I remember sitting in my friend’s dorm room two years ago when it was first rumored that Prince Harry was dating Meghan Markle.
Not only was she an American actress and divorcée, but she was a biracial woman who identified as black. For two black girls in a college dorm in our pajamas, we instantly had hope for the couple. “What if they got married?” was one of our first thoughts regarding the relationship, and here we are—two years later on the day of their royal wedding.
This Saturday, millions of people around the world witnessed the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Held in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, about 20 miles outside of London, the British prince and the American former actress recited their vows in front of 600 guests including, HRH Queen Elizabeth II, Oprah Winfrey, Serena Williams, and Victoria and David Beckham.
The dress:
The bride wore a custom wedding dress by Givenchy artistic director Clare Waight Keller. The British designer is the first female artistic director of the French fashion house after being the creative head of both Pringle of Scotland and Chloé, according to British Vogue. The dress was constructed of silk cady with a bateau, almost off-the-shoulder neckline that led to a bodice that flowed down Markle’s figure and ended in a “skirt train of silk organza,” said in a statement from Kensington Palace. Markle accessorized the dress with silk duchesse satin couture shoes and a lace veil with flora representing the British Commonwealth. And, of course, the look was not complete without jewelry. Markle wore a tiara, of course–Queen Mary’s from 1932 along with a diamond bracelet and earrings.
Why am I writing this?
Yes, all royal weddings are momentous, possibly once-in-a-lifetime occasions to witness, but this was THE royal wedding. It was so worth it to wake up at 6:30 a.m. and watch the BBC America live stream. Why? Because Meghan Markle is a black woman and she’s marrying into a family that made its legacy off of racism and oppression around the world. And she’s doing so not to prove a point, but to marry a man she loves. She has the autonomy, the choice that she has so avidly advocated for in her push for global women’s rights using her fame platform.
Markle feels like family. She is part of the black sisterhood, and I can’t help but be proud of her and support her. She’s had a successful acting career and is known for a broad worldview and activism. Plus, she brought a black gospel choir and a black preacher to Windsor Castle! In England!
While this marriage is political because of the people involved and the history that led them to be together, their relationship is not. It’s simply a relationship like so many others. Like Bishop Michael Curry said in his sermon at the wedding, “Two young people fell in love, and we all showed up.”
Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex!
Photo Credit: @kensingtonroyal
