Hello, and Happy Mother’s Day to those celebrating the occasion.
The countdown continues for Meghan and Harry’s wedding, with loads of newsbytes and bitz to share. We’ll still be doing The Latest Buzz, keeping it updated constantly throughout the day, but there is now so much news being generated about the wedding we want to provide more than headline service on some topics.
A good example of a story meriting more than a headline: yesterday’s news that the Instrument of Consent had been signed by The Queen.
From CNN: “Known as the “Instrument of Consent,” the document in which the Queen officially recognizes the marriage is “hand-written and illuminated on vellum by one of a panel of scrivener artists retained by the Crown Office,” according to a statement from Buckingham Palace.”
More from CNN:
“The document reads: “NOW KNOW YE that We have consented and do by these Presents signify Our Consent to the contracting of Matrimony between Our Most Dearly Beloved Grandson Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales, K.C.V.O., and Rachel Meghan Markle.”
The letters KCVO refer to the knighthood given to Harry by the Queen and stand for Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.
A closer look at specific design elements included in the Instrument:
- On the left you see a red dragon, the heraldic symbol of Wales; the UK’s floral emblems, the rose, thistle and shamrock; and Prince Harry’s Label with three tiny red escallops from the Spencer family Arms.
- On the the right you see a rose, the national flower of the United States; on either side of the rose are two golden poppies, the state flower of California, where Ms. Markle was born. Between the flowers is the Welsh leek, together with Prince Harry’s Label; beneath the Label are olive branches, adopted from the Great Seal of the United States.
Her Majesty’s signature is seen at the top right.
The document is signed with the Great Seal of the Realm.
The document will be presented to Harry and Meghan after the wedding.
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Kensington Palace released news yesterday that the sermon for next Saturday’s service will be delivered by the Most Reverend Michael Bruce Curry of Chicago.
More from NBC News:
Curry is the first African-American to have served as presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, an offshoot of the Church of England in the United States. It is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. He was elected and confirmed on June 27, 2015.
The Dean of Windsor, The Rt. Revd. David Conner, who will conduct the Service. The Most Revd. and Rt. Hon. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, will officiate as the couple make their marriage vows.
More from the NBC story:
Welby, who baptized Markle ahead of her marriage to Harry, said on Twitter that he was thrilled that the royal couple asked Curry to preach at the wedding, calling the bishop “a brilliant pastor, stunning preacher and someone with a great gift for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.”
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News of another ‘first’ associated with the wedding: it will be the first time a female State Trumpeter will play the fanfare at a British royal wedding. More from this Telegraph story by Hannah Furness.
As befits a bride so dedicated to the cause of gender equality, those trumpets will be loud enough not only to impress the millions watching around the world, but to shatter a glass ceiling along the way.
Lance Corporal Kate Sandford is to become the first woman from the band of the Household Cavalry to play the fanfare at a British Royal wedding, it is believed, as she joins an elite group of six on May 19th.
Here you see several trumpeters at a media day last week featuring military personnel taking part in the wedding. (Ms. Sandford is not in this photo.)
It turns out next Saturday will also be the first time a married couple play at a royal wedding, according to the story.
Below, video of State Trumpeters performing last week at a media day with the Household Cavalry.
A blow by blow media brief on the #Royalwedding from The @BandHCav State Trumpeters @HCav1660 pic.twitter.com/qJ6dcoEGs1
— The Army in London (@ArmyInLondon) May 9, 2018
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Also today, a link to a feature on Royal Wedding Traditions we thought you might enjoy.
The Royal Family (Click photo to visit site)
The piece covers traditions many readers may be familiar with, like Welsh gold for wedding rings, the use of a sprig of myrtle, and the practice of the bride’s bouquet being left at the tomb of the unknown solider.
The Royal Family (Click photo to visit site)
It will be interesting to see if Meghan and Harry incorporate some/many of these into their wedding.
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The Royal Wedding Visitor Guide from the Royal Borough Of Windsor/Maidenhead has been released.
It’s a 17-page PDF filled with info and tips for those planning to be in Windsor for the big day, or those just interested in reading about the event.
A quick WMW tip sheet if you are looking for easy reads and info on the big day:
- the schedule is here with event times for the day’s activities
- our guide to how you can watch the wedding online or on TV is here
A reminder that Harry and Meghan: A Royal Romance airs tonight on Lifetime TV at 8PM.
Sadly, the media explosion of the past few days has really dented this occasion for me. Kudos to WMW for focusing on some of the fun elements, but I think I’m going to opt out of media stuff until after all of this blows over. I feel for her with all of the salacious stuff sucking the oxygen out of what should be a happy time for her and Harry. NO ONE deserves that level of negativity.
Thanks for all the updates – I’m fascinated by all the symbolism used on the Queens statement. And it’s fun to learn of a woman trumpeter – go girl! I’m also impressed by Justin Wendy’s endorsement of Reverend Curry, clearly one to watch. It’s going to be a fun week!
Urrggh – Welby came out Wendy on phone 🙁
So, perhaps the engagement of the Most Reverend Curry was another reason for her trip to Chicago for her visa. Maybe not such a random choice of city after all!
Thanks for the great updates WMW! I love the Instrument of Consent, the colors, the gold leaf, the symbolism of the flowers and of course the Great Seal!! I’m just a sucker for all this tradition, pomp and circumstance!!
I have to admit that right now I’m watching Meghan Markle, the American Princess! lol! And for the first time ever I’m going to watch a Lifetime movie, can you guess which one?! I even bought myself a tiara to wear Saturday while I’m sipping champagne (okay, really it’ll be coffee) and watching Harry and Meghan become husband and wife! Argh, I’m so excitied!!!