Prince Harry, officially known as Prince Henry of Wales, has announced his engagement to American actress Ms. Meghan Markle. Prince Harry and Ms. Markle made their engagement public Monday, November 27, 2017. The couple is challenging the Monarchy of the United Kingdom’s traditionally conservative past, in hopes of modernizing it in an era of acceptance and inclusiveness.
Ms. Markle is a 36-year-old, divorced, Jewish, biracial actress and humanitarian from the United States. She starred, most recently, in the USA Network Original Series “Suits.” As she prepares to join the British royal family, Ms. Markle left the television show to start a new chapter in her life, according to The New York Times.
Historically, the British monarchy has been extremely conservative about who they welcome into the Royal Family. Ms. Markle’s acceptance into the family strays from tradition: the majority of the Royal Family members are British, white, Anglican and uninvolved in the entertainment industry. Ms. Markle joining the family is viewed as a significant step for the monarchy, as it makes the Royal Family more relatable to the public.
“We are involved in modernizing the British monarchy,” Prince Harry said in an interview with Newsweek. “We are not doing this for ourselves but for the greater good of the people.”
Ms. Markle grew up in a middle-class family in California with her mother Ms. Doria Radlan, an African-American yoga instructor, and her father Mr. Thomas Markle, a white cinematographer, according to The New York Times.
Prince Harry, who is currently 33-years-old, is fifth in line to the throne, as he is the grandson of Queen Elizabeth II. Today, he is widely considered to be Britain’s most popular royal, according to the The New York Times.
Since his 20s, Prince Harry’s character has changed drastically. He once admitted to wanting to be a ‘bad boy,’ but has since matured. Many view his past controversial actions as a result of the grief he experienced following his mother, Princess Diana’s, death, according to the The New York Times.
The couple dated for a little over a year before getting engaged and are set to be married May 19 in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, according to CNN.
Once Prince Harry and Ms. Markle marry, they will take the title of Duke and Duchess of Sussex, England, according to the official statement which Clarence House released in a tweet.
Sacred Heart Greenwich junior Molly Cadman, a British citizen, commented on the deeper meaning behind this engagement.
“Although there are some mixed feelings towards this matrimony in Britain, I think it really shows a different, more inclusive side to the monarchy,” Molly said. “In the past, an engagement of this kind would have been unheard of, or maybe even a scandal. I think it’s a testimony to the monarchy adapting and changing in the modern world.”
-Katherine Santoro, Staff Writer