THE ROYAL WEDDING, PART 2

 

I’m still not over the royal wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle. Remember, I’m a hopeless romantic. I keep thinking about the bride, and that veil!  There are still nuggets to be mined from her story and I have to give my friend Catherine for the nudge to write these words.

 

I have always been an Anglophile and an English history buff. Jerry and I subscribe to two British television-streaming networks.  And I’m especially interested in the monarchy.  This interest began in high school when I took an English history course under a very gifted teacher, Leon Wilensky.  His teaching method was different from other history teachers I had in that he wasn’t very concerned with dates, but instead emphasized the essence and meaning of history.  However, there was one date you absolutely HAD to memorize in order to pass the class. I may not be able to remember your name or why I walked into the kitchen, but I can tell you that William the Conqueror won the Battle of Hastings in 1066.  That battle changed the course of history, and William became the first Norman king, crowned in Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day.  I became fascinated with the succession of kings after that, and even while writing these words I’m thinking I would like to go back and brush up on my history.

 

When Meghan Markle married Prince Harry she became a member of the royal family.  And she herself is now royal.  Her title is now Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Sussex.  The fact that Harry chose her as his bride is really remarkable. Not only is she a divorced American, she is bi-racial.  And she is a commoner!  Edward VIII must be turning over in his grave.  On paper, she is entirely unsuitable, and would never have married into the royal family in the not too distant past.  In fact, if you go way back in history, some of those things might have gotten her beheaded.

 

I became curious about the process of becoming a royal so I did a little research.  A royal title can only be granted by the reigning monarch, in this case Queen Elizabeth, by means of conferring something called letters patent under the Great Seal. The patent is a parchment, which bears the seal.  A royal’s name must be recorded in the Roll of Peerage.  If your name is not on the roll, you aren’t royal.

 

Royalty demands respect.  There are rules for meeting the Queen, how she should be addressed, how to stand and when to sit.  And take note Michelle Obama, the Queen is NOT to be touched.  Because of her service to the nation, because of her unique place in history, and because she represents all that the British cherish about their country, the Queen demands respect.  At the close of the royal wedding when everyone sang God Save the Queen, I didn’t notice anyone taking a knee.  They stood out of respect for Queen and country.

 

Although Meghan is not a queen, or even a princess, she has attained a new level of status.  What will the new Duchess have to do besides wear gorgeous clothes and look fabulous? The royals have privileges and responsibilities, and the responsibilities far outweigh the privileges. The primary duty of all royals is procreation.  They are to produce heirs.  Since Meghan is 36 years old she better get right on it.

 

But besides producing heirs they have numerous official, ceremonial, and diplomatic duties.  I read somewhere that the Queen makes over 350 public appearances a year, and she is 92 years old!  One doesn’t get to sit back and lounge on the throne.  It’s a job.  And so it will be a new job for Meghan.  Becoming a royal means she must give up her former life because she now represents the Queen.  She has a new home (or homes) and I doubt that she will ever have to worry about having enough money.  Because he is incredibly wealthy, Prince Harry will no doubt provide royally.  That aquamarine ring!

 

You have probably already guessed where I am going with all of this. I will never wear a diamond tiara, but much of Meghan’s story parallel’s mine.  I too was chosen by a Prince, although I brought nothing of value on my own. I was a commoner, unworthy, but He conferred royalty on me (I Peter 2:9), and my name was recorded in The Lamb’s Book of Life (Rev. 21:27).  I am a joint-heir with Christ!  I will never wear a fabulous designer one-of-a-kind gown, but my Prince has “clothed me with the garments of salvation and covered me with the robe of righteousness,” (Isaiah 61:10).  I too have a new home in Heaven just waiting for me.  But while I am still on this earth Christ has bestowed on me countless blessings.  Because He has all the riches of Heaven at His disposal, He provides everything I need (Phil. 4:19).  I also have new responsibilities.  I am now an ambassador of Christ (2 Cor. 5:20) and as such I am called to a new life. And I am given the commission to procreate, to produce more heirs to the Kingdom (Matt. 28:19).

 

As I was thinking about William the Conqueror being crowned on Christmas Day, I was reminded of the first Christmas when a new King arrived on the scene.  Crowned with thorns and hung on a cross, He changed history!  Nothing has been the same since Christ.  As King of King, he is worthy of our respect.  One day, every knee will bow.

 

Worthy is the Lamb
Seated on the throne
Crown You now with many crowns
You reign victorious

 

High and lifted up

Jesus, Son of God

The darling of Heaven crucified

Worthy is the Lamb

Worthy is the Lamb

 

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