the prince of wales will step in for meghan markle's father and walk her down the aisle during her wedding to prince harry tomorrow. kensington palace said ms markle had asked prince charles to accompany her and that he was delighted to welcome her to the royal family in this way. with just under 2a hours to go, final preparations are under way with crowds gathering with visitors from around the world. iam camping i am camping out tonight, yes, last night i was in a hotel. harry, i'm here! i'mjane hill here in windsor, where the countdown is on to the most eagerly anticipated event of the year. and meghan markle‘s mother, doria ragland, is due to meet the queen this afternoon at windsor castle. we'll also report from los angeles on how americans are preparing for the wedding. also this lunchtime: former russian spy sergei skripal‘s discharged from hospital ten weeks

after being exposed to a nerve agent in salisbury. the prime minister calls the house of commons speaker john bercow‘s alleged derogratory comments about a female colleague as unacceptable. and mourinho‘s manchester united prepare to take on his old team, chelsea, in tomorrow's fa cup final. coming up on bbc news, goalkeeperjoe hart expresses his disappointment at missing out on a world cup place, calling his exclusion from gareth southgate‘s squad gutting. hello. good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. meghan markle has asked prince charles to accompany her down the aisle at her wedding

to prince harry tomorrow. her father, thomas markle, is unable to attend the wedding in windsor because of ill health. in a statement released by kensington palace, prince charles was said to be "pleased to be able to welcome ms markle to the royal family in this way". jane hill is in windsor this lunchtime. hello, and a very good afternoon from the glorious sunshine here at windsor castle. and yes, this morning we had that confirmation that the prince of wales will be walking meghan markle down the aisle. also confirmation coming that the duke of edinburgh will be attending the wedding tomorrow. this of course in the wake of his fairly recent hip operation. and this afternoon, we expect meghan markle‘s mother, doria ragland, to meet the queen for the first time. the latest from all today's developments come first from our royal correspondent, nicholas witchell. the final piece of the wedding

choreography. it will be prince charles who will walk meghan markle to the altar tomorrow. a statement from kensington palace said: this is how it will work. ms markle will enter the chapel through the great west door, and then proceed accompanied by bridesmaids and page boys. and then at the quire screen, prince charles willjoin her and walk with her through the oldest pa rt walk with her through the oldest part of the chapel to the altar where prince harry is waiting. it is said to be ms markle‘s wish after discussions with harry that in the absence of her father, it will be prince charles who will accompany her to the altar. it is seen as a

symbolic welcoming of her new family. but among wedding watchers on the streets of windsor, there was some disappointment that it won't be ms markle‘s mother doria walking her to the altar. we ms markle's mother doria walking her to the altar. we would have liked to see her mother walk down the aisle, oi’ see her mother walk down the aisle, or she could walk herself down the aisle. if it were me, i would be pleased with walking me. it's the father figure, do you know what i'm saying? and it means, hey, meghan, i love you, you are in love with my son, welcome to the royal family. whatever her mum was comfortable with, she wanted to i think that would have been lovely, but if she preferred not to, it is wonderful that prince charles is doing it. so the arrangements for tomorrow are pretty much complete. it has also been confirmed that the duke of edinburgh will be attending the wedding, six weeks after his hip operation. windsor is but basking in the sunshine and getting ready for a

big event. it is the place to be for the royal family's most devoted supporters. this is the third night ina supporters. this is the third night in a row. i have been planning to come to seven years, ever since come to seven years, ever since william come to seven years, ever since william got married. we were hoping to get a good spot. i love harry, i think he is so down to earth. we we nt think he is so down to earth. we went to william and catherine's wedding. i went to william and catherine's wedding. lam went to william and catherine's wedding. i am a big went to william and catherine's wedding. lam a big royalfan went to william and catherine's wedding. i am a big royal fan under princess diana fan. we love harry, he is just like princess diana fan. we love harry, he isjust like his mum, and we love and support in. one more night to go, and then harry and meghan's big day will be here. and nick is here with me now. so it seems we do have a pretty clear sense of how that procession and those elements of the ceremony will work? it promises to be interesting. for the first part of the procession up the aisle, meghan markle will be there with ten children aged between two and seven,

six bridesmaids, four page boys, just her on them. i had a rehearsal yesterday which i gather didn't entirely go according to plan, but which rehearsals do? but it was a lwa ys which rehearsals do? but it was always the plan that she would walk the first part up to what is called the first part up to what is called the quire screen which divides the aisle, and it will be there that prince charles willjoin her for the walk up to the high altar. we understand that doria ragland, meghan's mother, is entirely happy that this is the appropriate arrangement in the absence of the bride's father. i think she never really wa nted bride's father. i think she never really wanted to take on that role. she will be here, as we mentioned, meeting the queen this afternoon. the other piece of news this morning, the fact that the duke of edinburgh is well enough, and he will be there for the wedding as well. nick, thank you for now, nicholas witchell. royal wedding fever has been building here in windsor, but as our los angeles correspondent james cook has been finding out, it's attracting just as much attention across the pond. at meghan markle's old school in los angeles,

the festivities have begun early. a royal garden party, california—style. there was even a corgi as well as a double helping of red, white and blue. i think it's a wonderful thing, and i think that she best represents our motto, our school motto, which is educating the hearts and minds of girls for a hundred years. and through her humanitarian efforts, through world vision, i think that she best embodies that. she's such an inspiration, definitely, to all for princess reasons and her acting reasons, definitely. why is she an inspiration to you? she's definitely an inspiration to me because she went to my school. she also went to my elementary school, too. and so i feel like i'm following in her footsteps, and it definitely makes it so inspiring, because, like, you never know

what could be next in your life, and for her it's princess. well, this celebration is a curious combination of british tradition and american exuberance, and it also marks a golden pr opportunity for a family which carefully crafted the image which it projects to the world. in hollywood, where meghan made her name, tourists signed a card for the happy couple. but what the locals make of it all? i've been following the royal wedding, and i'm very excited. i think it's a great thing that the royals are diversifying, and starting to look like the rest of the world. because personally, here in america, we don't believe in that royal stuff. everybody's created equal. they should be working just like i'm working. and action. hello, everyone, and welcome. welcome to our royal wedding dish! harry's getting married! these americans are excited. # i'm just wild about harry # and harry's wild about meg...

for the anglophile channel, broadcasting from los angeles, it doesn't get bigger than this. it's like a local girl done good, so i think the interest in america is so great because it's one of our own. marrying into the royalfamily. and an american divorcee hasn't married successfully into the royal family since it almost brought the british monarchy down with wallis simpson in the 30s. music: dancing queen by abba. for many americans, the monarchy is a soap opera, and even though the wedding starts at 4am la time, there will be plenty of viewers here for the episode with the hollywood princess. james cook, bbc news, los angeles. # having the time of your life... let's discuss the significance of tomorrow. with me is now is afua hirsch, the journalist and author of the book "brit(ish)", which looks at the issues

of race and identity. dear look at tomorrow is a real turning point? is it making a difference? will make a real turning point? i don't think one event or one—woman can deal with britain's historical issues of structural racism and injustice, but it does send an important symbolic message, and ultimately the royal family are about symbolism. for many people they represent their sense of britishness, and the fact that they have always been white has been linked to this strong perception in britain that britishness is somehow a white identity, so it is unavoidable for me that the fact of woman of colour who has spoken proudly of her heritage and her mother being of african—american heritage is a symbolic change, and it signals that there is nothing essentially white about britishness, and people who look like her or like me or as much a part of our institutions and history as anyone else. thank you very much. thousands of well wishers are expected in windsor tomorrow, hoping to catch a glimpse of the royal couple. let's just remind you of how that

procession will work. after they're married, they'll travel through the streets in a carriage procession. the carriage will leave castle hill, travel through windsor‘s high street, onto kings road and albert road, and then go up the long walk all the way back to st george's hall for a lunchtime reception given by the queen. 600 people being hosted there. let's speak now to simon mccoy, who's on windsor‘s long walk. jane, thank you. there are 250 members of the armed forces taking pa rt members of the armed forces taking part in tomorrow's ceremony. a big day for them, they are all very much on show, and two of them are with me now. captain william calder and staff sergeant william north. this isa staff sergeant william north. this is a big day, because this isn't something that traditionally you do? this is absolutely right, ceremonial

duties is well at side of the army's normal comfort zone, but that makes this all the more special, out of the ordinary, and a chance to shine in front of a very large audience. and sean, last—minute preparations under way, you worked with harry as an apache pilot, so a colleague but an apache pilot, so a colleague but a friend as well? definitely, i had the opportunity to work with him in 2012 and came to respect him not just as an officer but as an individual. he worked exceptionally ha rd individual. he worked exceptionally hard at everything he did, it was amazing to see. and now to have the honour to be here today at his wedding means that little bit more. you have joint american citizenship as well, so why do you think will change the ceremony in terms of how it feels tomorrow? there are so many americans here as well.|j it feels tomorrow? there are so many americans here as well. i agree, and it is part of the reason i'm here, someone it is part of the reason i'm here, someone decided i was an appropriate candidate for a wedding that cement the relationship between our two countries, and i think it will be fun for countries, and i think it will be funfor me, countries, and i think it will be fun for me, with both an american

and british family, watching on the day. anyone i have spoken to for the military says we will just day. anyone i have spoken to for the military says we willjust be doing oui’ military says we willjust be doing ourjob. but there will be a bit of emotion, want there? it is a personal moment. it is very personal for the regiment. he personal moment. it is very personal forthe regiment. he is one personal moment. it is very personal for the regiment. he is one of our own. he served with us, so it does mean that bit to the troops. nodal tea rs ? mean that bit to the troops. nodal tears? i don't think so! that is a very firm know from both of you! thank you to both of you. jane, back to you. thank you very much, simon. well, the eyes of the world will be focused on windsor tomorrow, and nowhere more so than in the african nation of botswana, a country to which the couple have strong ties. it's said to be the place where they fell in love, while on safari, and it's also where the central diamond in meghan markle's engagement ring was mined. and as nomsa maseko reports, a charity founded by prince harry works there to help vulnerable children. the beauty and scenery of the african bush has attracted british royals the decades. and since he was young, prince harry has kept

up with the tradition. his links with botswana are strong. sentebale, a charity he is founded with listening to's prince seeiso, works in the country to help vulnerable children. the support that sentebale gives to us is so important, because many children are out, they are able to accept their hiv positive status. away from prying eyes, a romantic fate was sealed when meghan markle and prince harry went on safari at a lodge which overlooks the boteti river here in botswana. this is meno a kwena lodge. meno a kwena means teeth of a crocodile in the local setswa na language. lodge managers declined to comment about the couple's stay here, but insiders described the pair is very friendly and happy together. botswana is a big part of the couple's love story. ms markle's engagement ring

not only features gems from princess diana's collection. the main diamond was bought from the southern african country. some locals have taken a keen interest in what is building up to be the social event of the year. i will also be looking forward to the wedding, because i actually used to watch her on tv itself. so that will be really interesting. yes, i am very much interested, because he bought the stone from us. so i feel like we should be also included in this wedding. details of the honeymoon are a closely guarded secret, but many are hoping the couple will return here as newlyweds. nomsa maseko, bbc news, botswana. plenty more from windsor later in the programme, but for now it's back to you kate in the studio. our top story this lunchtime. the prince of wales will step

in for meghan markle's father and walk her down the aisle during her wedding to prince harry tomorrow. and, coming up, the other big event this weekend. manchester united prepare to take on chelsea in tomorrow's fa cup final. coming up on bbc news, all eyes on london and not only for the royal wedding as manchester united prepare to face chelsea in tomorrow's fa cup final. the former russian spy sergei skripal has been discharged from hospital more than ten weeks after being poisoned with a nerve agent in salisbury. the 66—year—old was found slumped on a park bench in the city in march, with his daughter yulia. britain has accused russia of being behind the attack, something it denies. richard galpin reports. when the double agent sergei skripal

and his daughter were poisoned with the nerve agent novichok in salisbury, it was assumed they wouldn't survive. but staff at the salisbury district hospital have managed to keep them alive as well as the police officer, mick bailey, who was also contaminated. mr skripal was the last to be discharged. we've been able to discharged. we've been able to discharge sergei skripal. this is an important stage in his recovery which will now take place away from the hospital. treating him and the other two people poisoned by the nerve agent while still providing outstanding care to all of our patience has been a huge and unprecedented challenge that i am proud our staff have risen too. when mr skripal‘s daughter, yulia skripal, left the hospital last month, she was taken to a safe house and he will be moved to a secure location but it is clear he isn't fully recovered and and needs further medical assistance. the fact

he has survived means he could potentially help the investigation which is focusing, not least, on who plays the nerve agent on his front door. meanwhile it has urged mr skripal had in recent years briefed at least one european intelligence agency possibly sharing his experience as a russian spy and that could be a reason for trying to kill him in march. richard galpin, bbc news. the speaker of the house of commons, john bercow, has been accused of swearing, and calling a senior minister "a stupid woman" during an outburst in parliament. according to the daily telegraph, his remarks were aimed and would be on would be "unacceptable. " the speaker under scrutiny yet again. that's right and his role in the house of commons is to be the referee, to keep order between the political parties, to make sure heated debates don't get out of

control but today the allegation is that mr bercow himself has been involved in an outburst in the commons, notjust calling a senior minister a stupid woman but a p pa re ntly minister a stupid woman but apparently describing andrea leadsom as useless prefaced by a word beginning with f. the speaker's office acknowledged there had been some differing views expressed on an unusual and controversial day in the commons and he is a controversial figure so if these allegations are true, it will add pressure to mr bercow who is facing calls to resign over claims of bullying by former members of staff. allegations he firmly denies. thank you. the world health organisation is holding emergency talks about the ebola outbreak in the democratic republic of congo. the drc health ministry has confirmed 11! new cases of ebola, taking the number of people infected in the current outbreak to a5. rebecca kesby reports. it's a race against time.

medical equipment and thousands of doses of an experimental vaccine are arriving in the democratic republic of congo. now that the deadly ebola virus has spread from remote rural areas to a major city, it will be difficult to contain. translation: there are ebola kits and they are being deployed. msf in the capital has permanent stocks destined to be more effective and be deployed faster. we already used the part of the stock we had here, and we are waiting for the rest. speed is essential now. criticised for their slow response to the last major ebola outbreak, which killed more than 11,000 people, health organisations are determined to get it right this time. translation: now is the time when we can still control it. it is now that we must make the effort to curb, avoid and stop the epidemic.

it's very good we have a vaccine but it is only part of the solution. the challenge is how to inform the public to stay safe without causing panic. translation: i want the authorities to organise medical controls, especially on boats coming from infected sites. translation: the government must forbid all gatherings because ebola can be transmitted by human contact. and other countries are nervous. regular drills are held in sierra leone to prepare for another ebola outbreak. nearly 4000 people died here in the last epidemic. but with the disease now present in a port city, the fears are revealed that it may make its way down the mighty river congo to the capital kinshasa, with a population of 10 million people. rebecca kesby, bbc news.

up to three—quarters of people in parts of the uk who challenged a decision to remove their main disability benefit last year were successful, according to figures obtained by the bbc. the charity, scope uk, says "fundamental flaws" in assessments for personal independence payments aren't being addressed. paul heaney has this exclusive report. last year steve from newport in south wales applied for a new type of benefit, personal independent payment. he has cerebral palsy and only realised there was a problem at the bank a few months later. the department for work and pensions says he was sent three letters to attend an assessment but steve struggled to open those letters so he missed the appointments. his benefit stopped and with zero income he was left thousands in debt. the dwp later said he had a good

reason for not turning up but steve had to win at a tribunal to go back on the benefit he was on before. the new type of benefit that steve and millions like him are applying for can be really important in getting people back to work. what we now know is that appeals against incorrect... a rising every. 67% appeals were upheld in 2017. pip appeals were upheld in 2017. pip appeals were upheld in 2017. pip appeals were even more successful, 7596 appeals were even more successful, 75% of those who appealed in london, south—west and wales had decisions overturned. in scotland and the north—east of england, just over

half successful. the dwt couldn't explain the regional differences but said successful appeals were usually because of further evidence at tribunal ‘s. because of further evidence at tribunal 's. this is a wake-up call to the government. at scope uk, we hear from people every day how difficult the assessment is. we want to see the assessment work for disabled people. the dwp insists new payments are fairer because they will reassess people more often. steve has now been repaid thousands he is due but he is worried others will have to rely on being the appeals to get what they are entitled to. well away from the royal wedding there are two big sporting occasions tomorrow. manchester united face chelsea in the fa cup final at wembley, while celtic take on motherwell in the scottish cup final at hampden park. david ornstein reports. the home of english football ready for its own state occasion. from

windsor to wembley, and a meeting of fa cup royalty. manchester united, wanting to lift a trophy for a joint record 13th time. in no way, chelsea stand in their way. chelsea lift the fa cup for the very first time at wembley. the blues will be desperate to avenge their defeat here 12 months ago and end a disappointing season on a high. it's a chance frost put it right. we've got the bit between our teeth because we haven't won anything until now. this is our last chance for some silverware. it's only the only opportunity for united to avoid finishing empty—handed, an unthinkable prospect for one of their biggest stars. we want to enjoy and to play and stuff like that. but if you don't win... it's good for the eyes, a title. it is good for the eyes, a title. it is good for the eyes, a title. it is good for the eyes but it doesn't make you win anything, you know? the

rivalry extends to the dugouts. you don't have to read far between the lines to work out there's not a lot of love lost. a duel in its own right, on a day when prince william will not be handing out the trophy. celtic have another bite at the cherry for celtic. it gives you another opportunity to write another chapter in the wonderful history of this club. motherwell are there a opponents as north and south of the border winners will be crowned. david ornstein, bbc news. back now to windsor, where final preparations are under way ahead of tomorrow's royal wedding. jane hill is there. jane. well, it was back in the summer of 2016 that harry and meghan are understood to have started dating. but it wasn't until last year that the couple made their first public appearance, at the invictus games in toronto, where meghan lived while starring in the legal drama suits. keith doyle looks back at a very royal romance. the public first saw harry and

meghan markle at the invictus games last year. they spent time in botswa na, last year. they spent time in botswana, a place to harry's hardware he revealed they camped out with each other under the storms. when they were interviewed after their engagement was announced, they explained how they met on a blind date. we are introduced by a mutual friend, whom we... we should protect her privacy. yes, but it was literally threw her, and then we met once, then twice, back—to—back two dates in london. then in november, harry popped the question. dates in london. then in november, harry popped the questionm dates in london. then in november, harry popped the question. it was so sweet and natural and very romantic. he got on one knee. the fact i fell in love with meghan so incredibly quickly was confirmation to me that

all these stars had in mind, everything was perfect, it was this beautiful woman victory tripped and fell into my life, ifell beautiful woman victory tripped and fell into my life, i fell into beautiful woman victory tripped and fell into my life, ifell into her life. more public engagements shed light on how the couple work as a team. it's so good to meet you. this isa team. it's so good to meet you. this is a couple who know what love means. from those early days, the engagement day where they came out linking arms, that interview, where they literally didn't stop touching each other, holding hands, the reassuring glances, those same glances we saw when they were carrying out those debut engagements out in the public, they had eyes for each other, harry making sure meghan was ok. he's said she fell into his life, they fell in love the moment they met, this is true for everyone to see. it hasn't all been dewy eyed romance. in a strong unprecedented rebuke to the media of what he called racial undertones in their coverage of meghan, harry stood up

for his fiancee. as un ambassador and campaigner for women's rights, meghan is also an independent force but these two strong people appear to be even stronger together as they continue on what they've called their crazy journey. with me now is dominic reid, the co—founder of the invictus games, the sporting event for injured, wounded and sick servicemen and women. that was such a passion project for him. it still is. does that for you speak to him as a person? absolutely. it is his. he was the inaugurate of it, he conceived the idea, it was his passion, he drives it, we deliver it for him. and you'll be at the wedding tomorrow, one of a relatively small number of guest is, what are you hoping for? what are you anticipating and excited about? i am immensely grateful to be invited, i wasn't expecting to be. everybody wants to see the couple married and we wish

them well. we have two thoroughly modern people and it is great for everybody. and you've met her on a number of occasions? yes, i have and she's utterly charming and it is of is how happy they are together, it is how happy they are together, it is wonderful to see. lovely to see you, enjoy tomorrow and thank you for your time. and of course you can watch every moment of prince harry and meghan markle's big day in a royal wedding special programme live on bbc one and on the bbc news channel, with full coverage starting from nine o'clock tomorrow morning. we will be here all day long with full coverage. that's all from me for now, but, first, the all important question, will the sun shine for harry and meghan's big day? let's find out, with sarah keith—lucas in windsor. it is picture perfect