# Prince Harry to marry Meghan Markle **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 28, 2017, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-harry-to-marry-meghan-markle/802919 "2017-11-28T01:57:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-harry-to-marry-meghan-markle/802919/1 "2017-11-28T01:57:23Z")
It’s [official](http://www.bbc.com/news/topics/cpwpy79d6dxt/wedding-of-prince-harry-and-meghan-markle); Prince Harry is marrying African-American actress Meghan Markle, aka Rachel Zane from **Suits** (she’s retiring from acting ala Princess Grace). She’ll be the first American to marry into the royal family since Wallis Simpson (who ended up taking her husband _out_ of the royal family for all practical purposes). Also she’s divorced which might complicate getting married in the Church of England (it’s been allowable at the priest’s discretion since 2002, but Charles & Camilla still had to go the register office). No such issues with the Church of Scotland though, and it be really clever PR for the monarchy. It make it less awkward to introduce the groom’s father & stepmother too. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-harry-to-marry-meghan-markle/802919/2 "2017-11-28T02:17:50Z")
It’s going to be interesting seeing the happy couple and their biracial children on the Royal balcony with Charlie, Wills, Kate, Grandpa Phil, and Granny Lizabeth. 🙂 Has a black person _ever_ stood on that balcony in an official capacity? Diversity is long overdue. IMHO I hope Harry and Meg have a long and happy marriage. We need a champagne emoticon. Make room for Meghan guys!! [![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/17/17/417E66BC00000578-0-image-a-3_1497716634492.jpg) ](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/17/17/417E66BC00000578-0-image-a-3_1497716634492.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-harry-to-marry-meghan-markle/802919/3 "2017-11-28T02:19:25Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Also she’s divorced which might complicate getting married in the Church of England (it’s been allowable at the priest’s discretion since 2002, but Charles & Camilla still had to go the register office). I doubt that’ll cause problems. My understanding is that it’s routinely allowed in cases where the relationship started after the prior marriage(s) ended. (This was Charles and Camilla’s problem.) It’s not impossible that the Archbishop of Canterbury would refuse to be involved, but it would be easy to find someone willing to perform this marriage, and as it happens the archbishop explicitly congratulated them for “[choosing] to make their vows before God” which I doubt he’d do if he was opposed. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-harry-to-marry-meghan-markle/802919/4 "2017-11-28T02:35:53Z")
Why do you feel the need to bring race into this happy occasion? What does that have to do with anything? Until now I had no idea that her mom was black. You know why I didn’t know? Because it’s fucking irrelevant. ETA: This was aimed at Acey. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-harry-to-marry-meghan-markle/802919/5 "2017-11-28T02:39:09Z")
Those two are going to have very cute puppies. Good luck to them. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-harry-to-marry-meghan-markle/802919/6 "2017-11-28T02:40:37Z")
Because it’s a big step forward for diversity. It’s similar to when television began including black characters. I remember seeing the secretary on Mannix and shows like Good Times. It’s wonderful to see the aristocracy embrace change. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-harry-to-marry-meghan-markle/802919/7 "2017-11-28T02:55:20Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > What does that have to do with anything? It really ought not to be a big deal. But it is one nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-harry-to-marry-meghan-markle/802919/8 "2017-11-28T02:55:52Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Why do you feel the need to bring race into this happy occasion? > > What does that have to do with anything? > > Until now I had no idea that her mom was black. You know why I didn’t know? Because it’s fucking irrelevant. > > ETA: This was aimed at Acey. Aw, c’mon. It’s a salient part of her identity, part of who she is. It’s cool and interesting, as it would be if she were Asian or Indian (from India) or Jewish or a titled white Englishwoman or anything else. She’s a celebrity now, bigger than she ever dreamed and people want to know about her. Not a damn thing wrong with that. William and Harry have brought happiness and normalcy to the Royal Family, which was plagued with misery for a long time. I wish all of them joy. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-harry-to-marry-meghan-markle/802919/9 "2017-11-28T03:20:28Z")
Very happy for both of them. Also happy this seems to be meeting without opposition or ill remarks on the British side. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-harry-to-marry-meghan-markle/802919/10 "2017-11-28T03:24:43Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Why do you feel the need to bring race into this happy occasion? For better or worse, she’s a black woman in America. Now she’s marrying a Prince and heir to the British Empire. So yeah, big deal, right? As of today, young black girls in America can honestly dream of growing up to be a British princess. With nothing bad happening, no one saying they can’t because they’re black, no one calling them names. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-harry-to-marry-meghan-markle/802919/11 "2017-11-28T03:39:11Z")
It’s especially significant when you consider Britain’s role in colonialism. India became independent in 1947. Only a few years before Elizabeth became Queen. Her approval of this marriage was very important. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-harry-to-marry-meghan-markle/802919/12 "2017-11-28T05:46:07Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > It’s [official](http://www.bbc.com/news/topics/cpwpy79d6dxt/wedding-of-prince-harry-and-meghan-markle); Prince Harry is marrying African-American actress Meghan Markle, aka Rachel Zane from **Suits** (she’s retiring from acting ala Princess Grace). She’ll be the first American to marry into the royal family since Wallis Simpson (who ended up taking her husband _out_ of the royal family for all practical purposes). Also she’s divorced which might complicate getting married in the Church of England (it’s been allowable at the priest’s discretion since 2002, but Charles & Camilla still had to go the register office). No such issues with the Church of Scotland though, and it be really clever PR for the monarchy. It make it less awkward to introduce the groom’s father & stepmother too. Unlike Simpson’s second husband, it is extremely unlikely that Harry will ever be king. That’s gotta make some difference. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-harry-to-marry-meghan-markle/802919/13 "2017-11-28T05:51:29Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Why do you feel the need to bring race into this happy occasion? Personally, it warms my heart to see a ginger land a beautiful fiancee. What? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-harry-to-marry-meghan-markle/802919/14 "2017-11-28T06:32:20Z")
Meghan self-identifies as mixed race\*, so probably best to use her preferred term. Hopefully she doesn’t lose herself in her new role. I imagine that despite all the luxury an shit, being constantly in the public glare can get very old very fast. \*I had never heard of her before today, so I read up a little about her. Otherwise, I would have never known what she is. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-harry-to-marry-meghan-markle/802919/15 "2017-11-28T06:45:35Z")
Most important question for the Royal Wedding. Who gets to ride in the Kids carriage? It was Harry at Williams wedding, Andrew at Charles and Edward at Andrew’s. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-harry-to-marry-meghan-markle/802919/16 "2017-11-28T08:30:45Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Aw, c’mon. It’s a salient part of her identity, part of who she is. It’s cool and interesting, as it would be if she were Asian or Indian (from India) or Jewish or a titled white Englishwoman or anything else. She’s a celebrity now, bigger than she ever dreamed and people want to know about her. Not a damn thing wrong with that. > > William and Harry have brought happiness and normalcy to the Royal Family, which was plagued with misery for a long time. I wish all of them joy. She IS Jewish, according to what I’ve read. That, to me, is as surprising as her race and her childhood background as lower middle class. ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-harry-to-marry-meghan-markle/802919/17 "2017-11-28T08:48:43Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > She IS Jewish, according to what I’ve read. That, to me, is as surprising as her race and her childhood background as lower middle class. Where did you learn that she was Jewish? [Her wikipedia entry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meghan_Markle) doesn’t mention it. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-harry-to-marry-meghan-markle/802919/18 "2017-11-28T09:11:09Z")
According to this article: [Meghan Markle ‘Won’t Be Allowed to Be Black Princess’ by Royal Family, Experts Say](https://www.yahoo.com/news/meghan-markle-apos-won-apos-210454059.html) some experts on British royalty are suggesting that in order to fit in with the royal family, she will be required to downplay or even stay in the closet about her black or biracial heritage. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-harry-to-marry-meghan-markle/802919/19 "2017-11-28T09:28:05Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > According to this article: > [Meghan Markle ‘Won’t Be Allowed to Be Black Princess’ by Royal Family, Experts Say](https://www.yahoo.com/news/meghan-markle-apos-won-apos-210454059.html) > some experts on British royalty are suggesting that in order to fit in with the royal family, she will be required to downplay or even stay in the closet about her black or biracial heritage. An absolute nonsense opinion by an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-harry-to-marry-meghan-markle/802919/20 "2017-11-28T09:55:21Z")
Meghan’s background has been researched by genealogists. I saw articles several months ago. I’m not sure how much her family cooperated in the research. > **[Meghan Markle is not Jewish. Big deal.](https://religionnews.com/2017/11/27/meghan-markel-prince-harry-engagement/)** > > Our new-old hobby: claiming Jews. The question is: why? > [@](#): > > But, no. There is nothing Jewish about Meghan Markle — other than the fact that her first marriage was to a Jewish man. > > Her mother, Doria Radlan, has a masters degree in social work; she is African-American. Her father, Emmy-award winning lighting director Thomas W. Markle, is of Dutch, English, Irish, and Scottish descent. > > Meghan Markle is actually a descendant of King John, and a distant relative of Prince Harry. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-harry-to-marry-meghan-markle/802919.md?page=2)