Palace traditions will come with a twist Don’t count out the fruitcake
British-American blend could be the bee’s knees
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry aren’t the most traditional royal couple.
She’s a divorced, biracial American actress. He’s a ginger-haired British prince.
But as Markle has helped plan her wedding, she has embraced the British royal culture while maintaining her sense of self, experts say.
“I think (the palace has) been careful that Meghan feels that her American heritage has not been swept under the carpet,” royal commentator Victoria Arbiter says.
What can guests and onlookers look forward to at the royal wedding on Saturday? Experts say the the couple probably will simultaneously embrace and subvert traditions.
Two countries, two cultures
The royal wedding will not only unite two people but also two cultures, as evidenced by the invites.
“They printed the invitations on English cardstock, but they used American ink,” Arbiter says. “To Meghan that would have been significant that including her country, her heritage is a nod to where she’s from.”
While most American grooms wear tuxedos, Prince Harry likely will stick to tradition, as his brother, Prince William, did, and wear his military regalia from his time in the British Army Air Corps.
The male wedding guests might also look different to American viewers: Most men probably will wear morning suits with tail coats. Female guests will don bright colors and their most extravagant hats for the occasion.
Among U.S. traditions the couple may consider: personalized vows and cutting the cake together. WeddingWire trend and royal expert Anne Chertoff says sharing the dessert is “a traditional American moment that Meghan may want to share with her groom, as it’s both meaningful and makes for a great photo.”
Though fruitcake is the standard at royal weddings, Harry and Meghan will have a lemon elderflower cake. The choice melds the couple’s backgrounds. Pastry chef Claire Ptak hails from Markle’s home state, California, but runs her bakery in London.
There’s still a chance fruitcake will make an appearance. “I expect that there will still be a traditional fruitcake,” royal fashion and etiquette expert Jo Gemmill says. “Like it or not, the Brits like their fruitcake.”
Prince William and Duchess Kate presented fruitcake in commemorative tins as thank-you gifts. So it’s possible guests could dine on sponge cake at the reception and walk away from the festivities with a tin of fruitcake.
Diana will be there in spirit
Having parents at the wedding is customary in American and English wedding traditions, and Prince Harry and Markle’s parents will be represented.
Markle’s father, Thomas Markle, reportedly had a heart attack last week. It’s unclear whether he will still walk his daughter down the aisle as planned. Markle’s mother is set to accompany her to the church.
Although Princess Diana died in 1997, her presence will be strong: The palace announced that Prince Harry’s mother’s two sisters and brother are invited, and her sister Lady Jane Fellowes will give a reading. The couple continued Diana’s philanthropic legacy by asking for donations to a list of charities in lieu of gifts.
The bridal fashion will mix traditional and personal
What dress will Markle wear? That’s the million-dollar question, but the answer probably won’t come until she arrives at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Although the designer and the style are not yet known, the dress “will be very traditional with modernized elements,” says Esther Lee, senior news editor for wedding website The Knot.
Gemmill says: “Typically royal brides always wear lace. I think within her dress there will be quite a lot of symbolism, and it wouldn’t be blatant because it will be perhaps all in the lace.”
In the past, Gemmill says, the British Isles, the English rose, the Scottish thistle and the Irish shamrock have been depicted in lace detailing on royal gowns. Gemmill says Markle’s dress probably will include “some symbolism to her roots and her heritage.”
Though it’s not the norm for royal weddings, Markle is expected to change gowns for the second reception.
Because the ceremony is not a state affair, “they can make their wedding more private and personal,” Chertoff says. “We saw that in the choice of venues for the ceremony and reception, in the choice of cake and in the choice of music at the ceremony.”
The couple probably won’t jump the broom, but there will be a gospel choir
Though royal wedding traditions probably won’t leave much room for African-American traditions like jumping the broom, gospel group The Kingdom Choir will perform.
“They’ve included a Christian gospel group, which I don’t remember ever being at a royal wedding,” Arbiter says.
Chertoff suggests Meghan could select a reading or music by an AfricanAmerican author, poet or composer “as a nod to her heritage.”
One African-American tradition that would make for a special moment would be tying the knot, during which “the bride and groom have their wrists tied together with cloth or braided grass to represent their marriage,” according to The Knot.
But Lee predicts these traditions “will not be a part of the wedding ceremony, especially since the itinerary is strictly dictated by the palace and the timeline has already been secured.”
“Kensington Palace was keen to point out that it’s going to be a traditional royal wedding,” Arbiter says. “But it’s going to be one that very much reflects the personalities of these two people.”