WINDSOR, England (Reuters) – Donna Werner, an American who has spent four nights on the streets in Windsor to secure a prime position for Saturdays royal wedding, was cold and stiff as dawn broke but looking forward to catching a glimpse of the newly weds.
“Im really excited,” Werner, 66, told Reuters at her camping spot at around 0530 GMT on Saturday morning, surrounded by camping chairs, sleeping bags and positioned directly in front of Windsor Castle.
“Todays the day, this is the big build-up … I just cant wait, theyre going to pipe out the music and the ceremony so were going to hear it, so thatll be fun.”
Werner and many others like her have traveled from around the globe to watch the wedding of the queens grandson, Prince Harry, and U.S. actress Meghan Markle, due to take place later on Saturday in a display of royal pomp and pageantry.
These super-fans lined the barricades on the streets around Windsor Castle in the days before, braving the elements to secure the best viewing spots.
Terry Hett, 83, a regular at royal events where he dresses up in a full Union Jack suit, sat shivering in his camping chair on Saturday after six nights outside.
“Im looking forward to this wedding,” he told Reuters. “Its a different wedding, a romantic wedding.”
Markle met Harry in 2016, and after a whirlwind romance announced their engagement a year later.
While the carefully choreographed build-up to the wedding was overshadowed by uncertainty over whether her father, Thomas Markle, would be able to walk her down the aisle, fans said it didnt spoil the romance for them.
“Everybodys family is a little bit complicated, a little bit quirky, and it just makes it more real doesnt it,” said Carol Ridding, 48, a hairdresser from Bristol in England whose daughter works as a Markle look-alike.
She was running on no sleep after enjoying the festivities on the street throughout the early hours.
Some, like Jamie Williams, 33, from Texas, and her group, had hotel rooms booked but decided to stay outside to enjoy the atmosphere instead.
“It was so special … people were sharing their supplies,” she said. “It was worth it, we all bonded last night.”
Closer to the castle, Werner said the same of the 12-15 people surrounding her, who hail from around the world.
“Its like family, weve all exchanged names, numbers and were going to keep in touch and meet for another big royal event some day,” she said.
The best thing that could happen today, for her, is to get a wave from Harry and Meghan, she said.
“Today is going to be the happily ever after for Meghan and Harry, and Im just a little tiny part of it and Im just thrilled.”
Reporting by Emma Rumney, editing by Estelle Shirbon
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