ROYAL Wedding revellers celebrated at street parties across Dorset yesterday afternoon.

As Prince Harry married Meghan Markle at St George’s Chapel, champagne corks were popping and flags were waving.

There was a big public celebration in Ringwood, with a large screen set up in Market Place.

Street parties also took place at Tuckton Tea Gardens where guests enjoyed a traditional cream tea, followed by lawn games such as croquet.

Bournemouth Echo:

Numerous other street parties took place in Bournemouth, Poole, and Christchurch.

Partygoers were donning their best Union Jack hats for the occasion, and plenty of bunting festooned each street.

Kathleen Pharoah, who helped organise a street party in Leeson Road, Bournemouth, with Amelia Ritchley-Wright and Jo Murphy said: “It’s exciting and it’s lovely and we get the chance to meet all our neighbours. We are quite new to this road and they’re all so welcoming.”

Residents at the party enjoyed a bouncy castle, cake competition, a quiz, music and a sit-down lunch.

Mr Clayden, who moved into the street in 1959, said: “This is the first time we’ve had a street part for a royal wedding. It’s great to see after living here for so long.”

His daughter, Tina, added: "It’s really lovely to have this party to bring the whole road together.”

Once the happy couple said “I will”, Amelia let off a confetti cannon to mark the momentous occasion.

Sarah Foster, her husband Craig and daughter Felicity, also joined the celebrations.

Sarah said: "The street party is amazing. We love it here! We only moved here in November and we’ve got such lovely neighbours.”

Commenting on Meghan’s wedding dress, she said: “I love her dress, she looks gorgeous!”

In Poole, residents of Queens Road came together to mark the big day. Bunting lined the roads and houses, while tables and chairs provided by the Courthill Infant School lined the road.

Later in the afternoon live music was provided from a make-shift stage in front of one of the houses, accompanied by afternoon tea.

Vicky Warren and Helen Tanner, who together led the organisation of the party, said it was great to share the celebration with the neighbourhood.

“We’ve been very fortunate with the weather and everyone has rallied together,” Vicky said.

“It has really brought people together who didn’t know each other and people have been involved every step of the way.”

“We all congregated round the television under the marquee and had a glass to wish them all the best on their day today. They look beautiful and very happy together.”

Helen added: “It is nice to feel like we are part of their ceremony in a very small way.

“We’re really pleased it has all come together and so successfully. It has been a real team effort.”

Meanwhile across the Cornelia Gardens development site in Canford Heath the community came together in the afternoon after the ceremony in Windsor.

The gathering was the first social event for the neighbourhood since the final homes were occupied earlier this year.

Residents all brought along food and drink for the event and a wide-range of BBQ delights kept people stocked up throughout the afternoon.

The new mayor of Poole Sean Gabriel and Canford Heath East ward councillor Sandra Moore dropped in to sample the party atmosphere.

They both said it was fantastic to see the community coming together to mark such a special occasion and provide memories for children to remember for the rest of their lives.

The event was organised by couple Mark and Carole Taylor, who moved into their home in late-2016.

After months of effort and support from fellow residents, they said it was great to see so many people enjoying themselves.

“It is just fantastic to see everybody come together, all the different cultures, and they have all contributed in one way or another,” Mark said.

“This was our first official event, but we’re hoping to build on it and do a lot more in the future so we can get to know each other even more.”