No longer is she simply Meghan Markle, an actress and activist. Now, she will be known as the Duchess of Sussex.
Last Saturday, Markle married a prince–Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, grandson of Queen Elizabeth and brother of Prince William.
In front of a crowd of about 600 people in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle–and tens of thousands more who stood outside in the streets of London and millions around the world who watched on TV–England’s Prince Harry married US-born Meghan Markle.
Celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, singer Elton John, tennis star Serena Williams and soccer star David Beckham were among the guests in the chapel. Ben Mulroney, the son of former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, was also in attendance. In fact, Ben and Jessica Mulroney’s three children, Ivy (4) and twins Brian and John (7) were in the wedding party, a bridesmaid and page boys. Jessica Mulroney and Meghan Markle are long-time friends. Harry’s niece and nephew, Princess Charlotte and Prince George, were also in the wedding party.
Markle wore a sparkly tiara, with diamonds set in platinum, loaned to her by the Queen of England.
She wore a white wedding gown with a long, five-metre train, designed by Givenchy. According to BBC News, “dressmakers spend hundreds of hours–including regularly washing their hands every 30 minutes–to make the veil.” The veil was embroidered with the flowers of every country in Britain’s commonwealth, including Canada.
One of the highlights of the ceremony was an address by American Bishop Michael Curry, who spoke about the power of love. He said, “When love is the way, we actually treat each other, well, like we’re actually family.” Toward the end of his speech, Curry said he had to stop speaking because, “we gotta get you all married!”
Related Links
This official list of bridesmaids and page boys gives you a good sense of the pomp and ceremony of the royal wedding. https://www.royal.uk/bridesmaids-and-page-boys-wedding-prince-harry-and-ms-meghan-markle
Want more details about the wedding dress? Britain’s BBC News has them here: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-44055385
There is an excellent timeline of the wedding, with many photos, on the Telegraph website: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/05/19/royal-wedding-2018-live-meghan-markle-prince-harry-marry-windsor/
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS
By Kathleen Tilly
Writing/Discussion Prompt
During the ceremony, American Bishop Michael Curry, said, “When love is the way, we actually treat each other, well, like we’re actually family.” What does this quotation mean to you?
Reading Prompt: Demonstrating Understanding
All around the world, millions of people watched television or online to see Meghan Markle and Prince Harry get married. Why do you think people around the world are so interested in their story, what she wore, what their wedding was like etc?
Junior
Extend understanding of texts by connecting the ideas in them to their own knowledge, experience, and insights, to other familiar texts, and to the world around them (OME, Reading: 1.6).
Intermediate
Extend understanding of texts, including increasingly complex or difficult texts, by connecting the ideas in them to their own knowledge, experience, and insights, to other familiar texts, and to the world around them (OME, Reading: 1.6).
Language Feature: Title
This article has a very simple title which clearly identifies what the article is about. What other titles can you think of which could give readers an idea of what the article is about? Can you think of some alternative, fun titles for the article?
