Queen Elizabeth gives Prince Harry and Meghan Markle her consent to marry
The only way Prince Harry and Meghan Markle can get married is if Queen Elizabeth II gives her formal consent, and luckily for the couple, she's signed off on their wedding with a beautiful handwritten document.
The Instrument of Consent was written on vellum, which is only used for the most important state documents, Buckingham Palace said. There is a red dragon, the heraldic symbol of Wales, on the Instrument of Consent, as well as a rose, the national flower of the United States, and golden poppies, the state flower of California, Markle's birthplace. Attached to the bottom of the document by woven cords is the Great Seal of the Realm.
Under British law, the reigning monarch must give formal consent to the first six people in the line of succession to the throne, and with the birth of his nephew, Prince Louis, last month, Prince Harry is now sixth in line. Queen Elizabeth formally gave her consent to the marriage on March 14 during a meeting of the Privy Council, Buckingham Palace said, and the couple will receive the Instrument of Consent after their May 19 wedding.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Indie film's 'very brief' use of AI sparks backlash and calls for boycotts
Talking Points Did the creators of a new horror movie make a deal with the artificial intelligence devil?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Could Taylor Swift swing the election?
Today's Big Question The pop star has outsized influence — and that extends beyond the music industry
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Manipulated' photo of UK's Princess Kate spiked
speed read The first official image of Kate Middleton since January has been retracted
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
King Charles diagnosed with cancer
Speed Read Monarch 'remains wholly positive about his treatment', during which senior royals are expected to stand in for him
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Princess of Wales to remain in hospital for two weeks as King prepares for prostate treatment
Speed Read The timing of the two royal medical announcements was said to be an 'unavoidable coincidence'
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
King laughs about his 'sausage fingers' in new documentary
Speed Read Charles's ample digits have long attracted 'attention and concern' but he is often the 'first to poke fun'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Prince Harry: judge rules 'extensive' phone hacking carried out by Mirror Group papers
Speed Read High Court rules in Duke's favour as he urges police investigation, claiming editors lied under oath at Leveson Inquiry
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Spokesman: Harry and Meghan asked to 'vacate' Frogmore Cottage
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Australia is erasing Britain's monarchy from its paper currency, sidelining King Charles III
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Prince Harry and Stephen Colbert go deep on the royals, the British press, Harry's frostnipped 'todger'
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published