William Hanson busts Meghan Markle wedding misconceptions

The eagerly-anticipated wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle is now less than a month away, and is the most talked about Royal event of the year.

From what the actress will wear, to her new title and whether there will be a kiss on the balcony, every detail is being discussed at length ahead of the world’s media descending on Windsor on May 19th. 

And etiquette expert William Hanson has spoken to FEMAIL to clear up a few ‘Meghan misconceptions’ before the big day…

Etiquette expert William Hanson spoke to Femail to clear up a few ‘Meghan misconceptions’ ahead of her wedding to Prince Harry

Smaller scale

One of my main concerns is for the Americans watching. The 19th May is going to look and feel very different from 29th April 2011. Not just because the wedding is at Windsor Castle but because of who Prince Harry is and his ‘function’, to put it crudely.

Currently, Prince Harry is fifth in line to the throne but when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s third child is born he will slip to sixth. While that does make him higher up the pecking order than most of us, he is not considered integral to the order of succession and so as grand an occasion as his brother got is not appropriate.

Yes, although the wedding is still going to be far smarter and more official than many people’s weddings, it will be on a much smaller scale.

St George’s chapel can accommodate 800 guests; Westminster Abbey can seat 2,000. Bit of a difference. Due to the location change there won’t be any balcony kiss, either. I suspect they will still pucker up for the cameras and crowds, either on the steps of the chapel or during the carriage procession. Or both!

So – Americans watching next month – don’t think we are snubbing your girl Meghan in any way. It’s not her, it’s him.

While Prince William and Kate married at Westminster Abbey, Harry and Meghan will say their vows at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle - meaning no balcony kiss

While Prince William and Kate married at Westminster Abbey, Harry and Meghan will say their vows at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle – meaning no balcony kiss

The guest list

Although I do think the British Prime Minister should have been invited, not having any politicians or world leaders present it does nicely side-step the Trump issue. Meghan has been on record (pre-engagement) saying unfavourable things about the current President.

In total 1,200 members of the public have been invited to greet the couple outside the chapel on the day itself. It is a great honour to be chosen and extended the invitation to stand outside, but this is also a clever tactic.

Windsor is a walled castle. There can’t be hoards of people lining The Mall like before. And so these thousand-odd specially-vetted people have been invited for the sake of keeping up appearances.

Contrary to popular belief, the former actress will never be Princess Meghan as the title is reserved only for blood royalty

Contrary to popular belief, the former actress will never be Princess Meghan as the title is reserved only for blood royalty

She will never be Princess Meghan

Meghan is not going to be a Princess. She will not (and never will) be Princess Meghan. This is no snub on Meghan. It has zippo to do with the fact she is once divorced, has a different ethnic background to those who traditionally marry into royalty or is American.

It is because the style ‘the Princess So-and-so’ is only for blood royalty. Catherine is not ‘Princess Catherine/Kate’, however much certain arms of the media may refer to her as such. The title ‘Princess Diana’ was also incorrect from a protocol point of view too, incidentally.

Catherine is technically ‘HRH Princess William’ but as the Queen conferred a dukedom on her grandson on his wedding day this meant he and his wife could be styled ‘the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’.

Meghan will technically be ‘Princess Henry’ but it is unlikely that we will come to know her as such.

Some 1,200 members of the public have been invited to greet the couple outside the chapel on the day itself (file photo from the wedding of Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex)

Some 1,200 members of the public have been invited to greet the couple outside the chapel on the day itself (file photo from the wedding of Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex)

What will Meghan be called?

It is highly likely that Prince Harry will be conferred a dukedom too, like his brother.

The bookmakers think it will be the dukedom of Sussex, and so once married we will know Harry and Meghan as ‘the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’.

Another possibility is the dukedom of Clarence and Avondale. But I suspect the Queen and Prince Harry won’t want to choose this one, as the last Duke of Clarence and Avondale (Prince Albert Victor) was suspected of being a homosexual – and Jack the Ripper.

The first Duke of Sussex (Prince Augustus Frederick) was a campaigner for the abolition of slavery, as well as Catholic emancipation – a much more pleasant back story.

William, who says Meghan and Harry's wedding will be on a less grand scale than Kate and William's (the Duchess of Cambridge is seen on her wedding day), suspects Meghan may choose an off-white or champagne coloured gown 

William, who says Meghan and Harry’s wedding will be on a less grand scale than Kate and William’s (the Duchess of Cambridge is seen on her wedding day), suspects Meghan may choose an off-white or champagne coloured gown 

Whatever the title, it is highly likely that we won’t know until a few hours before the wedding service on the 19th May. If the royal household follow the precedent of 2011, it will be announced several hours before the service begins.

It was an 11am start in 2011 and the titles were announced at 8am. As it is a 12pm start this year then perhaps 9am will be the golden hour for those of us who enjoy a good title?

Will Meghan be an HRH?

As we all know, it didn’t go too well for the last American who married British royalty. Wallis Simpson was not allowed to be styled Her Royal Highness, and so was simply ‘Her Grace The Duchess of Windsor’ – even though it is thought that the staff in her own household referred to her as an HRH.

For Meghan, it is very unlikely that The Queen will withhold the HRH status. There is no big feud, like in 1936 and there would be no reason to do this.

Will she remain an American?

William Hanson is an etiquette expert

William Hanson is an etiquette expert

Last year, after the engagement, Prince Harry’s communications secretary said that it is the intention for Meghan to become a UK citizen, although there would be no special treatment and the usual process would apply.

It is unlikely she will be officially British by her wedding day, however, as the process can take a while. But we shall see.

Will she totally forgot her American citizenship or will she take dual-nationality? I suspect the latter in the interests of transatlantic diplomacy.

The dress

Will Meghan wear white? I suspect she may not and may instead go for something off-white or Champagne coloured.

I also doubt very much – colour aside – that the dress will be as grand or opulent as Catherine Middleton’s. Again, as Prince Harry isn’t second in line to the throne, and also as the wedding venue is smaller.

This will also be Meghan’s second wedding and custom in the UK and US is for brides marrying again not to wear white or as lavish a dress as the first time.

But will people across the world be disappointed if Meghan isn’t seen in a fairytale dress? Probably, so it is a fine line for her to tread.

 



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