A Royal Engagement …

VOCABULARY

It was like something straight from a Rosamunde Pilcher film: A Prince from England, who was the black sheep of the family and the most eligible bachelor in England, falls in love with a beautiful African-American actress. She is three years his senior and obviously can’t wait to start a new life with her prince in London. Prince Harry met Meghan Markle on a blind date and, in his own words: "It was love at first sight".

Some people may say "So what?" But for me, amidst terrible stories of nuclear threats from North Korea, genocide in Myanmar and possible terrorist attacks, it was like a breath of fresh air when the couple announced their engagement last week. Prince Harry, who usually tries to avoid the press as much as possible and still blames them for his mother’s death, twenty years ago, seemed to be overjoyed when introducing his fiancée to the world. The town crier of London has already announced that the wedding will take place in May, so as not to coincide with the birth of Prince William’s third child in March. They will tie the knot in St. George’s Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Park. While plans are being made for the wedding, Ms Markle has to fly back to America to obtain the correct visa to stay in the UK and, due to the complications of Brexit, is probably one of the only people who is interested in applying for British citizenship at the moment.

So what do we know about Prince Harry’s bride-to-be? Well, unless you have been watching the American Netflix series "Suits", where Meghan plays the role of Rachel Zane, a New York legal assistant in a successful law firm, you have probably never heard of her before. There are a number of 'firsts' about her. She will be the first royal of mixed heritage who could give birth to a child so high up in the line of succession. Her father’s family descends from Irish and Dutch immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania, whereas, her mother’s side descends from slaves transported from Africa to work on Georgia’s cotton plantations. Imagine how interestingly diverse their royal offspring will be! This blood, mixed together with British and, of course, German blood is going to bring great diversity into the House of Windsor. Their children could be black with ginger hair, which would be another first.

Meghan Markle is also a divorcee, something that was really frowned upon by the government when King Edward VIII wanted to marry the American socialite Wallis Simpson – who was twice divorced. However, she has met the Queen who has given her approval. Even the corgis love her, which is a mystery to Prince Harry as they only growl whenever they see him. Admittedly, Prince Harry is only fifth in line to the throne and not King of England, but one can’t help wonder what King Edward’s life would have been like, if he had been allowed to marry the woman he adored. What if the Queen’s sister, Princess Margaret, had been allowed to marry the love of her life, Captain Peter Townsend, who was also divorced? Queen Elizabeth II forbade this marriage and the love affair was doomed.

Since the death of Prince Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, twenty years ago, the monarchy has changed and I personally don’t think that Prince Harry would let the royal family choose the woman he should marry. He is very strong-willed and has a mind of his own. There has been a question hanging over the royal family for ages: what on earth is going to happen to Harry? Even though he is one of the most popular members of the House of Windsor, he has shown the royals up on many occasions. Now he has found happiness and Harry can bask in the limelight – with his beautiful princess. to propose – einen Heiratsantrag machen straight from – direkt von eligible bachelor – begehrter Junggeselle so what? – na und? amidst – inmitten threat – Drohung engagement – Verlobung to avoid – meiden to blame sbd. – jmd. verantwortlich machen overjoyed – hocherfreut town crier – Stadtausrufer to coincide – zeitlich zusammenfallen to tie the knot – heiraten to obtain – erwerben due to – wegen bride-to be – künftige Braut successful – erfolgreich law firm – Anwaltskanzlei mixed heritage – gemischte Abstammung line of succession – Erbfolge to descend – abstammen to settle – sich niederlassen slaves – Sklaven diverse – unterschiedlich royal offspring – königlicher Nachwuchs ginger hair – rotes Haar divorcee – Geschiedene to frown upon sth. – etw. missbilligen approval – Zustimmung to growl – knurren fifth in line – an fünfter Stelle to adore – anbeten sbd. forbade – jmd. verbot doomed – dem Untergang geweiht strong-willed – willensstark to show sbd. up – jmd. blamieren to bask in the limelight – sich im Glanz des Ruhmes sonnen