Royal wedding gave us some love

The wedding of Harry and Meghan was watched by billions, and for good reason. The Prince and Duchess are genuinely in love – in stark contrast to the royal marriage of Harry’s parents 37 years ago, where it became quickly apparent that Diana’s love for Charles was a one-way street.

As the world watched the pomp and circumstance, we were reminded of the great English traditions that have survived over the centuries and the rich history of a people who changed the world in incalculable ways. Sure, England’s past isn’t perfect, and mistakes were made – as is the case with every nation’s past. But except for Ireland, the British left most places they occupied better off than when they found them.

It was awe-inspiring to see tens of thousands of Brits lining the streets, some of whom had camped out for days, proudly waving the Union Jack. That dedication wasn’t borne from simply wanting to see a part of history, but something much more profound. The British people – all of them, from white Anglo-Saxons to Indians to blacks – were unified in celebrating their British identity. Coming together to show the world that fairy-tale weddings really do exist, the Brits renewed their belief in themselves. They remembered their glorious past, and reignited optimism for their nation as it forges ahead in the face of unprecedented challenges. That’s called nationalism – not xenophobia – and it’s not a “dirty” word. In fact, just the opposite – nationalism is the single-most important element that builds cohesion in a multicultural society.

Maybe it took a royal wedding to jumpstart Great Britain, but the Brits are once again exuding the same pioneering spirit that once earned them the distinction of being the only people in history to say the sun never set on their Empire.

There are at least 34 monarchies in the world today, but the crown is the only one that commands our attention. It is proof that America’s “special relationship” with Britain extends far beyond political and military alliances. And it was fantastic to see so many American flags being waved by Britons to honor Duchess Markle’s country. Here’s hoping our relationship remains as strong as it is today.

Pity to those Americans who so cavalierly shrug off the royal weddings with a “why should I care?” attitude. Yes, we defeated them in war. Yes, we rejected a monarchy for ourselves. And yes, our system of representative government is arguably the best in history. But so what? This isn’t a contest about comparative governments or winloss war records (though we fought alongside the Brits much more than against them). All are completely irrelevant to the royal family and the pride that it inspires.

Who, child and adult alike, hasn’t dreamed of being king or queen? And what “regular” girl doesn’t fantasize about marrying a prince and riding off into the sunset, while her subjects shower her with unbridled love? It’s no coincidence that the most iconic feature of Disney is its towering fairy tale castle.

Meghan Markle is living the ultimate dream – not just England’s newest princess, but the world’s.

A biracial American divorcee marrying into the royal family speaks volumes by itself, and nothing else needs to be said. But some couldn’t leave that love story unblemished. Their vitriolic rhetoric detracted from the day, angering people who simply wanted to rejoice in something special without having it marred by politics.

And, no surprise here, the extremists also got their history wrong. While England did at one point permit slavery, it became, far and away, one of the foremost countries opposed to it. And as influential as King was in advocating civil rights, he could never have done it without the steadfast support of many other races – including whites, many of English ancestry.

Just as a newly married couple leaves past relationships at the altar, so too should the “critics” jettison their irrational obsession with past events. Their actions undermine the tremendous progress made on issues such as racial equality, and hinder people from looking to the future with unfettered optimism.

With Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan helping to forge a path of hope, the British lion is roaring once again. That’s a good thing for Europe, the world, and most of all, Britannia herself. Long live the queen!