My excitement was palpable Saturday morning, the world was recognizing love over race, ethnicity, and difference and I had a front-row seat. At 4 am (EST) and 11 am (EST), two couples united families of divergent backgrounds, assortments, and hues. Seven hours prior to the wedding of Bill Jr., and Christina, Prince Harry entered St. George’s chapel and awaited his bride, Meghan. In a smaller smartly appointed venue in Maryland, Bill Jr. was feeling the same emotions as the future king of England, what they had in common, was both awaited their Queens.
There is something really pure in simplicity. For all the ornate preparation and exclusivity of the celebrity guest list for the nuptials of the Royals, I could not have been in a more perfect place than the wedding of my niece. Weddings are not only the uniting and culmination of blissful romances, for those who are believers it is an affirmation of their promised fidelity and honesty to God and each other. Guest greeted each other warmly, some meeting members of another race intimately for the first time, others realizing they would be intermingled as a family forever and happily so many others not really caring.
Fantasy was the symbol of the weddings of Meghan Markle and Christina. Meghan awoke this morning and as long as they both shall live as the Duchess of Sussex. Christina awoke this morning and as long as they both shall live as the wife of a man whom she loves as dearly as Meghan loves Harry. I cannot distinguish the difference and why would I? With the world watching Meghan glowed when Karen Gibson and the Kingdom Choir sang a rendition of Ben E. King’s ‘stand by me.’Christina beamed, and her eyelashes fluttered between gasps and steadying deep breaths as she and her new husband exchanged loving glances and sweet words to the strains of Lionel Ritchie and Diana Ross’‘endless love’ playing in the background, as if from an ethereal choir.
I have to admit I wiped away a few tears when Christina and her betrothed were administered the wedding vows by the bride’s Mom and Dad. When her father began the ceremony, I could see the pride in his eyes not only at performing the wedding of another daughter but having his son assume his role of giving away his sister, the bride. Yes, it was truly a family affair. Bill Jr. looked strong and confident and was the steady rock I perceived him to be at our first meeting earlier that day.
Those of you who read my thrice-weekly columns realize this piece is a personal indulgence, but I was moved by the day, the moment, and the future. Lots of articles have been written over the past few months bemoaning and speculating on the blended union of Meghan and Harry and how it might change the Royal family forever. What we do not discuss is how this will change things for the better, for both families. To Christina and Bill Jr.— Meghan and Harry, thanks for making the future colorfully bright and congratulations.
Dedicated to the memory and life of William Sr.