The chapel is also the burial place of King Charles I, King Henry VIII and King George III — who was forced to give up Britain’s American colonies in 1783 after the Revolutionary War.
“There’s something of an irony, of course, in that King George III is buried only a few yards away from where Meghan is going to be taking her vows,” said Roberts. “And so the last king of America is actually going to see an American joining his family.”
After the wedding ceremony, the couple will take a carriage procession through the town of Windsor, which is expected to be jammed with 100,000 spectators. Millions more are expected to follow on TV and online, with as many as 79 international broadcasters covering the event, according to royal officials.
The carriage procession will pass by Frogmore House, where Prince Charles will host a private reception for 200 guests the night of the wedding, and return to the castle along the tree-lined Long Walk.
Frogmore itself has American as well as royal connections. The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, whose relationship changed the course of the British monarchy, are buried on the grounds. The Duke — the former King Edward the VIII — abdicated in 1936 to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson, who later became the duchess; his younger brother, the current queen’s father, became King George VI.
Windsor’s 30,000 residents are bracing themselves for their day in the spotlight.
“I think people can see that Harry is besotted — so happy. And we are just thrilled they’ve chosen Windsor,” Bryett said, adding that the town expects a bump in tourism for years to come.
The Rev. Ainsley Swift has called Windsor home for the last 20 years as a Church of England rector. He’s not involved in the royal wedding ceremony, but since Windsor Parish Church, one of the churches he oversees is on street where Harry and Meghan’s horse-drawn carriage procession will pass, he’s one of many getting ready.
“The town has both of a spring in its step and a sense of, ‘Oh my goodness,’” Swift said. “This is bigger than any of us.”
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