Meet The Drum Major Leading The Irish Guards At Harry And Meghan's Royal Wedding

The senior drum major of the Household Division has spoken about the moment he is most looking forward to at the Royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle - playing the national anthem when the happy couple leaves St George's Chapel as newly-weds.

In an exclusive interview with Natasha Reneaux of Forces Radio BFBS, Warrant Officer Class 2 Scott Fitzgerald, Coldstream Guards, also told of the 'huge experience' of playing such an important role in front of the estimated one-fifth of the world's population expected to be watching at the weekend.

He also told how he will then have the honour of having the unique status of attending, not one, but two Royal weddings as drum major, in a military career which has included many Royal roles including the Queen's Birthday Parade.

WO2 Fitzgerald said he first found out that he would be leading the Irish Guards as drum major earlier in the year in February and has been preparing for the role since then.

You can listen to Natasha Reneaux's chat with the guardsman below...

He said he was in the process of handing over his role as senior drum major but struck a deal so that he would still have responsibility at the wedding, while the incoming soldier would get to preside over the Queen's birthday parade.

WO2 Fitzgerald said he is honoured by the role and that he had been very lucky over the last seven years to have played a key part in many "fantastic" state ceremonial events.

He has taken part in events ranging from the previous Royal wedding, of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate in 2011, to the Queen's 90th birthday and the Diamond Jubilee. He added:

"This is a nice way to finish off my regular service by taking part in this Royal wedding."

He told Natasha that the Band of the Irish Guards would be first out and would come out in the morning for about an hour to entertain the public, before collapsing back into camp and reforming as they wait for the wedding service to start.

During the ceremony, the "street-liners" who will line the processional route inside Windsor Castle will be brought out in silence.

They will get into position ready for the bride and groom coming out of St George's Chapel as a married couple. WO2 Fitzgerald said:

"We're then going to play the anthems as they go past. We'll play the anthem as the Queen leaves and then we'll play some more music as members of the congregation and the rest of the Royal family head up to Windsor Castle."

Royal weddings are full of British pageantry and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's will be no different.

It is thought the big day will be watched by about 1.9 billion people worldwide, about a fifth of the planet's population, and some have already started camping out on the streets of Windsor to secure a prime viewing spot for the celebrations.

More than 250 members of the Armed Forces will be involved throughout the day, including Prince Harry's former comrades and regiments and units that hold a special relationship with the Prince, who will be providing ceremonial support at the wedding.

Soldiers from the Blues and Royals and the Life Guards of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment will provide the travelling escort for the wedding procession, as the happy couple make their way through Windsor.

Prince Harry joined the Blues and Royals in April 2006 and served with the Household Cavalry Regiment, undertaking two tours of Afghanistan.  

The streets of Windsor will be lined by members of the Windsor Castle Guard from 1st Battalion Irish Guards and by Armed Forces personnel from the Royal Navy small ships and diving units, of whom Prince Harry is Commodore-in-Chief, as well as Royal Marines, of whom he is Captain-General.

Another contingent, 3 Regiment Army Air Corps, will also line the streets, reflecting the fact that Prince Harry served with 662 Squadron as an Apache pilot in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

The Royal Gurkha Rifles and RAF Honington will also be taking part, reflecting the role the Prince has as Honorary Air Commandant of RAF Honington.

State trumpeters of the Band of the Household Cavalry will perform fanfares during the wedding service, while the street-liners will have musical support from the Band of the Irish Guards.

WO2 Scott Fitzgerald can be seen in action in the footage below, filmed previously during a rehearsal for the Queen's Birthday Parade:

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The first chance to hear WO2 Scott Fitzgerald talking about his role in this weekend’s Royal wedding will be on Forces Radio BFBS with Hal Stewart during Totally Connected, from 10am to 1pm (UK Time) today, Thursday, May 17.