Meghan Markle: The American royal

There's already been hours of US prime time television dedicated to this Trans-Atlantic love story, and you can bet your tea and cucumber sandwiches there'll be plenty more before Harry and Meghan leave Windsor Castle as husband and wife.
 
Meghan Markle, the born and bred California girl will be the first American to marry into the British royal family since 1937. 

RELATED: Meghan Markle, in her own words, on being a 'game changer'
 
On the big day, blanket coverage of the Windsor Castle wedding begins at 4am on the East Coast of the USA, and will saturate TV screens for around 6 hours straight, that's not including the catch-ups, the re-runs and the post- wedding re-caps which will no doubt carry on for weeks.
 
Students at Meghan's former catholic high school Immaculate Heart in Hollywood, will be up early watching the wedding at a special viewing party.
 
The Loews Chicago Hotel, in the city Meghan went to college, has put together an "American Princess" package. Royal fans will don fascinators and dig in to a British-style breakfast of scones, clotted cream, jam and tea to compliment the early morning nuptials.
 
New York's famous Plaza Hotel is encouraging guests to dress in their most regal attire, putting on its own Harry and Meghan reception with champagne, mimosas and bellinis to wash down a healthy slice of British wedding fruitcake.

RELATED: How to host your own viewing party in six easy steps
 
It’s not just hotels cashing in, Amazon.com is flogging souvenirs by the carriage-load; Harry and Meghan tea-towels, colouring-in books, commemorative English breakfast teabags, mugs, plates, face masks, t-shirts, replicas of Meghan's engagement ring for the bargain price of US$19.99, even life-size cardboard cut outs for US$53.95!
 
Americans have long viewed the royal family as somewhat of a real-life soap opera, cemented by the popularity shows such as the Netflix hit "The Crown," which last year bagged 13 Emmy nominations. Now that one of their own is officially joining the cast, there's no doubt why this is must watch TV.
 
That "special relationship" shared by the United States and the United Kingdom comes in part from the fact that America was once part of Britain. The British royal family was once America's royal family. 
 
But now days Americans can enjoy being voyeurs of theroyal family without any of the gripes that Britons may feel about funding their collections of castles, vaults of priceless jewels and lavish lifestyle.

Disney and its stable of princesses also have a lot to answer for. Movies, books and pop culture perpetuating the fairytale myth are after all like Meghan, straight out of Hollywood.
 
The wedding of Harry and Meghan is the ultimate collision of pageantry and pop culture. It's a match and a TV plot line made in heaven. 
 
If you think this story has reached saturation point, you ain't seen nothing yet.

Watch Harry & Meghan, The Royal Wedding Saturday May 19 from 7pm on Nine, nine.com.au and 9Now