Above, you can watch a certain George the Poet delivering his piece "The Beauty of Union." This was broadcasted on BBC, PBS, and several other channels. Thousands have viewed it, all across the world, in awe. Why? Because today, May 19th, 2018, just happens to be the Royal Wedding! Prince Harry is officially married. And the Duchess of Sussex, formerly known as Ms. Meghan Markle, certainly has a fan in me.
I'll be honest. I really like the Royal Family. A few years back, my family, along with a few close friends, traveled to England and Scotland. In Edinburgh, I had the pleasure of touring the Holyrood Palace. There was this excellent display of Queen Elizabeth's fashions throughout the years, and I kid you not, I was gapping at that exhibit like a fish for probably two hours. The gowns, the shoes, the hats... they were stunning. The culture of the British Monarchy also fascinates me. I find it incredible that such a tradition has been ingrained in the history of England since the year 1066.
The news app on my phone definitely agrees with me. There are TONS of articles on my screen; from who designed the dress to Princess Charlotte's adorable wave, it's clear that the media is just as interested in the Royal Wedding as me. However, the gowns, the shoes, the hats... unlike my experience at the Holyrood Palace, these are not the things that hold me in awe. In fact, the newlyweds fascinate me the most.
Prince Harry has been in the military, and is a genuine philanthropist. According to the Royal website, "In 2006, The Duke of Sussex jointly founded Sentebale, a charity to help orphans in Lesotho, southern Africa." This information really touched me; as my sister is an adoptee from China, I find it wonderful that the new Duke of Sussex is so passionate about children. His Royal Highness is also a talented sportsman, an AIDS activist, and an anti-animal cruelty advocate. Harry is of course fabulous. I know a little bit about him. But, really? The reason I am mostly intrigued by today's ceremony is Meghan Markle.
Meghan Markle is redefining what it means to be a royal. She is not only American, but she is a divorcee. She is biracial. She is devoted to service and to helping others in every way possible. Did you know that the Duchess of Sussex spoke out against sexism at only eleven years old? According to Harper's Bazaar, "At the tender age of 11, Markle was outraged by a commercial that outwardly suggested only women do dishes, so the budding feminist wrote a letter to Procter and Gamble asking them to amend the advertising language. The company agreed." I'm a blogger, so naturally, I have respect for Ms. Markle. She used to operate a lifestyle blog called The Tig, which revolved around fashion, food, and travel, before it was shuttered from the public eye. Traveling the world is the ambition of many, and Meghan is absolutely no exception. Harper's Bazaar elaborates: "'I love to travel,' she told Marie Claire in 2013. 'My most recent trips in the past year and a half have been biking through Vietnam, camper-vanning through New Zealand, and touring the whole coast of Croatia and the islands there. I always want off the beaten path, Anthony Bourdain-inspired travel.'" Plus, she rescued her dogs, is a global ambassador, and is fervent about bringing positive change and kindness into the world.
Yes, she is stunning, but I could care less about how beautiful Ms. Meghan Markle is. Why? Because I believe that she is even more gorgeous on the inside. Confidence is prevalent in her every action and word; she believes in a healthy lifestyle and respects herself and others always. In my humble opinion, a princess is not someone who wears a tiara and waves to the crowd; a princess is someone who decides to "have courage and be kind," as Cinderella might say. A princess is true and helpful and passionate. A princess is someone who is inspirational. Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is comfortable in her own skin. And that is a lesson we all need to learn. Let us enjoy a piece of dark chocolate in celebration! I wish you all the best, Harry and Meghan.
"Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love." - Mother Teresa
With joy,
Maya
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