A couple of days ago, it was announced that Prince Harry & actress Meghan Markle are now engaged. I’m a huge fan of the Royals (thanks to Princess Diana), so yes, I’m quite excited & happy for the cute couple.
As per The Royal Marriages Act of 1772, the Queen has given her written permission for Prince Henry Charles Albert David Mountbatten-Windsor to wed Rachel Meghan Markle in May 2018.
People from all over the world are positively captivated by royal weddings and it’s little surprise. When a royal is married, the ceremony is steeped in tradition and the pageantry is something to behold.
It’s because of those same long-standing traditions that there are lots of things you shouldn’t expect to see at Harry & Meghan’s wedding. I’m going to share 10 of them with you, and I hope that if you are aware of more, you’ll share them with me!
Won’t see
1. The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan will, of course, be breathtaking, but don’t expect to see anything as large as that of Prince William and Kate.
Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, is second in line to the throne. His wedding was a national event and workers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland were given a bank holiday.
Harry is “only” fifth in line to the throne, so his wedding will be a little more subdued.
2. You won’t see the venue filled with mostly friends and family of the couple. The truth is that the guest list is very carefully curated so as to avoid any diplomatic issues. The couple has very little to say about who receives an invitation and who doesn’t.
It will be by the Queen’s command that royals, foreign leaders, church officials, diplomats, celebrities, and others will be invited.
That isn’t to say that friends and family won’t be in attendance. But if you’re a second cousin (or play cousin) of Meghan Markle, I wouldn’t hold your breath.
3. It’s an absolute no-no to tweet or otherwise share the ceremony on social media. If the event is televised you won’t see anyone with a phone in their hand.
4. Royal protocol dictates where everyone sits during the ceremony. The royal family will be seated on the right side. No matter how famous the guest, they absolutely won’t be sitting with the royals.
5. Everyone will be excited to see the dress as Meghan walks down the aisle. Right now it’s anyone’s guess as to what style she chooses or who the designer will be. What you won’t see is cleavage. Modesty is important to the Queen.
6. It’s a safe bet that Meghan will not wear heels during the ceremony. There can be no risk of tripping. She may commission several pairs of shoes, (I recommend Tieks!) however, so it’s possible she will be photographed after the service in heels. (Kate wore flats as well for just this reason.)
7. There will be no tux for Prince Harry. It is the tradition for royal grooms to be married in full military dress.
8. If you’re wondering what kind of wedding ring Harry will receive from Meghan, you’re about to be disappointed. He won’t wear one. It’s a tradition that both Prince Phillip and Prince William observed as well. (Prince Charles broke with tradition and wore one.)
9. There won’t be any pictures in the media of Prince Harry eating lobster at the reception. Shellfish is not served at royal dinners. Why? The risk of food poisoning. (Yikes!)
10. With the obvious exception of Meghan, no one, regardless of their stature or level of fame will enter the church after the Queen. She is always the second-to-last person to arrive after the bride.
Along those same lines, there will be no late arrivals. In fact, attendees are expected to arrive as much as 1 to 2 hours before the ceremony begins.
Tell me what you think about all the pageantry, pomp and circumstance. Do you love the idea of a royal wedding? Not that into it? I’d love it if you’d share.
As for me, I’m all for it! The fact that Ms. Markle is an American (born & raised in L.A.) & biracial (like me & my sons) makes it all the sweeter. I’ll be following this adorable couple closely & wish them love, peace & happiness!
