Introducing the newest royal couple, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are married!
On Saturday, May 19th the beaming couple finally said “I do” in front of 600 friends and family packed into the pews of St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle and billions tuning in from around the world.
The couple have just been married by the Archbishop of Canterbury The Most Revd. and Rt Hon. Justin Welby, who has previously spoken of the pair’s “profound sense of commitment” to each other.
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As an outspoken feminist, Meghan Markle was never going to pledge to “obey” Prince Harry in her vows.
While there’s no denying just how many sacrifices Meghan’s made to marry Prince Harry, including converting to the Church of England, the fierce fighter for gender equality has spoken passionately in the past about the issue.
“What’s interesting is, I hear a lot of people – when speaking about girls and women empowerment – you’ll often hear people say, ‘well, you’re helping women finding their voices and I fundamentally disagree with that,'” Meghan explained at the Royal Forum in February.
“Women don’t need to find a voice, they have a voice, and they need to feel empowered to use it, and people need to be encouraged to listen.”
Meghan Markle has ditched the outdated “obey” line in her wedding vows.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s full wedding vows
THE VOWS
HARRY and MEGHAN, I now invite you to join hands and make your vows, in the presence of God and his people.
The Bride and Bridegroom face each other and join hands.
The Bridegroom says:
I HARRY, take you, MEGHAN, to be my wife, to have and to hold from, this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part; according to God’s holy law. In the presence of God I make this vow.
The Bride says:
I MEGHAN, take you, HARRY, to be my husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part; according to God’s holy law. In the presence of God I make this vow.
THE GIVING OF THE RINGS
HEAVENLY Father, by your blessing let these rings be to HARRY and MEGHAN a symbol of unending love and faithfulness, to remind them of the vow and covenant which they have made this day, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Bridegroom places the ring on the fourth finger of the Bride’s left hand and, holding it there, says:
MEGHAN, I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage. With my body I honour you, all that I am I give to you, and all that I have I share with you, within the love of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
They loose hands and the Bride places a ring on the fourth finger of the Bridegroom’s left hand and, holding it there, says:
HARRY, I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage. With my body I honour you, all that I am I give to you, and all that I have I share with you, within the love of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Prince Harry and Prince William greet the crowds on the eve of the Royal Wedding.
Following in the footsteps of her royal pre-predecessors, the outdated “obey” line was nowhere to be seen during their Anglican wedding vows.
Instead, the couple will sweetly declare to be together “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part.”
Princess Diana was the first bride to throw out the line.
She may have only been 20 years old when she married Prince Charles, who was 13 years her senior, but the doe-eyed bride made one genius edit to the stale marriage vows she was expected to recite.
WATCH: A nervous Diana exchanges wedding vows with Charles. Post continues after the video…
Breaking with protocol, the blushing bride removed the order to “obey” her husband and instead promised to ”love him, comfort him, honour and keep him, in sickness and in health.” Amen to that, Lady Di!
The move was considered rather scandalous (remember, it was 1981) with headlines at the time shouting: “Lady Diana won’t vow to obey Charles!”
In 2011, Kate Middleton followed her lead and included the same line in her vows to Prince William.
37 years later and it’s clear Princess Diana has paved the way for both of her daughters-in-law!
Following in Duchess Catherine and Princess Diana’s footsteps, Meghan Markle won’t be answering to anyone – especially not her husband.
In another break with tradition, Meghan Markle will reportedly walk herself down the aisle for the first half of the procession.
According to CNN, the actor has devised an unprecedented plan where she’ll be joined by only her pageboys and flower girls at the West door of the church, before meeting Prince Charles at the Quire.
Her father-in-law-to-be will escort her to the foot of the altar and instead of “giving her away”, he’ll stand back as Meghan steps forward to Prince Harry.
The publication reports Meghan came up with the plan and both Harry and Charles are “delighted” with it.
If it indeed comes to fruition, she’ll be the first-ever royal bride to walk down the aisle unescorted for a proportion of time.
After Meghan’s father sadly pulled out of the Royal Wedding due to health reasons and a paparazzi scandal, the palace confirmed last night Prince Charles would be stepping in on Thomas Markle’s behalf.
In a heartbreaking error, the order of service still bears Thomas’ name in one section, which reads: “The bride moves in procession through the Nave where she is joined by her father, Mr Thomas Markle.”
A clear sign the programs had been sent to print before the scandal.
Can’t get enough of the Royal Wedding? Check out our full coverage here:
Prince Charles walks Meghan Markle down the aisle at the Royal Wedding
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding vows are full of romance
The bridesmaids and pageboys of the 2018 royal wedding are royally adorable!
This is what Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s royal title will be after the wedding
Pippa Middleton shows off tiny baby bump as she arrives at royal wedding
Victoria and David Beckham look so posh at the Royal Wedding
Be sure to get the special edition of Woman’s Day on sale Monday- relive the magical day with 16 pages of the most precious moments from Harry and Meghan’s wedding. Plus look out for our dedicated souvenir issue on sale nationally on Thursday with the complete picture album!
