The ballyhoo is almost over, as Prince Harry of the house of Windsor, sixth in line to the British throne (at the moment), marries his American actress love, Meghan Markle.
If anyone is interested, the wedding will be rebroadcast on PBS at 11:30 am (at least it is in my area). I am watching on BritBox, which has been live broadcasting all morning from Windsor.
The couple was married in the historic St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The Chapel was built and enlarged in the 14th and 15th centuries, and is the home of the Order of the Garter, which was established in 1348 by King Edward III.
A great deal has been made, and continues to be made, about the bride’s ethnicity, as her mother is black and her father is white. A black American bishop, the Most Reverend Michael Curry, addressed the congregation, and raised a few eyebrows as he mentioned slavery, the Old Testament and quoted the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. [Read Here]
The bride’s mother, Doria Ragland, was in attendance, but her father, Thomas Markle, was not. I don’t know if any other of the bride’s relatives were there.
The bride wore a pure white Givenchy gown and 15ft silk veil embroidered with 53 flowers representing the Commonwealth countries. The veil is made from silk tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers in silk threads and organza, held in place by a Queen Mary diamond bandeau tiara, loaned to her by the Queen. Her look was completed by a Cartier bracelet and earrings.
It is said that the Prince teared up at the sight of his bride, and said to her, “You look amazing.”
The happy couple.
Here is the Queen, then Princess Elizabeth, on her wedding day in 1947.
And Lady Diana and Prince Charles on their wedding day in 1981.
After the ceremony:
The carriage is called an Ascot Landau.
Stella's Place 
Beautiful shot of the Chapel.
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PS: I do not understand the British obsession for outrageous hats on formal occasions.
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DH says it’s a “Church of England” thing. A ladies head must be covered at church. Kind of a tradition, but not so necessary anymore.
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We used to wear hats to church too. It’s just that some of them are so weird! And HUGE! Did you see Camilla’s?
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LOL…I have to confess… The minute I saw Camilla’s hat I thought that her milliner had just re-purposed bedspread ruffles.
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I agree. It used to be required for women to cover their heads in Catholic churches too, and many women still wear mantillas or a few wear hats, but why in the heck must it be ugly and tasteless? This has to be some whacked out British crap. Or maybe it’s an upper crust fashion thing. Lots of high fashion looks ridiculous and jester like to me.
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Reminds me of the crazy headdresses at the court of Kings Louis XIV – XV.
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So you’ve never been to a black church on Sunday, eh?
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Like I said to Jacqueline, it the weirdness that gets me, not the hats themselves. Heck, we used to wear hats to church too. And gloves. And suits/dresses.
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We’d get tasked to secure some of the black churches on Sundays when there were events such as festivals or fund raisers going on. The hats were almost a status display and would putmany, if not most, Brit ‘special event’ hats to shame. These weren’t hats, they were engineering events.
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And, girdles and hose and heels and slips.
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Those too!
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Of course, we were in FL with no air conditioning, only a fan on a stick.
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The Weirdness……you mean like Kathy Lee Giffords swan on her head? 🙂
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Here are a few:
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Yikes!
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I watched on BBC and they had Merideath Viera on with the British crew. The BBC lady was talking about the “Charismatic” preaching that the Bishop gave, and Meridith said “Well. we’re used to hearing that in America.”
The snooty BBC lady said, “Well, we’re not used to that here”! Elton John looked like he was going to choke. I just laughed and laughed.
I heard Shep Smith’s Manscara was running, he got so emotional.
My DH said he thought Prince Philip might just start dancing in the aisles.
It really was a beautiful day and a beautiful wedding!
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I was watching the faces of the guests as the camera panned the audience. They were just speechless. The Bishop was totally inappropriate and the “choir” singing “Stand by Me’ was ridiculous. I am sure The Queen was embarrassed and mortified. The seemed like a Baptist tent revival on a hot Summer night. Classless. Very ghetto.
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Right-e-o, knot interested.
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Thanks for sharing.
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A big chunk of my family left England and the English behind so I was never raised with that fairy tale hope of growing up and marrying a prince. Those was pre-Elton John times.
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I never lived in England, and my family members were among the serfs in Scotland, Ireland, and England. I can understand the way the British feel about the aristocracy – after all, it is part of their history. I think it’s interesting.
Anyway, not everyone is interested in the same things. I notice you read and commented, though, so should we consider your remarks a protest of some kind?
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No, just comments. The entire fascination so many of the US has after the Founders tried so hard to rend the British out of the American is just…welll…fascinating. Here we were, as was so much of the Brit Empire, abused by the system and here we are, moths drawn back to the flame.
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Almost 250 years removed from the events of our Revolution, we appreciate our own country and its foundations, but there is no longer hate for the “old country”. The pageantry and beauty, custom and traditions, are still appealing – and come on, it’s a wedding!
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I’m not against the wedding – I’ve had two myself – it’s the deeper attention directed to it by a public who should be directing that attention to the domestic problems chewing on our national leg.
We’re only 214 years from their burning Washington and about 74 from their giving away half of Eastern Europe to Stalin as a door prize and 34 years from their letting their last colony in the Empire gain freedom.
I look at England as a slightlier more friendly dog than Russia.
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I think you need to lighten up. You KNOW that your fellows here pay attention to those things. A little light entertainment never hurt anybody.
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I have no intention of blunting anyone’s entertainment, just explaining why I’m not. I just have a different perspective on the greater event so rather than extend this any further let’s agree to disagree and y’all who wish to – ENJOY!
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I can’t say I follow anything royal or British very much. However, I do take advantage when I am able to step outside myself and enjoy something happy, or even just something interesting or curious for a moment.
If I don’t have moments to distract myself at least, and recharge myself at best, I don’t have much to go on, and nothing to fight with.
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With my background I take moments of distraction differently. My kids are a little less Euro-oriented than I, grandkids evenmore so and GGS has troiuble finding Europe on a map. I just have a different family history that’s still raw with me and the few surviving siblings of my grandfather’s brothers.
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So do I and I’m English. A lot of it has to do with the class system and explains the hatred between people post-Brexit. Many of us, like myself and mostly working class, find days like today unbearable. And like you say it diverts attention from the real problems in our society, like the fact the indigenous population is rapidly being replaced. Those people doing the replacing really couldn’t give a — that a group of barons forced the King of England to sign a document 800 years ago restricting his absolute power and the long struggle thereafter by the plebs to gain some sort of control over their lives. It’s all academic now. In 40 years England will be an Islamic State.
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I’ll approve your comment, but please note – we don’t use the F word here, or anything that looks like the F word.
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My mother and grandmother left in ’46, my uncle after serving in Palestine. Shevmet/married my father while he was serving with 8th AF and survived.
The machinations of Churchill during the war are understandable as he’d have sold us out had he the need to to save the Empire but unacceptable.
I’m part of that older generation the Progs are waiting to die out so their revisionist history can be used to pave the path to the New Order.
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I didn’t know that Prince Harry was related to Churchill. And the royals had nothing to do with the decisions made in WWII. It’s a WEDDING! Since she’s half black, perhaps we should re-fight the Civil War while we’re at it.
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I am a skeptic about marriage now. But, it brought a lot of tears to my eyes to see the smile on Harry’s face as he saw her walk down the aisle. It is wonderful to see him so happy.
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I think weddings are special. I always cry, no matter the persons. Maybe it’s a female thing?
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No, I can’t say I didn’t cry. LOL
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I always cry at weddings. Surprisingly, the only one I have ever not cried at was my own in Scotland. Not a tear, and I was so happy! It was like a dream come true, and he planned the whole thing. I just showed up from America, and went along with it all!
Lol, he even had an antique Rolls for me to ride in with his sister, my bridesmaid, and the driver took the long way to town through the beautiful countryside. I couldn’t have done a better job myself!
He was a Chief Caterer in The Royal Navy, so he knew how to throw a do.
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Thank you Stella for posting this. I appreciate it.
I too cry at weddings. In fact 39 years ago today I cried so much I could barely recite my vows!
I wish them well and hope that they share many years of happiness together ❤.
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Happy Anniversary!
I reckon maybe I didn’t cry at mine was because it was all such a surprise.
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Jacqueline your wedding sounds like it was amazing! Wow!!
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I think it’s the transfer of emotions from them to us. Personally, I did not get up early to watch it but I turned it on at 7 am & watched for the hour before I left for work. Loved her dress, always love a man in uniform. And I would visit all the venues in a heartbeat. I love the pageantry. And I really do enjoy the hats!
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I did not watch this one, just a few clips out of curiousity. However, I remember getting up very early in the morning to watch Prince Harry’s mother and father’s wedding. I really didn’t know why I did it at the time, and I don’t know now, but I did enjoy it then.
I was very young, and very romantic. But even then I knew that I really didn’t envy any of the royals, I just had a curiousity. I have always thought that they live more or less in a very gilded prison, although it obviously seems to be lossening and changing.
It seems to me that Queen Elizabeth is the last one to truly care about whatever it is you call the royal traditions and customs. I think that is both good and bad.
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I think the queen cares about tradition and customs because her interest is in preserving the monarchy.
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Somebody in England said on FOX that the Monarchy resists change, but since Diana has allowed some. He said it was probably important to change because other monarchys have collapsed because they didn’t.
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The queen has been very shrewd in her understanding that change would preserve the monarchy. That, and her decision not to interfere in government, or take sides publicly.
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I really think Diana would have been an enormous asset to the family if Charles hadn’t been such an a$$. I don’t think she would have done the negative things she did if he had been a loving husband.
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I never liked him. To be fair, I don’t think he had much of a chance to look good when cast against the lovely and vibrant Princess Diana and the vital dignity and presence of his mother. Nevertheless, he apparently decided to surrender to his fate without a struggle, as near as I can tell. And his stupid liberal climate change opinions make me think even less of him.
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I never thought of him as the handsome prince, more like the horse the handsome prince rode in on.
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Haha! We think alike. I used to tell my husband you couldn’t tell some of the royals apart from those horses they loved. Diana Spencer was the best thing that has probably ever happened to the British royal bloodline.
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Yes, she gave birth to two handsome princes, although William looks a lot like his father.
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I just can’t forgive him for treating Diana the way he did.
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In reply to your comment above, about William (no reply box). He kind of surpresed me. He was so handsome when he was a young man, and I thought he looked so much like this mother, but as he aged he began to look more like his father and lose those blond good looks.
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Yes, he was the handsome one then, and not so much now. But, Harry is handsome in a very masculine way. He seems very charming. He also comes across as a very strong man.
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Not to mention that he’s bald, which doesn’t do anything for a man’s looks, in my opinion.
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Yes…………..uh, except for Yul Brenner. 🙄
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We in the US most certainly don’t know how Charles treated Diana, so let’s give it a rest. I’ve lived in England for a few years. Two of my children were born there. I admire the Queen, her traditions, her grace etc. I never liked Diana and it would take too long to explain the reasons. Call it instinct. Anyway I was glad that Charles got to march Ms. Meghan down the aisle, that was a nice gesture to both of them. Charles is a somewhat tragic figure IMO, as a new born he missed out on that important bonding time with his mother because they were separated due to her having the measles. Sometimes I wonder if that separation contributed to Charles’s emotional development.
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That didn’t change my mind. He was having an affair before they even married and he allowed Camilla to treat her they way she did.
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I wasn’t too terribly young, but romantic at the time. I watched the whole thing, too. I had high hopes for the marriage, but I had never liked anything about Charles. And, he was even worse than my expectations.
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I only saw the clips, too.
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I have to say, her dress was so beautiful. It was very simple and appropriate. They said her tiara/crown was borrowed from the Queen. It was perfect for her face and veil.
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The tiara belonged originally to Queen Mary, the present queen’s grandmother.
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Interesting.
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A couple of months ago I decided to watch that show about her. Is it called The Crown? Anyhow, I watched two or three episodes. There was this striking scene where she returned home from Africa after her father’s death and her grandmother kneeled to her. I believe that would have been Queen Mary.
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I’ve watched some of the BBC programs about the queen. Queen Mary took a great interest in Elizabeth’s education, so that she would be properly prepared to assume the throne when the time came.
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I was very surprised at her dress, and how simple and lovely it was. I am rather tired of seeing all the shoulders and 3/4 of the chest of brides. Merely a personal preference, but I don’t like revealing wedding dresses. Do you want to look like a bride or a cheap date?
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Too many nowadays look like hookers in a white dress. I was expecting it to be a little more Hollywood, which it wasn’t……at all. And, was it Kate who came to the car and helped her straighten out her dress?
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It was the dress designer.
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It is lovely. FWIW, the Church of England requires that the shoulders of the bride are covered.
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IMO all churches ought to. Last fall I visited the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Alabama, founded by Mother Angelica. For those who visit the website prior to the visit they make the dress code very clear. Those who go in unprepared and wearing innappropraite clothing are required to put on the temporary apparel they keep at the desk outside the chapel.
I have seen people wear some slimy and revealing clothes to church. I think they ought to be asked to leave. I also see most of it in teens or young adults with their parents. Hell would freeze over before I allow any of my offspring to wear stuff like that. If they won’t dress decent they can stay home. If they won’t stay home, then I will. I am not sitting aside someone who has no more respect for themselves and others than that.
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I think some brides choose more revealing dresses, but have little dressy jackets made to wear over them during the ceremony.
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I don’t mind a strapless with a little jacket. But, I do object to the ones so low most of the boob sticks out. My kids were married in an outdoor ceremony. Her dress was a simple strapless A-line with a slight wrap around at the waist. It was very tasteful and not revealing at all.
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A preist at the Franciscan University in Steubenville, OH, once gave 80% of his homily about how it was senseless for young women to come to confession dressed like sluts. He was very matter of fact about it, he reminded the women that they knew that they were going to be in close quarters with a celibate man and to pretend that they were there to try and get closer to God while dressing in a way meant to sexualize themselves in the confessional was disingenuous at best, he ended his homily with something like “And now your conscience is informed.”
🙂
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The bride did not have adult bride’s maids, just little girls, and boy pages. That is very Edwardian, I think. I wonder why she chose to do that?
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I knew there was something different. That made it more simple and kept the attention on the bride and groom, I think. I thought that was lovely.
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Me too.
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One of the announcers said that eyebrows were raised when the black preacher mentioned slavery, which they can’t seem to go without doing all the time and on any occasion. He also quoted MLK.
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Imagine the mentality that sees a wedding as the place to mention slavery. Any wedding. Just had to seize his glory I guess.
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Got to keep that victim mentality in people’s faces, everywhere, all the time.
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Yes. And what is evident to everyone but them is that they gain nothing by using an occasion like this to push their cause. Everyone just looks down on them and see them for the hucksters they are.
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Read the text, and decide for yourself. I linked it in the post.
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Some British commentator said that the preacher’s words were supposed to be about 2 min. He went on for 13. Guess he figured it was his chance to edumacate some Britishers.
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He took advantage of a captive audience. It was a bit much.
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I didn’t think so. It was about the same length as the homily the priest delivered at my daughter’s wedding (and she’s not Catholic).
ADD: Between 13 and 14 minutes.
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I’m watching the ceremony, and they showed a couple of young women giggling about him as he spoke. Bad behavior.
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My mother would have smacked my arm or pinched me.
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I went and reread his speech. The only mentions of MLK were to use a quote about love.
“We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we discover that, we will be able to make of this old world a new world. For love, love is the only way.”
He didn’t talk about slavery, but about a slave song about love.
If you don’t believe me, well, there were some old slaves in America’s antebellum south who explained the dynamic power of love and why it has the power to transform. They explained it this way, they sang a spiritual, even in the midst of their captivity. It’s one that says “There is a balm in Gilead”. A healing balm. Something that can make this right. “There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole. There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.” One of the stanzas explains why, “If you cannot preach like Peter, and you cannot pray like Paul, you just tell the love of Jesus, how he died to save us all.” Oh that’s the balm in Gilead.
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Reblogged this on The Last Refuge and commented:
Wedding Day for Prince Harry!
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Pingback: Harry and Meghan tie the knot … - Novus Vero
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Just heard on PBS that this is the anniversary of Ann Boleyn’s execution – May 19, 1536.
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I don’t think I wanted to know this. I have always felt sorry for Henry’s wives, except the last Catherine, who really did ok.
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So did Anne of Cleves. The marriage was never consummated, they got an annulment, she gained property, and the king referred to her as his sister.
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HHHMMM…
1981
1. English Prince gets married (Charles and Diana).
2. Liverpool wins The European Cup.
3. The Pope gets shot (John Paul II).
2005
1. English Prince gets married (Charles and Camilla).
2. Liverpool wins The European Cup.
3. The Pope John Paul II dies.
2018
1. English Prince gets married (Harry and Meghan).
2. Liverpool plays The European Cup Final on May 26.
3. Someone let The Pope know.
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I found your blog because your excellent post was removed from CTH. Makes no sense why it was removed. Neither does all the vitriol in comments.
I repeat.
LOVE. Classic. Beautiful. Traditional. History. LOVE.
❤👰🤵❤
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Welcome! We have some nice people here. Not as many, but quality counts.
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I think it was removed because of all of the nasty comments.
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Sorry Stella. I can only imagine. I’m happy you have your place here where we can agree or disagree but feel no compunction to shout each other down or demand that each and everyone of our personal views must negate another’s view.
I didn’t pop over there but I imagine people were very full of self righteous indignation.
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One person referred to Megyn as a half-caste slag. I don’t particularly like Megyn, but that was out of line.
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Agreed.
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Whoa. Totally out of line.
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Welcome independentalien 🙂 !
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my two cents worth regarding the wedding. The planning paid off, no hitches, everyone safe, huge happy crowds showed up, kudos to the cavalry, the immaculate presentation of the ceremonial practices, even the weather played nice for the happy couple. Windsor made a charming venue steeped as it is in history. The chapel choir sang the most beautiful Blessing arranged by John Rutter. Meghan’s wedding dress was classical in it’s design and simplicity. The couple spoke their vows for all to hear. Mom Doria was elegant and poised, obviously proud of her daughter. Little pageboys and bridesmaids have so much appeal on these great occasions. Oh and the cellist was outstanding, Sheku Mason. the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex are off to a wonderful start, may they be forever happy with each other.
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First time posting here, even though I have looked now and again…got here though CTH….it is a bit kinder and gentler here…
Anyway…being an American, I find this “royalty “ stuff kinda weird…oh well..
Tthe ten minutes I listened to it….I thought the Bishop’s sermon was just fine…
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Welcome!
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Welcome Jane 🙂 !
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Stella, thanks for having a wedding thread! I heard it had been posted at CTH but missed that.
I had only mild curiosity about the wedding and no intentions of watching it as I mad as a wet hen at the Brits for their part in interfering in our election. However, my intentions flew out the window as circumstances decreed I was up in the middle of the night so I turned on the TV and watched part of
the wedding.
I’m skeptical about the ultimate success of the marriage, but thankfully that isn’t my business or my problem. They both looked as happy as they could be during the wedding and it takes a hard heart not to rejoice with them and hope for the best, doesn’t it?
I really loved her gown. The severe simplicity and something about the lines of it reminded me of fashion from the 1930s and yet it still looked quite modern. Her lovely veil really added to that look and I thought the Art Deco tiara was just gorgeous.
The sermon and the choir that sang Stand By Me injected a hefty dose of American style and sass into the stuffy formal proceedings and made me laugh at the reactions in the audience.
I also think it is funny that I went from not caring one whit about the wedding to watching part of it and being entertained and somewhat charmed. I guess there’s still enough romance in my soul to be touched at seeing their love for each other shine from their eyes. I hope they have the maturity and coping skills to build a solid relationship from this beginning.
I really enjoyed reading everyone’s comments and reactions. Thanks again Stella!
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You’re welcome!
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