Meghan Markle Makes Royal History

Saturday’s nuptials of Meghan Markle to Prince Harry of Windsor not only officially made them the Duke and Duchess of Essex, but added a carefully concocted bit of “chocolate swirl” to a once exclusively “vanilla” royal tradition.

Current Events
Although Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas, is white, her mother, Doria Ragland, is unequivocally and unmistakably black.  The very visual of a distinguished black woman arriving at the chapel in a royal coach while proudly displaying a neatly arranged head of dreadlocks and wearing a nose ring was the first sign that this imperial wedding was about to be like no other.

Ms. Ragland looked absolutely stunning in a mint green ensemble with matching hat by Oscar de la Renta as she was personally escorted down the aisle and to the front of the church by Prince Charles. From that moment on it was clear that this was indeed a new day inside the House of Windsor.

Thomas and Doria Markle divorced when Meghan was very young, leaving their only child to grow up living modestly with her mother in Los Angeles. According to Meghan, she remembers her mother having to endure racism throughout her entire life. Doria Ragland was frequently called racist names and many strangers often thought she was the nanny to her much lighter-skinned daughter.

The events of her young life shaped and molded Meghan into a beautiful biracial adult woman — who is still VERY MUCH in tune with the black side of her heritage. These events were very prominent in Meghan’s choices for HER wedding day.

As part of the ceremony, Meghan asked a gospel choir from London to deliver a soulful rendition of the R&B classic “Stand By Me,” performed perfectly by The Kingdom Choir under the direction of Karen Gibson.

Next, Bishop Michael Curry, the African-American Episcopalian church leader from Chicago took everyone “to church” with a sermon that began with a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. then segued into the wisdom of negro spirituals. As his almost “Baptist preacher-like” cadence began to rise, Queen Elizabeth and various members of the royal family fidgeted and looked somewhat out of their usually conservative element. Still, the Queen herself personally approved every facet of the wedding — in the interest of making her grandson and his bride happy — so the royal family had no choice but to grin and bear it.

Sheku Kanneh-Mason, a 19-year-old black cellist from Nottingham took it from there, delivering haunting renditions of Franz Schubert’s “Ave Maria,” Gabriel Fauré’s “Après un rêve” and Maria Theresia von Paradis’ “Sicilienne.”

I’m so excited and honoured to perform at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding. I was bowled over when Ms Markle called me to ask if I would play during the ceremony, and of course I immediately said yes!!! What a privilege. I can’t wait! https://t.co/TU0lyKloCD — Sheku Kanneh-Mason (@ShekuKM) April 24, 2018

Then, once the vows were exchanged, the newly married Duke and Duchess of Essex walked down the aisle together to the strains of the old negro spiritual “This Little Light Of Mine,” with the gospel choir belting, swaying, and hand-clapping as if they were at a tent revival meeting.

In a carefully curated ceremony, Meghan Markle embraced her “bicultural blackness” as easily as she wore a queen’s diamond tiara. – The New York Times

Although Meghan Markle is technically biracial, Princess Diana’s youngest son has, for all intents and purposes, married a black woman. Their future children will have a black grandmother and will almost certainly be raised and schooled in the knowledge of their FULL heritage.

Make no mistake, the royal family and the royal bloodline just got an introductory crash course in blackness.

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Meghan Markle brings black heritage to royal wedding.