This Indian Origin Writer Explains Why Prince Harry-Meghan Markle's Wedding Is A Historic Event

As far as Royal weddings go, I have presented a few, covering Prince William and Kate Middleton¡¯s royal wedding in 2011 and watching others as a spectator.

And I never tire of seeing how hundreds of millions of people around the world become fixated on the love affair of a Prince or Princess.

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I was just five years old when Lady Diana Spencer married Prince Charles and I remember how intense the media interest was then with every single newspaper that my parents sold in our corner shop in Berkshire detailing, page by page, every part of the royal proceedings. Watching their wedding on television is etched in my memory and we, like millions of other families, switched on the TV to witness what seemed like a fairy-tale. That was in 1981 and little did I know then that in my chosen career as a BBC presenter, I¡¯d be in a privileged position reporting both the weddings of the Royal Princes.

When Kate and William tied the knot in 2011, Buckingham Palace was frenzied with excitement and standing at our broadcast position with the palace looking resplendent behind me, I remember the anticipation of thousands of tourists and well-wishers who were counting down the hours until the wedding carriages would pass through the Mall and reward the crowds with a glimpse of a glamorous bride. The atmosphere was infectious and already on the streets of Windsor a feeling of expectation is palpable in the air.

Just like his brother, Prince Harry and his bride-to-be will not escape the global spotlight on their big day, but the couple will be excused from the same protocol that William and Kate endured, with William the future king being second in line to the throne.

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Notably there will be no heads of state attending this royal wedding and politics has been firmly cast aside in favour of a smaller family church wedding at St George¡¯s Chapel in Windsor, rather than Buckingham Palace. Smaller by royal standards means that Harry and Meghan¡¯s guest list totals some 600 people compared to the grandiose wedding of William and Kate that welcomed 1,900 attendees.

Having grown up just 20 miles from Windsor, I know the royal borough well and its pretty castle on a hill dominates the area, with a one way traffic system that pushes the daily commute past its iconic castle. Local residents are proud of the town¡¯s link to royalty and they are no stranger to the pomp and ceremony of annual royal events. But the town is about to welcome some 100,000 people in a once in a generation event, who will line up along the impressive three mile Long Walk that runs up to Windsor Castle to get a vantage point of this historic event.

And for many Britons hoping to get a day off work, this wedding presides on a Saturday so there is no chance of a special bank holiday. Nevertheless, Harry and Meghan will arguably attract more observers to their intimate affair for they are quintessentially the modern royals. A young beautiful American actress is marrying a dashing Prince and many historians say we should not underestimate how significant a union this is for the British royal family. Steeped in tradition, these young lovers are doing things their way in a truly modern manner.

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As a British Asian woman I am also intrigued and not surprised by how much is being discussed of Meghan¡¯s ethnic background and how a Prince is marrying a divorcee from a mixed race family. As one royal historian put it to me, ¡°what we are seeing is the next generation of royals making bold statements about what they want to do, with whom they want to do it and how. And that is worth watching¡¯¡¯.

What is also worth watching is how Meghan Markle will navigate life within one of the world¡¯s most famous families and whether or not she can hold her own in the royal court of judgment. Let¡¯s not forget that this is a love story that is being played out in front of a global stage.

In the seven years that has passed since Prince Harry¡¯s older brother¡¯s wedding, there has been a monumental shift in how we will consume the royal proceedings. This royal couple are cementing their vows in a digital age and within seconds a hash-tag phenomenon will be born citing an aspect of Meghan¡¯s attire or a GIF of the Groom¡¯s smile will emerge before he has even caught sight of his new wife.

There is one thing I have learnt about broadcasting a royal wedding, that it is a marathon and not a sprint. Every aspect of the wedding will be dissected, the dress, the hair, the cake etc. and having got married last year, I can honestly say that I have spent more time researching Meghan Markle¡¯s preferred fashion labels than I did for my own bridal gown.

And if you were expecting that special balcony kiss I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll be disappointed as the choice of wedding venue is some way away from the balcony of Buckingham Palace that has witnessed many a royal wedding kiss. Harry and Meghan will no doubt give us a romantic moment to pour over but the couple are doing things on their terms and that in itself is worth watching.

Babita Sharma is a BBC World News anchor.