I love this wedding.

[madaboutharry]

Harry and Meghan.....

[Siwsan]

1. Same here

It's the loveliest Royal Wedding I've ever watched.

[lillypaddle]

2. Me, too

Did you see Stephanie Ruhle and Katy Tur fangirling as Harry and Mehgan passed by in the royal coach? It was so cute and definitely out of character for both.

[Butterflylady]

21. Loved that!

I thought that Katie was gonna cry with excitement.

[Raine]

3. Me too

beautiful couple so obviously in love..

[ButSeeYa]

4. I loved it too...

It felt inclusive. Had all the pomp and circumstance befitting royalty, yet hip. I loved it from beginning to end.

[dlk]

5. It Was Beautiful!

[Ilsa]

6. Stand By Me was a wonderful surprise.

I love how it felt multicultural, not stiffly formal.

I am happy for them both.

[Nanjeanne]

7. Shocked myself. Even teared up thinking of Princess Diana.

[pazzyanne]

8. She would be so proud of Harry!

[Hortensis]

11. Awww. :) Heard that the lovely white flowers were

in her memory, the choice taken from her wedding.

[MoonRiver]

9. Yes, the whole event was enchanting!

And what an adorable couple! Wonder when the next prince or princess will arrive.

[Honeycombe8]

17. That is going to be a gorgeous child. Hope s/he has that red hair. I love red hair.

But no telling. Harry and Meghan's coloring is so different. But they're both exceptionally good looking people with great bods, so the kid's going to get some good genes.

[MoonRiver]

28. It will be darling, and the whole world will go mad with adoration!

[floWteiuQ]

10. Frankly....

I wish them the best but don't give a care. What infuriates me us the corporate infotainment complex jamming this down our throats. It's like my main criticism of the black panther movie. It was a great movie; however making the most scientifically advanced civilization on earth a monarchy absolutely stinks. Jmho

[Honeycombe8]

12. Networks run what people want to see. It's about ratings. Most channels are not running this.

My regular Sat morning show (Cesar Milan The Dog Whisperer) is on, as usual.

I did watch the royal ceremony, though. I wanted to see it. If you ask me, they could take football off tv, and I'd be happy. But a lot of people want to watch it. It's all about showing what people want to see. Royal wedding vs football. Same thing, in a way.

[Blue_Adept]

19. Do you get upset when Shakespeare works deal with royalty?

Because the Black Panther movie didn't "make" it a monarchy, but the source material from decades ago did. They adapated it as it was presented over the years.

[floWteiuQ]

58. My opinion...

As stated in my post is that any advanced civilization would have done away with monarchy fairly quickly. The whole thing perpetuates notions of inequality based upon physical characteristics.

[Blue_Adept]

59. And therein lies the beauty of fiction - we can explore all types of societies

[floWteiuQ]

66. And...

Therein lies my opinion.

[Demsrule86]

13. me too.

[Soph0571]

14. Seeing a black woman marry into the establishment is glorious

For young women and men of colour over here it it is massive. They feel included in the establishment for the first ever time and to think in hopefully short order there will black princes and princesses of the crown is fucking marvellous. A 21st century Royal couple. I confess I did not watch as it is a gorgeous day and the park and a picnic called instead - will catch up on the highlights later, but again - bloody marvellous!!!!!

[Duppers]

24. Beautiful Meghan has set a precedent

For my future d.i.l. to be more accepted.

[Honeycombe8]

15. OMG! I didn't realize....she's also OLDER than Harry, and in her mid-thirties!

Another unusual thing with this couple. She's three years older than he is. He's 33. She's 36.

Does this mean they'll get busy trying to have kids right away? Maybe so.

Even tho she's older, she'll look young forever. Did you see her mother? A lovely woman at 60!

[LisaL]

16. If they want to have children they should get busy.

Fertility does drop rather rapidly after woman turns 35.

[Honeycombe8]

18. Yes, that's what I was thinking.

That's going to be one good looking kid, if they're lucky enough to have one.

[LisaL]

22. There is no pressure in terms of the monarchy since his older brother had three.

They might not even want kids for all I know.

[BumRushDaShow]

23. Camilla is a year older than Charles.

(but then Diana was 13 years his junior)

[Honeycombe8]

30. Wow...I thought she was much older than he was.....I viewed her as an one-off thingie...

because of his situation and background and the weird marriage he had with Diana and all. She looks much older.

Encouraging for all us older gals! (My ex was 2 years younger, actually. And it showed. He was very immature.)

[LisaL]

32. I don't think there is enough princess for everyone.

[Honeycombe8]

33. LOL! nt

[BumRushDaShow]

34. IMHO

(and I posted this in another thread) Diana was "selected" to re-invigorate the Windsor family bloodline (genetically). She was not really who Charles "wanted" and his rebellion was obvious. However Diana produced 2 strapping sons and the oldest (primary heir) among those sons (with more re-invigoration from Kate) has produced 3 children (including 2 more sons), so the bloodline continues.

Charles doesn't want to be king and he has the love of his life right now.

[LisaL]

37. Charles doesn't want to be king?

Since when?

[BumRushDaShow]

39. Why the hell do you think Elizabeth and Philip

both in their 90s, are still sitting there on the throne???

Charles has always been a ne'er-do-well, and was never really focused on his "royal duties"... And when he got divorced from Diana, that pretty much sealed his fate (and he didn't care because he eventually got the woman he always wanted). He produced "heirs", the oldest of which will be King.

[LisaL]

40. Because that's how a monarchy generally works?

One stays a king or queen until one dies?
It's not an elected position from which one steps down.

[BumRushDaShow]

41. No

not necessarily. They can step down at any time.

(see Edward VIII and "the divorcee" Wallis Simpson - something my mother used to talk about all the time)

[LisaL]

42. They can step down but they generally don't.

So no clue why you would expect queen not stepping down mean anything.

[BumRushDaShow]

44. Right -the option IS there and if Elizabeth dies

Charles will most likely abdicate. Two divorcees married to each other.

That is why quite a bit has been spent on grooming Will and Kate (and she has been popping out babies ).

[LisaL]

47. Charles will not abdicate.

Wanna bet?

[BumRushDaShow]

48. We shall see...

[LisaL]

49. Queen might outlive us all.

[BumRushDaShow]

50. Philip pretty much has. He will be 97 next month!

And walked in there just as spry (meanwhile all this rain we are getting here in Philly has every joint aching in my body).

[EffieBlack]

60. That was a total aberration

And he was vilified for it.

Elizabeth vowed as a young woman that she would devote her entire life - "be it short or long"- to the Crown.

[BumRushDaShow]

63. But.... guess what?

They can do (and decree) anything they want.

She is setting the stage. They (the Windsors) have been around for what? 600 or so years? Elizabeth has been essentially radical ever since she was installed.

[calimary]

61. I suspect you're right about most of that.

But I think Charles still does want to be king. He’s been groomed for it since he was a toddler. It’s all he’s ever known. He’s been all about duty to the exclusion of everything else.

Which as I’ve read was why Diana got picked. Biggest obligation of a crown royal is to carry on the royal line. That’s IT. Priority One. Love is a side dish at best. He wasn’t able to marry for love - or maybe back then rules and conventions were so terribly rigid. He was getting older and the pressure to settle down - and produce an heir.

Sheesh - I remember hearing and reading about that, at slowly increasing levels, back then. For years before they found Diana - a very willing and suitable prospect - there was this subtle drum beat, as he turned 30, wondering when he was going to settle down (and produce an heir). And her added appeal WAS her youth. She was very young and healthy, and had years of popping out royal offspring ahead of her. The chattering class over there was even starting to grow impatient.

And back then, the target also had to be a virgin. It was still essential. Amazingly enough, she was one. Remember how she’d indicated she was saving herself for something special?

I always felt sorry for him. He married because of “have to” instead of “want to.” And like it or not, what he wanted was Camilla, from early-on, even though Camilla didn’t want all the hoo-hah that goes with being that kind of public figure. The strict rules decreed he had to marry for duty, and produce heirs to carry on the royal line. Love was beside the point. Irrelevant. A non-essential. A pity, really.

Diana did melt some of the royal glaciers. Her husband wasn’t able to (or allowed to) marry for love. But her sons were, as we’ve now seen!

[BumRushDaShow]

64. All of the first borns are "groomed for it"

but that doesn't mean they want to do it. And as you note - being a first born and not having married until he was in his 30s (he was enjoying his polo), he did not want to be bothered. He's had plenty of time to do many other things beyond his duties as Prince of Wales.

And in his case, given the lifespan of his parents and the current situation of his children, he has found himself in the clear to not have to deal with it. He and Camilla can go off and enjoy life (with the obligatory foundation work) and hope they have good genes to go another 20 or more years without having to deal with the post-modern role as head of a monarchy.

[Honeycombe8]

65. That's true. I think the Queen is done meddling in who the family members marry.

The marriage w/Diana was a disaster.

I do think Charles wants to be King. Unless at this stage, he's given up on it. Read something that the country may prefer it to straight to William. Poor Charles. William has plenty of time to be King, though, if Charles wants to take his turn.

[stuffmatters]

20. Loved The Love Bishop & the Gospel Choir; It was wonderfully both Megan's and a Royal's Wedding.

Definitely a welcome "feelgood" event.

[calimary]

62. Heck, he just about stole the show!

[a kennedy]

25. Watching my DVR'd copy now......BBC on Public TV is only way to watch.......

NO ADVERTISEMENTS AT ALL.

[NurseJackie]

26. "You look amazing..." --- Such sweetness! A day of affirmations! Love it!

I've enjoyed the coverage and photos and videos very much!

[DesertRat]

27. My favorite part

No trumps were there!

[Upthevibe]

29. It's a feel good....

I'm not normally into this kind of thing but I'm finding myself drawn in and I'm glad. We need a break....I think they're a darling couple who are both socially consciousness....

[Guilded Lilly]

31. I adore Harry and Meghan! n/t

[BumRushDaShow]

35. Song of Solomon (Song of Songs)

being the reading from the Old Testament as part of the liturgy.

For those unfamiliar with it (and believe it or not, as a senior in high school, our English class studied that passage as literature), go google it and note the symbolism.

In the Anglican (and Episcopal) liturgy, a "theme" is established with the readings (Old Testament, New Testament, Gospel) and the homily (sermon) is expected to tie into it - and that theme today was "Love".

[leftyladyfrommo]

36. Me, too.

Some sunlight in a dark world.

And I love those little kids.

[USALiberal]

38. LOL, good one! nt

[Greybnk48]

43. I got up and watched Diana,

William, and now Harry. I recorded William and Harry, so a little cheat there thanks to technology!

[Tracer]

45. My daughter, who is a big royals fan...

... made scones and tea and we sat down at the table with our good china and had a small tea party, while watching the wedding.

It was quite lovely --- both the wedding and the tea party!

[justgamma]

46. someone help me understand.

I watched the arrival twice on two different channels. The announcers were all giddy following the caravan. Oh there's Meghan riding with her mother. They were giddy to see the tiara. Here they come. Out of the first car came Meghan's mother. Out of the last car came Meghan and 2 young boys. When did they magically change cars? None of the announcers mentioned anything. It's driving me nuts. Short drive, I know.

[BumRushDaShow]

52. I think it was just the one car

and her mother got out first to go in at a side entrance and be seated and the boys may have jumped in then, and then she came all the way around to the main entrance.

[madaboutharry]

54. The first car was a burgundy Rolls Royce.

That was the one Meghan was in and got out with two children.

At the church, her mother got out of a black car.

[BumRushDaShow]

56. Okay

They probably did a switch at the gate entrance. I know the coverage wasn't following the caravan the entire way without at least a few breaks to show talking heads or crowd shots.

[madaboutharry]

53. They switched cars when no one was looking!

On MSNBC, Stephanie Rhule and Katy Tur were saying "WTF...what just happened here!"

[EffieBlack]

55. There were two separate cars

That was interesting, wasn't it?

Doria clearly was in the car alone with Meghan when they started for the church but then she arrived at the church in a different car. The MSNBC commentators were puzzled but then figured out that, at some point, out of camera view, Doria got out and switched cars and the page boys got in.

Which really moved me. Doria needed to go in the church and be seated ahead of her daughter, but apparently Meghan wanted her mother with her in the car, so they did the switcheroo. I just think that was SO sweet!

Usually, the mother arrives separately and goes to her seat while the bride's father rides with her to the church and then walks her up the aisle. Maybe that's what they would have done if Meghan's father had been able to come. But since her father wasn't there, it was so beautiful that her mother rode with her as far as she could. And, given how carefully planned and timed this all was, it seems that this was done because that's what the bride wanted.

[BumRushDaShow]

57. That's most likely it

There was sortof a gatehouse at the entrance of the complex and they might have done a switch. I.e., that building at the far bottom left-hand corner of the below (I think the caravan drove through that) -

[EffieBlack]

51. Me, too