abd there is a very good chance I haven't!) the royal wedding will ge 11pm my time on the east coast of Australia. Thank goodness the wedding is a Saturday!

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    1. That's what I think too. I'd have had to take a day off work otherwise!

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    2. Intrigued By Royals12 February 2018 at 02:32

      I am so glad they are going to have a carriage ride! I wonder how Meghan will arrive at the church. Will Harry and Meghan come out of the church and walk to the castle before they enter the carriage? I don't quite understand that transition. If the evening reception is at Frogmore House will we be able to see arrivals and departures?

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    3. I think Meghan will arrive with her father,in the Rolls Royce owned by the Queen(just like Sophie of Wessex).

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    4. I hope it doesn't rain that day!!!

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    5. I hope it doesn't rain either Bluhare. I am taking the day off. Some people think I'm crazy but I don't care. I can't wait to see it
      Thanks for the channel info. I'll be channel surfing like a mad woman lol. NLopez

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    6. I was just thinking the same thing Sharyn. We can sleep in on the Sunday!!!! Cant wait to see it👑💖

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  5. I heard that Sir Elton John has cancelled previously-scheduled concerts during the weekend of the wedding - perhaps he’ll be in attendance, or even providing entertainment at the reception!

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  6. This really is getting exciting! How does it usually work regarding which guests go to the first reception vs the later reception? Is it safe to assume the 300 are the closest friends/relatives and would also be part of the evening reception? Now I can't wait for the photos like those from Kate's wedding so I can examine every detail. :)

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  7. That armor in St George's Hall is amazing. No armor in America, alas.

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  8. It appears to follow E&S's wedding footprint, although I do not recall coverage or mention of a separate evening celebration in their case.

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    1. They were married in the late afternoon--about 4pm, so there was just an evening reception.

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    2. Yes, yes. I stand corrected, Jean. :-)

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  9. I hope it will be broadcast live here in states. William's and Kate's was on every channel and while that might not happen with Harry and Meghan's, I do hope it's on at least one or two major stations.

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  10. So I will arise at 6:00 and get my breakfast here on the East Coast, then settle in for the wedding coverage. Later in the day I can enjoy the Preakness horse race, and your wrap up, Charlotte. Wonderful!

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    1. Greybird, I will be thinking of you having your early breakfast - it will be lunchtime here in Germany (1pm) when the wedding begins, so us Europeans are blessed, LOL!! (those poor fellas from the West Coast and Australia!! True fans, though, right? Getting up in the middle of the night or staying up so late!)
      A wedding and a horse race afterwards, I would LOVE to have that, too!!! I love horses, and thoroughbreds are always a special treat!! :-)))
      Aww, less than 100 days, I can´t believe it! And I can´t wait either! LOL!

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    2. I have it much easier than Californians. I remember getting up terribly early on a work day for Charles and Diana, so this is quite leisurely.
      The horse race is part of the Triple Crown series, so it fits in quite nicely. I know we all are looking forward to this special day.

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  11. After viewing my daily friend the calendar, realized May 19 is on a Saturday after all.

    The stall plates of Knights of The Garter are in St. George’s Hall. What a uniquely historical space to have a wedding reception.

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    1. It´s amazing, isn´t it, Anon 15? BEAUTIFUL, to say the least.... Full of history on top of it... What a befitting reception place for our Princess-to-be!!!!

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    2. It is just amazing! (I keep using that word) I love it. If I were at the reception, I might be leaning back to stare at the ceiling most of the time. I can't believe we went from rumors to wedding details in such a short time.

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    3. Eve- A celebration of love and the wonders in preservation of history = très BEAU

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    4. Annette New Zealand13 February 2018 at 09:06

      I thought the stall plates were with the Garter knights' banners and coats of arms etc in the Garter chapel, but maybe they have duplicates in St George's Hall in Windsor Castle where the wedding reception will take place?

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    5. Annette New Zealand,
      Thank you for pointing that out. They will be married in St. George's Chapel where "stall plates were with the Garter knights' banners and coats of arms".

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_George's_Chapel,_Windsor_Castle

      The above link under the tiltle, Heraldry proves you correct.

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  12. Wonderful news ! But I still would have loved the Westminster abbey wedding and the Balcony kiss !

    Yet excited to see Harry and Meghan especially Harry - all grown up and getting married !

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    1. Yeah, Rhea, would you believe it? Time flies, right?! I´m sure he won´t be able to hold back the tears when Meghan walks down the aisle!! I won´t!!! ;-))

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  13. Oh my Charlotte! A live blog? You will spoil us something fierce! Reading the plans and looking at those photos . . . it's exciting, but it makes my head swim. I haven't missed a royal wedding since Princess Anne. Thanks for all your hard work.

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  14. Okey doke. I suppose I better set my alarm for 5am. I’ll be all set with the TV, iPad, and phone at the ready. I just need more eyeballs LOL. I wish I could coffee up but I don’t think I can get away with it at 5am on Saturday in my house. My family will think I’ve lost my mind. I think I’ll stock up on caffeinated carbonated beverages instead :-)

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    1. LOL, Roxana, they will have to live with it (the early coffee-making, I mean)... My daughter already knows that her mum is "out of order" on that day - she remembers William and Kate´s wedding well!! No disturbances and no complaining about Mummy´s loud "OHHHHH!!!"s and "AHHHHH!!!"s and "SHE´S COMING!!! OMG !!! THE DRESS!!" allowed!!! LOL!!! Well, I guess this time, she will be watching, too, just because of Meghan!!

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  15. Fiona in Australia12 February 2018 at 05:19

    Sharyn, I'm also on the east coast of Australia. I just did an online time conversion and I think if the wedding is at 12noon, it will be 10pm here on the Saturday night? As you say, lucky it's a weekend so we can stay up late, rather than get up at the crack of dawn like our American friends! It will be well-worth it though.

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    1. Annette New Zealand13 February 2018 at 09:08

      In New Zealand it will be very early Sunday morning so we can sleep in next day!!

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  16. Will they still go to Buckingham and do a balcony kiss? I am reading conflicting reports and if they are going directly to St. Georges Hall then I am assuming not. But, I am no expert so maybe you or one of your other fans can clarify for me =P

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    1. Hello Bonnie,

      There are no plans to travel to BP. Edward and Sophie were married at Windsor in 1999. When they left the chapel they declined requests from the media to kiss. I have a feeling Harry and Meghan will.

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    2. Buckingham Palace is about 40 minutes driving time away so no balcony appearance.

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    3. I hope we will see a kiss perhaps on the stairs of the church!
      The ambiance of Windsor is fantastic,medieval decoration and romantic place!!!!

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    4. Maybe a kiss on the cathedral steps will do.

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    5. Windsor is historic...it has a sort of gothic architecture...I personlly prefer the Swedish church that Carl Phillip married in...the flowers were so beautiful...it is smaller...

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    6. I do believe we will see a kiss. Harry and Meghan are truly smitten with each other

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  17. it's so exciting! it's great to have all these details and share the wedding with the audience
    it promises beautiful dresses in sight?
    if I calculate well in France I should know me from 10am then
    oh I am so happy

    In addition, I started watching the serie suits this weekend and I like a lot

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  18. What is raising my eyebrows is the 600 for the evening reception, let us hope not!!!

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  19. Hi Charlotte,

    I am a recent follower of your blog so I took the time this morning to start reading from the beginning and I really want to congratulate you for all the time and effort you have put into MAM compiling and putting together so much material on her volunteer work, fashion, etc. I now have two wishes for Meghan to try in some ways to integrate her past volunteer interest into her future new roles and for you to continue providing so well written insightful pieces on her fashion choice and more importantly her charitable endeavours. Well done and God bless!

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  20. Looking forward to the wedding of meghan and prince harry yes its saturday and yeah all the networks in america will cover the event hmm looking forward it next outing

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    1. Y are we not in the month of May? I am so eager and don't want anything to jink the wedding.

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  21. Charlotte, do we know if The Wedding will be televised?

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  22. Sorry for the silly question: can we expect a balcony appearance after the carriage procession at Windsor Castle?

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    1. Not silly at all Kadry! We won't see a balcony appearance at Harry and Meghan's wedding as it's in Windsor.

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  23. For those asking if the wedding will be televised, I understand the answer is yes. Those details and more are expected to be released in the weeks before the wedding.

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    1. The American Major Network Medias, especially ABC was very involved in communicating news, documentary and interviews after William and Kate’s engagement. They are owned by Disney (still?), and may be fairy tale stories were a part of the culture among other reasons. They were not necessarily the exception although to a lesser degree other major networks “promoted” W&K so much, that it built excitement towards their wedding day.

      William is obviously heir to the crown. Harry’s involvement with the invictus games and possibly joint fund raising with America for veterans of war, and now an American fiancé deserves positive news coverage by USA media leading up to the wedding.

      Suites was on cable; if it was a series on any of the major networks, the coverage on Meghan would have been more and better than the infrequency it had been so far in USA print and website news.

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    2. ABC news did a beautiful two part news article on Meghan covering where she lived with her mom and schools she attended and through it all we heard from her teachers, classmates and even her mom's former landlady. It was well researched so given the fact that she is 1st American biracial princess, I think they will definitely have many news items as a run up to the big day.

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    3. My best guess will be ABC for full coverage in the States, but it's Saturday, so maybe they all will air some pool footage. Harry is popular here, and the American angle with Meghan is strong. I think there will be quite a bit of interest. I will be upset if not. I can do BBC livestream on my laptop but it requires a lot of buffering.

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    4. Bernadette, that does sound like a lovely piece. When you consider how much was and is reported on Grace Kelly, I guess that same would occur for MM, who will be the next American princess, and being biracial will be special, like when we had a biracial president (most emotional inauguration ever). Not sure if I can stand the wait!! I am looking forward to seeing her mother come to the UK---I would think it would be something to have your daughter enable you to mingle with the RF, Obamas, Elton John... And I'm sure her mother keeps her daughter grounded if needed.

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  24. Correction: Suit / the cable show Meghan completed 100 episodes and 6 or 7 seasons in Canada.

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    1. Anon 15, Suits was filmed in Canada (Toronto, Ontario) but the show is American. Often some American shows & movies are filmed in Canada because it is cheaper. She was character on the show for 7 years (more than 100 episodes). Suits airs on an American cable network.

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  25. For anyone not sure of the details, SUITS is on Netflix. It was shot in Toronto Canada. After filming season 7 (which also involves a wedding), Meghan's contracted obligations for her role as Rachel Zane ended. She and her co-star who played Mike Ross did not renew their contracts.

    In the final year of her contract Meghan and Harry's relationship began. During that year the show reached 100 episodes. Meghan has stated in interviews that the successful run of the show to that number was part of the decision to let that part of her life go. Of course, having a "new season" in a royal/philanthropic/romantic capacity probably meant more than any arbitrary number.

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  26. Anon@15:17-I have watched very limited episodes of Suits on you tube a few months ago. Since all its cast members are Americans and related story, I took it as a given to be distributed to cable channels including the USA. It is interesting information, that it is filmed in Canada for budgetary reasons. What I vaguely remember is MM’s comment during the engagement interview in November,she completed 100 episodes and ticked the box ( well there were other goals met prior to that, and the boxes might have continued to be ticked at turning points).

    http://www.usanetwork.com/suits/blog/the-cast-of-suits-celebrates-the-100th-episode-with-a-pearson-specter-litt-cake

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    1. Anon, the daily star is reporting that the Obamas are invited but no other media outlet has reported this. Have you heard this?

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    2. BC@17:14,
      I have not heard any reliable news yet.

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  27. Diane from Boston12 February 2018 at 18:05

    I'm as excited as can be! My husband and I will be visiting England when the wedding takes place. We decided not to try to go to Windsor; instead, we'll be in King's Lynn (royalist territory!) watching the coverage on TV, perhaps with a room-service lunch and definitely with a bottle of champagne. And I'm hoping there'll be some sort of street party or other celebration in the town or the hotel!

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  28. Will Meghan receive a Welsh gold wedding band?
    Will Meghan be the first Royal bride to not have fruitcake as her wedding cake?

    Is their carriage route the same route that Sophie and Edward took?

    The “Two Mile Walk” in front of Windsor Castle.
    Talk about curb appeal, lol. Could it be any more fairytale romantic? Nope. Not unless they release doves on each side into the air every 400 feet in advance of the carriage. (That would be a lot of doves says air traffic control.) At this point, it wouldn’t surprise me though, lol. (romantic sigh)

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    1. Will Meghan be the first Royal bride to not have fruitcake as her wedding cake?

      -no, that would be Sophie and Edward

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  29. I have a question, are Harry and Meghan going to walk on the path to Windsor castle after the carriage ride or will the carraige go on the path?

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  30. Anon 15 - I just saw your comment, thank you :)

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  31. Thank You very much Charlotte.

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  32. Charlotte, it would be wonderful if you had a live blog! I do not receive tv stations. I only use Netflix, so I would watch a live blog on my computer. You do a fabulous job here. Your posts are timely, informational, and trustworthy.

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  33. This is so exciting Charlotte thanks for the great post and your hard work

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  34. Thanks for sharing the post Charlotte. I've seen the wedding and was amazing.

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  35. Wow interesting very beautiful images of royal family couple, Thanks for sharing.

    Wedding

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