Relationships Talk

‘Be kind and love each other’, that’s the advice royal fans gathering outside Windsor Castle have for Prince Harry and …

Ready to be royal! Before Meghan Markle and Prince Harry say “I do,” they may want to listen to the marriage professionals. Stars such as Ellen Pompeo and Camila Alves opened up to Us Weekly about the key to a long-lasting and successful marriage. Watch the video to hear what they have to say!

The Grey’s Anatomy star, 48, has been married to husband Chris Ivery since 2007, and she credits this one simple rule for why it works.

Ellen Pompeo

“Just don’t try to change people; they are who they are,” Pompeo told Us. “They were fine when you married them, so don’t expect them to change.”

And if they do change, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Kyle Richards advises to let your partner just “be themselves.” Richards, 49, told Us, “If you step back and let that person grow, you can grow together and change and evolve together.”

However, do expect your spouse to change their schedule to fit in some quality time. “You do have to carve out date night. It’s easy for it to get lost unless you consciously schedule it,” Nick Lachey, who is married to Vanessa Lachey, told Us.

Alves agrees, revealing that in between chasing around three kids — Levi, 9, Vida, 8, and Livingston, 5 — she and husband Matthew McConaughey make sure to fit in some alone time.

“You do have to make an effort to make time for each other,” Alves, 36, told Us. “I think it’s important to always remember that you and your husband came first.”

Camila Alves

Yet, if Prince Harry finds himself in a bit of a predicament with his new bride, he should remember this wise tip from Todd Chrisley.

“Paying attention, being present and knowing when to shut up,” Chrisley, 49, told Us. “And that’s been hard for me.”

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On Harry and Meghan’s last day before they become husband and wife, Buckingham Palace has confirmed the Duke of Edinburgh will be attending the wedding.

Although it’s been announced Meghan’s father will not be attending, thousands of supporters have lined the streets already in patriotic regalia. 

As wedding fever grips the historic town, Kings Church International has used the occasion to shape sermons and produce a video for the royal couple.

The video features kids filmed in locations around Windsor with advice, such as to listen to each other and ‘not tell fibs’.

It ends with the famous words of 1 Corinthians 13: “Love always hopes, love always perseveres, love never fails.”

James Richards is one of the pastors at Kings Church International and told Premier what it’s like being a church in a town which is suddenly the centre of attention: “We’re very excited to have this royal wedding coming to town, everyone’s very excited and I think as a church we just wanted to send our best wishes and I think it’s a real celebration of the main message – it’s all about love.”

He continued: “This timeless truth – it cuts through doesn’t it? So I think it is that celebration of love. I think the royal wedding itself represents something very big.”

“I know they’re the royal family, but it’s also a couple celebrating a wedding and also preparing for a marriage, so we wanted those timeless words sent there as a greeting from the church, joining with the nation on this happy occasion. “

He described how many people are wandering up and down the streets of Windsor already with ‘picnics at the ready’ and that his church has embraced the occasion: “We had a special service last Sunday called ‘How Prince Harry and Meghan can have the best marriage ever’ and we were looking at how Jesus came to the wedding and how when he comes turning the water into wine there, he brings out the best.”

“We’ve had prayer meetings praying for the couple.”

Kings Church International meet opposite Windsor castle so have got a taste of the atmosphere in the last few days: “There’s a general buzz of the town” and that “it’s been an exciting week and it’s been great to celebrate with the nation in this.”

James described how there is press everywhere and big screens set up but added that the church will be having a usual service on Sunday.

Speaking of his final piece of advice for the pair, he told Premier: “It’s more than just a wedding isn’t it? It’s the beginning of a marriage.”

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The royal wedding is triggering a surge in travel which could jeopardise journeys on the big day.

Thousands of extra overseas visitors have arrived in London because of the marriage between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and the rail links to Windsor are likely to be under severe pressure.

Heathrow Airport is reporting that Friday 18 May is much busier for arrivals than either of the two previous Fridays. Over 125,000 passengers are arriving, 15 per cent more than a week earlier.

Chris Garton, the airport’s chief operating officer, said: “The royal wedding has driven an increase in international visitors who wish to experience a uniquely joyful British event.”

The travel tech company, Travelport, reports that flight bookings from the US to the UK this week are 12 per cent ahead of the same period a year ago. 

Eurostar reports a 54 per cent surge in inbound travel through the Channel Tunnel from Brussels to London this weekend compared with the same weekend in 2017. Numbers from Paris are up 15 per cent year-on-year, but have been hit by some train cancellations due to a French rail strike.

Hotels in London are enjoying record numbers of guests. A room at one budget hotel, the Premier Inn at County Hall close to Waterloo station, is selling for £146 on Friday night and £189 on Saturday.

The main link from London to Windsor is on South Western Railway from Waterloo, which is the busiest station in Britain.

The train operator is telling passengers: “We are expecting train services to be extremely busy with large numbers of people travelling to Windsor for the Wedding and Royal Procession. If you are intending to travel, please allow plenty of time for your journey.

The number of trains to Windsor & Eton Riverside is to be doubled from two to four an hour.

But South Western Railway warns: “With large numbers of people expected, there may be restricted travel into Windsor for the safety and security of everyone. We will be providing regular updates with the latest information.

“Thames Valley and British Transport Police will be carrying out checks in and around Windsor, to help get through these as quickly as possible we recommend you bring a minimal amount of bags.”

To complicate matters for travellers from London to Windsor, the town is beyond the area for the Oyster Card payment system. Passengers will therefore need to buy paper tickets, which cost £12.40 for a day return.

The alternative approach by rail is from Slough to Windsor & Eton Central on Great Western Railway (GWR).

The shuttle train from the GWR main line will run every 20 minutes, and will have extra carriages. 

A queuing system will be in operation at Slough, and queuing systems may also be put in place at Paddington, Waterloo, Reading and Staines.

While journeys to Windsor will be staggered, when the royal procession finishes at around 1.30pm it is expected that tens of thousands of well-wishers will want to leave at once.

“A queuing system will be in place at both Windsor stations,” warn the train operators. 

On the London Underground, the Circle Line is closed westbound between Edgware Road and Aldgate, and the District Line is closed between Edgware Road and Richmond, Wimbledon and Ealing Broadway on Saturday, meaning those hoping to reach Paddington to get to Windsor will need to find alternative routes.