The unlikely star of Harry and Meghan’s wedding
THE guestlist was jam-packed with A-listers from around the globe, but there was one royal wedding attendee that outshone the others, and for all the right reasons, writes Katy Hall.
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AWAY from the countless A-list celebrities and a gown that has since divided opinions around the world, a striking image emerged from Meghan Markle’s weekend wedding to Prince Harry.
To the left of her daughter and sitting on her own was the bride’s mother, Doria Ragland.
It was a jarring visual, to see a person’s family reduced to just one member on one of the most important days of their life, particularly when compared to the expansive royal family spread out across the other side of the aisle.
And though they had all assembled to celebrate the love of the two people between them, the families and their origins could not be more different.
Like many, I watched the wedding live on television and felt pangs of sadness and pride for Ragland — flitting between thoughts of how difficult it must be to not have anyone with you at such a momentous occasion, and cheering the modernity of seeing the dysfunction of a family — and a reality for many brides — televised in such a way.
But when it came time for Ragland to enter the side transept and witness the signing of the marriage register, a star emerged. And it wasn’t one of the Hollywood elite who were in attendance.
Rather, it was the groom’s father, Prince Charles, who, seeing his daughter-in-law’s mother by herself, offered up a warm smile, reached out, and took her by the hand.
With one small act, Ragland was no longer alone.
Later on, when the newlyweds had made their way out of St George’s Chapel and into the midday sun, Prince Charles extended the olive branch yet again, offering Ragland his arm as they prepared to wave their children off.
He is said to have been “delighted” that Markle called on him in her time of need and asked him to accompany her down the aisle, and reportedly told wedding guests in his speech that in the former actor he has come to have another daughter — something he has always longed for.
For decades now, Prince Charles has been a divisive, if not outright hated figure.
There was his long-running affair with Camilla. The tell-all interviews from both he and the late Princess Diana. The leaked interviews in which he was heard talking about being his mistress’s tampon. His decision to allow Harry and William to walk behind their mother’s coffin on the day of her funeral. The sheer pompousness of his accent.
But somewhat ironically, all of those highly publicised bumps in the road have allowed him to be who he was over the weekend — a deeply understanding person who knows the complexity of families better than anyone, understands the daunting pomp surrounding his own clan and their traditions, and a father who wants nothing more than to see his son and daughter-in-law happy.
In offering his support to the bride’s mother during her time in the spotlight, Prince Charles not only endeared himself to this new branch of his family, but also people watching on around the world.
He proved himself to be a deeply modern monarchist, which really, should give us all hope.
Katy Hall is a writer and producer for RendezView. Follow her on Twitter @katyhallway.