Royal wedding: Spare a thought for Princess Eugenie
Princess Eugenie will marry Jack Brooksbank in October. But let’s be honest, how do you follow the nuptials of Harry and Meghan?
As Britain dries its eyes — and let’s be honest, who didn’t have a little weep? — the camera crews pack up their kit and the Windsor clean-up teams move in, spare a thought today for Princess Eugenie.
Because, really, how do you follow that?
The most beautiful bride. The most stunning dress. A love that burnt so fiercely it needed a health and safety warning. And above all, a royal wedding unlike any that had gone before.
Perhaps in the end it didn’t change the world. But it certainly blew the cobwebs off a thousand years of history, and showed that, at the heart of the establishment, at the very core of our ancient traditions and most hallowed beliefs, there has at last been an acknowledgment that Britain is a changed country and that diversity and inclusion have moved in and are here to stay. A month after the Windrush business brought shame on this nation, there can be no more important message.
Looking forward to October, Princess Eugenie will marry Jack Brooksbank at St George’s Chapel. No doubt it will be lovely. No doubt they will make a charming couple. But it will be just another royal wedding.
Harry and Meghan’s was not just another royal wedding. From the moment she stepped from the car, all that white bursting out of the Rolls-Royce Phantom and dazzling in the bright sunshine, you knew this would be something special.
Then, as she paused outside the chapel, her train cascading down the steps behind her, the contrast of white on stone echoing the flowers that trailed down either side of her, it created a picture that looked as if it had been styled for a magazine shoot, which, in a sense, it probably had.
Inside, she walked down the aisle alone. The Prince of Wales was there at the organ screen, waiting for her, but this was Meghan’s moment and she didn’t need anyone else. Proud, independent: this is a woman who knows how to stand up for herself.
Should anyone have any doubts about that one, they should look at the royal family’s website. No sooner was the wedding over than the newly minted Duchess of Sussex had her own page up, listing her life, her career and her interests. In big letters, separated from the rest of the text, it picked out a quote from her (and let’s be clear here: this was her doing): “I am proud to be a woman and a feminist.”
On the Queen’s website. Go, girl!
It was a white wedding, and more importantly, it was a black wedding. From the gospel choir that sang Ben E King’s Stand By Me to the bishop who gave the address, by way of the chaplain who helped to lead the prayers, it all conveyed the message that Meghan’s racial heritage was not just being accepted by the royal family, like someone anxious to show off their liberal credentials, it was being embraced, celebrated, rejoiced in.
Nothing, but nothing, was more full of rejoicing than the sermon by Michael Curry, the first African-American bishop to lead the Episcopal Church in the United States. Although possibly not everyone agreed. He spoke with fire, he spoke with passion and he kept on speaking long beyond the point when people thought he might stop.
To anyone brought up in the Church of England, where anything over eight minutes long sets the congregation wondering whether their lunch is going to be ruined, his 14 minutes might have seemed an eternity. All that burning rhetoric: really, we’re not used to it. Give us something nice and tepid that we can forget by the time we get out of the church.
Some of the congregation certainly seemed to think so. Here’s a tip for the royal family: you’ve got to work on your smirking. It really won’t do. Prince William, Princess Beatrice, you know who you are. Prince Charles appeared as if he was going to explode with laughter. Zara Tindall gave a good impression of a stunned mullet.
Sir Elton John looked grumpy, but he so often does. Perhaps he was vying with Victoria Beckham for the title of most miserable-looking member of the congregation.
On Twitter, Michael W Twitty, an African-American and Jewish author, wrote: “Y’all done let a black preacher up in an English wedding . . . just bought yourselves 5 more hours. Hope somebody brought potato salad.”
We will all remember it, though.
His words — “Two young people fell in love, and we all showed up” — made the front page of just about every newspaper. His confession that perhaps he had gone on for long enough — “With this I will sit down, we gotta get y’all married” — brought the house down.
Above all, it was full of love, just as Harry and Meghan were full of love. Before she arrived at the altar, Harry looked a bundle of nerves, poor boy: then, when she appeared at his side — “You look amazing,” he told her — he just shone with love.
She gazed back at him in utter, rapt adoration. All around the country, hardened republicans felt their hearts soften, just a bit: in the press room, someone cried. That person is now obliged to buy a round of drinks for their colleagues.
Who were the stars of the show? Apart from the obvious? Doria Ragland, the bride’s mother, of course: so dignified, so emotional, so proud. The bridesmaids and the pageboys played a blinder — adorably cute, and no tantrums or calamities (other than the odd tear). The gap-toothed Mulroney boy who gave a gasp of astonishment when the trumpeters sounded their fanfare will probably have his own TV show before long.
The real stars, there to bring some extra Hollywood glamour to the occasion, not that it needed it, did their thing: George Clooney was as suave and laid back as ever, working the crowd like a pro, although he was probably outdone in the effortlessly-cool stakes by Idris Elba.
There should probably be a special mention for David Beckham, who while others were either laughing or sitting stony-faced during the sermon, just smiled happily as if to say, “Yeah, I’m good with this.”
Kudos, too, to the crowd outside in the castle precincts who listened to the service on the public address system. They gave a great cheer, which could be heard inside the chapel, when the couple made their vows: then, when the Archbishop of Canterbury asked the congregation if they would support and uphold Harry and Meghan in their marriage, they joined in with a rousing: “We will!”
No one — well, hardly anyone — called it a fairytale wedding. But a lot of people thought it might change the world, or change the monarchy, or change something.
We all await Harry and Meghan, Chapter Two, with bated breath.
KEY EVENTS
1. Meghan walking down the aisle
As she walked along the nave, her ethereal train held by two page boys, a shaft of sunlight pierced her veil, creating an unforgettable image. It was a powerful feminist statement too: no one was giving this bride away.
2. At the altar
I simply could not get enough of Harry and Meghan at the altar. His nervousness, then the look of love they gave each other when she arrived, was so touching. They held hands throughout. She gives good close-up, too, of course.
3. Car moment
Harry drove Meghan from Windsor Castle to Frogmore House in a silver blue Jaguar E-Type Concept Zero; what a sexy car. Was he getting one up on William, who drove Kate away from their wedding in Charles’s Aston Martin?
4. The address
Bishop Michael Curry took St George’s Chapel by storm. Most people had never heard the like. His best line: admitting that he might have gone on a bit. “With this I will sit down, we gotta get y’all married.”
5. Charles and Doria
As the Prince of Wales left the chapel, he had the Duchess of Cornwall on one arm and Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, on the other. The warmth of the gesture symbolised the efforts he has made to welcome Meghan and her mother into the royal family.
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