View From The Back
We could be expecting way too much of one woman
Sure-footed and radiant, Meghan Markle entered St George’s Chapel and changed history with every step nearer her prince.
She looked flawless, Harry looked in love. Only bluebirds on her shoulder could have made this a more perfectly Disney wedding. And yet I worry we are loading too much emotional baggage on the elegant shoulders revealed by Meghan’s Givenchy dress.
As a young reporter, I was stationed on The Mall when 12-year-old Harry walked behind his mother Princess Diana’s coffin. His sadness was unforgettable.
The nation craves a happy ending for the prince who has born unspeakable tragedy and royal duty in equal measure.
Is it too much to hope one ordinary woman can guarantee a fairy-tale life for him?
Commentators talk of the new Duchess of Sussex symbolising multicultural Britain. They hope she will ease national divisions over Brexit, unite the Commonwealth and drag the monarchy into the 21st Century. No pressure, then!
Meghan is a controlled divorcee who packed her side of the quire with celebs rather than family. At 36 she will be expected to have children quickly.
They are both children of divorce. They will argue like any couple but unlike others their tough times will be played out in front of the world.
Insiders say Harry’s worry about Meghan has been she’d cut and run under the global spotlight like his first love Chelsy Davy.
Meghan is smarter, and, frankly, more publicity hungry than any of his exes.
She is certainly no Sarah Ferguson, the previous bride of the second prince (Andrew). Fergie appeared at this Royal wedding like the Ghost of Christmas Past, a reminder of how quickly the Windsors dump anyone who embarrasses them.
For Harry’s sake, let’s pray his thoroughly modern bride doesn’t put an ivory silk-clad foot wrong.