Opinion: Royal wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry refreshingly modern

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex walk down the steps as husband and wife. Photo / Getty Images

It was the wedding of the year; one of the most anticipated events of 2018.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry - now Duke and Duchess of Sussex, were wed on Saturday in what was a stunningly beautiful affair.

My husband and I settled in on the couch for the four hours of coverage and while he spent most of the time on his phone, I was utterly engrossed in the glamour of it all.

But it wasn't just the castle setting and bridal fashion that made it so beautiful; it was the melding of the couple's cultures that had me reaching for the tissues.

I remember watching William and Kate's wedding seven years ago. It was just as highly anticipated - if not more - and I remember being swept up in the whole fairytale. Theirs was everything you would expect from the wedding of a future king and queen.

Harry and Meghan's ended up being just as grand and fairytale-like, though, for me, it was the American touches, juxtaposed with the royal, English traditions, that made the ceremony memorable.

The pastor who spoke so passionately of the power of love and the gospel choir who sang Stand By Me simultaneously felt out of place and exactly what was needed.

This was the joining of two people from incredibly different backgrounds, upbringings and continents who have, together, pushed royal boundaries and helped bring the monarchy into the 21st century.

In hindsight, of course Meghan and Harry were going to make sure their nuptials reflected that.

Now, while the rest of the world replays and dissects every little detail of the wedding, the newlyweds' work really begins.

The Duchess of Sussex, an activist in her own right, is officially a royal and has a new platform from which to affect change.

The couple have said they want to change the world and if their wedding was anything to go by, I think they will.