The British Royal Wedding and its Cultural Diversity
The just concluded British royal wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a momentous occasion for just a number of reasons, one of them being its symbolism.
Meghan, who is a mixed race actress having African-American roots who is now the Duchess of Sussex, was seen to be fully embracing her African-American roots and culture. It was even more interesting to see the couple ensuring the occasion was as diverse as possible. Members of the public and their loved ones were all invited.
Most people, particularly people sharing the African heritage, fell in love with the ceremony’s inclusion of them in such an important event that saw a black bishop presiding over the wedding, gospel artist from the black community also took part in the performance.
The venue
Harry and Meghan are getting married in church, this is despite the fact that the bride has been married before. The good news is that, divorced brides are now allowed to marry British royalties, and you need not blink or flinch fearing any calls for beheading banishing of anybody! The church is St. George’s Chapel where Harry and Meghan Markle are tying the knot.
About the Sermon
The wedding was presided over by a black bishop, Bishop Michael Curry who is the first black bishop of the Episcopal Church in the US. He stole the show with his electrifying address to the attendees of the royal wedding some of whom were glued on big television screens following the event from different parts of the world. Indeed it was such as an important event that kept many people interested in watching!
The bishop did not disappoint and his sermon was so passionate and it brought about smiles on the faces of the many people who either attended or were watching the wedding on TV. He had numerous messages of love, and even made references to Martin Luther King.
It was a historic event were a black Bishop who is the first black bishop of the Episcopal Church in the US made history again by presiding on a British Royal wedding.
The entertainment – music
The music there was excellent and there was a gospel rendition of the “this little light of mine” and Ben E. King’s “by me” all ringing out in St. George’s Chapel in Windsor. This was done by Karen Gibson together with the Kingdom Choir.
The hour long ceremony was brought to a splendid end by the cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, 19. He played the Ave Maria to friends and family of the couple who numbered about 600 people. He was the first black musician to receive the BBC’s Young Musician of the Year award in the year 2016.
The Guests
Talking about the guests, well there was a clear mix of diversity and you could see many people of mixed race attending the royal wedding ceremony. Of the many attendees, there was Serena Williams, Oprah Winfrey, actor Idris Elba who later walked into the grounds of the chapel.
Serena Williams later posted a twit of herself and photo showing her in the chapel’s garden. She said in the tweet, “ready for my friend’s wedding”.
The Bride’s mother
The fact that the bride’s mother is an African-American is what evoked many emotions from many people, particularly the African-Americans. Most of them said that they were proud to witness the historic wedding. The very fact that the Royal Family had accepted to have Meghan and her African-American mother, Doria Ragland to join the Royal family was a great honor not just to the two but to the African community as a whole.
Doria Ragland, who is Meghan’s mother, is a simple woman who does social work. She specifically works with the geriatric community. She also teaches yoga and is a therapist as well. Apparently, Meghan is her only child that she got with her former husband that she divorced when Meghan was just six years old.
Their divorce is said to have ended amicably and that Meghan used to see her father regularly. Her mother has never put restriction on her to see her daddy.
Now with all the glam and craziness that is associated with being a mother in-law to the British royalty, Ragland still maintains her humility. She still works at Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services in Culver City, California.
Meghan’s Philanthropy
Meghan is known to be philanthropic and she gives credit to her parents for influencing her in her noble course towards humanity. She has been involved in helping buy food and offering shelter to the destitute and poor. She has also been involved in delivering meals to patients in hospice care.
Meghan credits her upbringing for helping her become such a philanthropic person in her adulthood. She claims that she grew up seeing her parents doing what she is doing now and now she has grown up to becoming one.
The joint statement from the bride’s parents following royal engagement wedding
Meghan’s mother and father together released a statement following the announcement of the royal wedding. The statement read, “We are incredibly happy for Meghan and Harry. Our daughter has always been daughter has been a kind and loving person. To see her union with Harry, who shares the same qualities, is a great source of joy for us as parents. We wish then a happy a lifetime of happiness and are very excited for their future together.”
The bottom line
The wedding was symbolic and elicited emotions from the African-American community who felt a kind of being part of the British Royal family. The fact that a black bishop took part in the ceremony made history. It was interesting to note that it was the same black bishop who was the first black bishop of the Episcopal Church in the US. Notable celebrities who attended the wedding in person include renowned female tennis diva Serena Williams, Oprah Winfrey, Idris Elba and many others who took their time to attend the wedding.
