Queen Elizabeth's Official Consent
A few months ago, royal Twitter was up in arms over Queen Elizabeth's official blessing of the upcoming royal wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
When Elizabeth II gave her formal consent to Prince William and Kate Middleton back in 2011, she described the bride-to-be "Our Trusty and Well-beloved Catherine Elizabeth Middleton."
However, Markle did not receive that same descriptor in the letter of approval from the monarch (below).
My Lords, 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.
At the time it was all chalked up as a misunderstanding and something of an over-reaction. In the initial letter to the privy council, Kate Middleton was not described as "our trusty and well-beloved" either.
But today, the official Instrument of Consent, signed by the Queen to approve Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's union was made public. The document, which is handwritten on vellum, includes imagery referencing the United Kingdom, California, the United States, and Princess Diana's family. (Since Prince Harry is sixth in line to the throne, the Queen has to formally approve his marriage.)
SIGNED SEALED DELIVERED: The Instrument of Consent, signed by the Queen to approve #harryandmeghan's union. Handwritten and illuminated on vellum, it shows a red dragon, rose, thistle and shamrock for the UK, plus a rose for the US and golden poppies for California. #royalwedding pic.twitter.com/iJVKD7X5Cl
- Emily Nash (@emynash) May 12, 2018
But that lovely descriptor, "our trusty and well-beloved" is still missing.
According to royal reporter Emily Nash, it shouldn't be seen as a slight from the Queen. Rather, those words cannot be included because Meghan is not yet a British citizen.
"For anyone wondering why Meghan is not described as "most trusty and well-beloved" like Kate was, it's because that term is only used for citizens of Britain or the Queen's overseas Realms. Meghan is not yet a British citizen," Nash tweeted.
For anyone wondering why Meghan is not described as "most trusty and well-beloved" like Kate was, it's because that term is only used for citizens of Britain or the Queen's overseas Realms. Meghan is not yet a British citizen. #RoyalWedding2018 #HarryandMeghan
- Emily Nash (@emynash) May 12, 2018
Well, that settles that.
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