The biggest wedding of the season finally happened, amidst much fanfare and glamour, in the typical classically royal style. The admirers of the royal family woke up during different time zones to watch the ceremony live. And then the comments followed, on News channels and social media. The meme makers had a field day. The trolls and fans alike forgot their personal mundane lives for a day, to become an insignificant party to the euphoria that engulfed the earth for the day.
Another reason that this wedding caught everyone’s eye was the apparent Black quotient in the otherwise White emphasis of the royal family. After all, these are the descendants of the same family who believed in Evangelism, White Man’s burden to civilize the barbaric blacks, and who colonised half the planet because they thought it was the Divine Right of the Crown to always be right, even when they were wrong on so many counts.
So, when a coloured Meghan Markle arrived with her mother, Doria Ragland, as they approached St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, the scene was dramatic for more than one reason. The ceremony itself was infused with African-American cultural traditions.
Reverend Michael Curry preached a rousing sermon on the “redemptive power of love,” quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and sharing how black slaves in the Antebellum South explained the power of love. As the first Black presiding bishop in the Episcopal church, Curry was considered a radical choice because he is known for addressing social justice issues and supporting gay marriage. Members of The Kingdom Choir sang a stirring rendition of “Stand By Me,” a song written by American singer-songwriter Ben E. King.
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But amidst all this rant and show about racial equality, it is a wonder how everybody conveniently ignored the fact that Meghan’s veil was embroidered with organza, representing the 53 commonwealth countries, which were former British colonies. It was held in place by Queen Mary’s diamond bandeau tiara, lent to her by The Queen. It does not seem much like a tribute, when you pay heed to your former slaves, by marking them on your royal veil to showcase your proud history, and its bloodied rule over them.
If this is not a reminder of the exploitative past of the royal family, what is? And to proudly adorn the mark of colonialism and exploitation, as she enters the most elite and vain family, Meghan must be truly blinded by love.
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