Royals

Queen gives consent to ‘dearly beloved grandson’ Prince Harry’s wedding

Mar 16, 2018

The Queen has given her royal seal of approval. Source: Getty.

Getting the approval of a grandparent ahead of a marriage is important for almost any couple, but for Prince Harry – it has come with a touching letter from the Queen herself.

Giving her royal seal of approval to the Privy Council, the monarch shared her approval of her “most dearly beloved grandson” Harry’s wedding to actress Meghan Markle, with a few touching words.

It comes after she did the same for Prince William, ahead of his 2011 wedding to Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge.

According to reports, she will have made the official declaration at a Privy Council meeting on Wednesday, before signing a Great Seal of the Realm. The letter has since been released, with the Queen referring to her grandson by his official first name, Henry, and Meghan by hers – Rachel.

“I declare My Consent to a Contract of Matrimony between My Most Dearly Beloved Grandson Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales and Rachel Meghan Markle, which Consent I am causing to be signified under the Great Seal and to be entered in the Books of the Privy Council,” it read.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgO-FGJAlpv/?hl=en&taken-by=kensingtonroyal

While it’s unlikely a monarch would disagree, the Succession to the Crown Act 2013 states that the first six people in the line of succession must have the Queen’s consent before marrying. While Harry could have chosen to go ahead without approval, he would no longer be in line to the throne.

The six people it currently applies to are Prince Charles, Prince William, his son Prince George and daughter Princess Charlotte, Prince Harry and finally the Duke of York.

Seeking permission for a royal marriage dates right back to the 18th Century, but the rules have been slackened somewhat in recent years. Under the Royal Marriages Act 1772, any descendants of George II had to have the sovereign’s agreement before they wed – otherwise the marriage was invalid.

It comes after Kensington Palace issued a statement recently, releasing new details about the upcoming wedding on May 19. It appears that in addition to the 600 guests who will witness Harry and Meghan say “I do”, members of the public will also be invited.

“Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle have said they want their Wedding Day to be shaped so as to allow members of the public to feel part of the celebrations too,” a statement read. “This wedding, like all weddings, will be a moment of fun and joy that will reflect the characters and values of the Bride and Groom.”

Prince Harry and Ms. Markle would like their wedding day to be shaped to allow members of the public to share in the joy and the fun of the day. They have today given further details how public guests will be involved in the celebrations on May 19. pic.twitter.com/V62uqRW8m0

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 2, 2018

In addition to the Carriage Procession in Windsor, the happy couple have extended their wedding invite to 2,640 members of the public. These very special guests will be invited to the grounds of Windsor Castle to watch Prince Harry and Meghan arrive. They’ll also get a glimpse of all the other guests and will get to witness the carriage procession as it leaves the castle.

Before you start booking your tickets to London for the ceremony, there is a catch. Kensington Palace said that Prince Harry and Meghan have very strict guidelines of who they’re looking for. The Palace said 1,200 people from all around the United Kingdom will be nominated to attend by nine regional Lord Lieutenant offices. It is believed that the soon-to-be married couple are seeking people from a range of age groups and backgrounds, but are particularly keen to see guests with strong backgrounds and those who have lead their community.

A further 200 will be from the various charities and organisations that Prince Harry and Meghan work closely with, while 100 school children from The Royal School, Great Park, Windsor and St George’s School, Windsor Castle, will be given invites.