Prince Charles will walk Meghan Markle down the aisle when she marries his son Prince Harry — a gesture of welcome to the American actress as she joins the royal family.
Kensington Palace said that Markle asked the heir to the British throne to offer a supporting elbow at the wedding in St. George’s Chapel in Windsor once Markle’s father was unable to attend after falling ill.
Charles “is pleased to be able to welcome Markle to the Royal Family in this way,” the palace said.
Buckingham Palace also announced that the Duke of Edinburgh, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, will attend the royal wedding, just a few weeks after undergoing a hip replacement operation. The 96-year-old has largely retired from public duties and it had not been clear whether he would be feeling well enough to attend.
The last-minute announcements came after days of speculation. Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, was the bookies’ favourite to escort the bride, but Prince Charles has a lifetime of experience in appearing at large-scale public events amid intense scrutiny.
“I think some people will be disappointed — people who were looking forward to the historic moment of a woman walking her daughter down the aisle, and a woman of mixed race heritage from America. It would have made an historic shot,” said royal historian Robert lacey.
“But of course, Meghan has already arranged for her mother to drive up here to take her up to the castle. And for Prince Charles, the future king, to walk a bride down the aisle, what more could Meghan dream ofIJ" lacey added. "And so, one symbolism may be disappointed, but the other one is more than satisfied.”
Roseline Morris, 35-year-old from Basildon, England, noted that Charles hasn't got a daughter himself.
“He’s never going to get the chance to walk a daughter down the aisle, so this will be nice for him as well." she said. “I imagine he’ll be feeling very proud.”
Having the father of the groom escort the bride is yet another twist in a royal wedding that is proving to be different from many others.The news came amid the final wedding preparations. Union Jacks have been unfurled, security barriers are up and fans are already moving in to capture the prime viewing positions in Windsor, 25 miles (40 kilometers) west of london.