Author: Phil Boucher / Source: PEOPLE.com
When Meghan Markle marries Prince Harry on May 19, she will do so in the presence of both of his families: the royals and the military.
Harry served 10 years in the British Army, seeing front line action as a Troop Leader with the Household Cavalry in Afghanistan in 2008, before returning at the helm of an Apache helicopter with the Army Air Corps in 2012.
Within the tight-knit world of the British military, this makes him a part of their brotherhood for life.“The Household Cavalry is a relatively small regiment, so is naturally a very tight unit and a family,” says regimental adjutant, Captain Thomas Mountain, 28, who will help form a 24-man staircase party on the steps of St. George’s Chapel and greet Harry, 33, and Meghan, 36, with a “royal salute” when they exit as husband and wife.
Waiting nearby will be a troop of 24 mounted Household Cavalry soldiers commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James Gaselee, who will escort the newlyweds’ Ascot Landau carriage through the packed, flag-filled streets of Windsor.
“There’s an added pressure that one of our now ex-Household Cavalry is getting married, and we all want to the best that we possibly can,” says Moutain, “to play our small part in what will be a phenomenal day.”
“I will be stood right at the top of the steps next to the chapel doors as the married couple exits. It is a huge honor and a privilege to be part of it, if only in a small way,” he says.
So what does the special salute involve?
“A Household Cavalry version of the royal salute is when we sort of punch our sword out to the right and bring it all the way across the front our body until it is back in front of our face, and then lower the sword down,” Mountain explains.
“The horse and the traveling escort will be waiting for the married…
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