‘This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine’
Soul music of Etta James and gospel to the fore as the Royal family hosts a wedding like no other
WHEN Meghan Markle enters St George’s Chapel to begin the last steps of her journey to join the Royal family, the state trumpeters will sound a fanfare that has accompanied its brides for generations.
Before long, as she says her vows to Prince Harry, that tradition will give way to striking modernity, with the soaring voices of a gospel choir singing music from Ben E King and Etta James, and the sound of a civil rights anthem.
Today’s wedding ceremony, with each detail chosen by the couple, will blend best-loved elements of British pageantry with a modern outlook so reflective of the Prince and Ms Markle, whose service is designed to capture the best of their combined heritage.
From the music of Sir Charles Hubert Parry and a Bible reading to a procession of the newlyweds accompanied by This Little Light of Mine, their choices go to the heart of their relationship: English customs blended with an American influence, offset by an overriding message of joy.
The Most Rev Bishop Michael Curry, the 27th presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church who will give an address at the wedding, has travelled from Chicago. He is expected to deliver an address reflecting his and the couple’s shared beliefs about equality, and said the marriage is significant in the sense that “different worlds are being brought together”.
The Prince and Ms Markle last night waved goodbye to their single lives, with the bride proclaiming she felt “wonderful” as she went to bed for the final time before joining the Royal family. The Prince, flanked by his best man, the Duke of Cambridge, on an impromptu walkabout, said he was feeling “great” about impending married life as he entertained well-wishers who had flocked to Windsor to see him.
This morning, the couple woke in separate hotels. Ms Markle’s journey, which has been complicated this week by her paternal family, will see her walk into the nave of St George’s Chapel alone, surrounded by small bridesmaids and page boys but with no adult by her side. Then, halfway through the long walk towards the altar, she will be met by the Prince of Wales, who will take her arm to accompany her the rest of the way. In a major break from tradition, she will not, therefore, be given away.
Ms Markle asked the Prince to be her companion for the walk after her own father, Thomas Markle, told her he could no longer attend after taking medical advice.
Mr Markle last night said he had given his blessing to his daughter’s decision to ask the Prince of Wales to accompany her, saying he was “honoured and grateful” the Prince had stepped up to the role. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby,
asked well-wishers to pray for Mr Markle. Archbishop Welby said of Prince Harry and Ms Markle: “They’re a very, very sensible, very self-possessed couple. And at the rehearsal they just got on with it and it was very relaxed, laughing and enjoyable.”
Her decision to walk alone for part of her entrance no doubt underlines her long-established credentials as an independent woman.
So late was Mr Markle’s decision that guests in the chapel will be given an order of service that notes him as present, along with Ms Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, and senior members of the Royal family including the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh.
While the Church of England ceremony will be traditional, with the Archbishop of Canterbury officiating, Ms Markle, like the Duchess of Cambridge before her, will not promise to obey her husband and will use the modern language of “you” rather than “thee” or “thou”.
The congregation will hear the English Baroque composer William Boyce’s Symphony no 1 in B flat, works from Bach, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Elgar, Holst and Parry.
Lady Jane Fellowes, Prince Harry’s
aunt and sister of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, will read the Song of Solomon, omitting some of the more sensual elements of the Bible text. Most of the ceremony will refer to the Prince and Ms Markle simply as “Harry and Meghan”, eschewing the full repetition of their names: Prince Henry Charles Albert David and Rachel Meghan Markle. The decision will ensure neither endures the test faced by the Prince’s parents, where the then Lady Diana Spencer muddled her words to get Prince Charles’s middle names the wrong way around.
The choice of hymns will also honour the late Princess, with Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer remembered for being played at her funeral.
As the service continues, a gospel choir will perform Ben E King’s Stand
By Me, followed by Etta James’ uplifting version of Amen/this Little Light of Mine, a childhood favourite of Ms Markle. This Little Light of Mine, written in the Twenties by Harry Dixon Loes, carries the message of vowing to burn brightly or, rather, be the best person you can be.
“Like any couple getting married, Prince Harry and Ms Markle have taken a great deal of care in selecting all elements for their service,” a spokesman for Kensington Palace said. “This has been a collaborative effort led by Prince Harry and Ms Markle. They have also sought the advice of the Prince of Wales for the orchestral music before the service begins.”
The wedding day marks the end of a tumultuous week for the Prince and Ms Markle, in which the health of the bride’s father, as well as his decision to stage a series of paparazzi photographs, threatened to overshadow proceedings. By yesterday though, the couple appeared on happy form, photographed being driven to Windsor Castle together to have tea with the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh.
After a final run-through of the day, allowing the Prince of Wales to rehearse his unexpected role in the aisle, the couple went their separate ways for their last night of unmarried life.
As thousands of well-wishers packed the streets of Windsor to wave flags, show off banners and shout their congratulations,
‘They’re a very sensible, very self-possessed couple. At the rehearsal they got on with it and were very relaxed’
the Prince and his brother took 10 minutes out of their schedule to share their excitement with the world.
Bounding out of the castle, Prince Harry made a beeline for young children, keen travellers and an old army friend. Politely ignoring questions about whether he was suffering any nerves ahead of the big day, Prince Harry told crowds he felt “great”. “They were more interested in us and other people waiting here,” said one onlooker. “Prince Harry said he hoped we hadn’t been waiting too long.”
The Prince managed to spot a familiar face in the sea of people, racing over to greet his friend Dean Stott, who has just broken the world record for cycling the Pan American Highway while raising money for Heads Together.
The Prince and Duke spent the night at Coworth Park, a hotel where both have played polo before. Ms Markle, meanwhile, stayed at Cliveden House Hotel with her mother. The pair, who will travel to the chapel together by car today, smiled broadly as they arrived at the five-star hotel, both appearing calm and delighted to be there fresh from their meeting with the Queen.
Looking glamorous in navy blue, Ms Markle offered a friendly wave to the small group of media there to record her arrival. Asked how she was feeling, she said: “Wonderful, thank you.” Beneath her confident exterior, Ms Markle, like Prince Harry, is said to be suffering the “normal nerves” of any couple getting married.
A source said: “They are both ready. The last couple of days all their friends have been arriving. I think everything has started to feel very real after a long time planning.”