No, fiancees don't usually attend this service. I can't remember whether Sophie attended before her marriage, she did go to several official and semi official events, but Kate didn't go.
I think Meghan is going because it's considered important for her to be introduced to many different aspects of the Royal year and to Commonwealth events which, as a foreign national, she may not have been aware of.
I also feel the family just making it very clear to anyone in denial that she is one of them and they are supporting her 100%. I think it is a clever tactic to be honest. Also no better way for her to learn than to be hands on. She has the background. Use it.
I don't recall the BRF being too involved with the Commonwealth Service when Sophie was a fiancee and Camilla/Kate didn't attend either.
I do agree that since the UK is hosting CHOGM and she's an immigrant, that she should be exposed to as much as possible.
I agree. I hate to be cynical but if things do not work out for this couple, then the BRF can state that they provided her with extensive background knowledge of her new role and nation. Diana and Sarah both stated that they didn't feel well prepared to take on their new roles and I believe that the BRF does not want a repeat of these accusations.
ACO I agree that she is really being considered a full family member even before the couple marries. IMO this should send a clear signal that the Queen and the rest of royal family is doing everything that they can to welcome her.?
No, fiancees don't usually attend this service. I can't remember whether Sophie attended before her marriage, she did go to several official and semi official events, but Kate didn't go.
I think Meghan is going because it's considered important for her to be introduced to many different aspects of the Royal year and to Commonwealth events which, as a foreign national, she may not have been aware of.
Kate didn't go to the Commonwealth service as a fiancee because she was engaged after the Commonwealth service in 2010 and married by the time the service took place in 2011 so she was never a fiancee when it was held.
well they've got no choice have they? She's got to live here to arrange her wedding, and so she's here without her family or friends for support, apart from Harry. So the RF have to welcome her..
Kate didn't go to the Commonwealth service as a fiancee because she was engaged after the Commonwealth service in 2010 and married by the time the service took place in 2011 so she was never a fiancee when it was held.
Sophie didn't attend as a royal fiancee as in 1999 only the Queen and Philip attended - no other members of the family at all, not even Charles or Anne.
Going back in the CC and looking at attendance at the Commonwealth Service:
1997 - The Queen and Charles (Philip was in Mongolia)
1998 - The Queen
1999 - The Queen and Philip
2000 - The Queen and Charles (Philip was in the USA)
2001 - The Queen and Philip
2002 - The Queen and Philip
2003 - The Queen and Philip
2004 - The Queen and Philip
2005 - The Queen and Philip
2006 - The Queen and Philip - in Sydney as they were on a tour Down Under
2006 - Charles and Camilla - in London
2007 - The Queen and Philip
2008 - The Queen and Philip
2009 - The Queen and Philip
2010 - The Queen and Philip
2011 - The Queen and Philip
2012 - The Queen, Philip, Charles, Camilla and Sophie
2013 - Philip (the Queen attended the reception in the evening but not the service in the afternoon)
2014 - The Queen, Philip, Charles, Camilla, Edward and Sophie
2015 - The Queen, Philip, Charles, Camilla, William and Kate
2016 - The Queen, Philip, William, Kate, Harry and Andrew
2017 - The Queen, Philip, Charles, Camilla, Harry, Andrew and Edward
It is therefore clear that Meghan attending is because the Queen has changed who attends from just herself and Philip, with Charles stepping occasionally to include more members of the family and this change took place AFTER Kate and William married so Meghan is the first fiancee to be in this position anyway.
So the Commonwealth service was held after Kate was married in late April 2011? I thought the Commonwealth service was held annually in March.
Or more likely the Queen knows that the Commonwealth probably won't last after her death as it really is a useless organisation with no benefits to anyone. How many people living in the Commonwealth know what it does other than hold Games every four years?
1. Well, she is said to be very proud of it, so I don't think she sees the Commonwealth as you sees it (a useless organisation with no benefits to anyone).Or more likely the Queen (1) knows that the Commonwealth probably won't last after her death as it really is a (2) useless organisation with no benefits to anyone. How many people living in the Commonwealth know what it does other than hold Games every four years?
It made sense when it was a trading block and when there were common values and ideas but that isn't the case anymore - hasn't been since the UK deserted the Commonwealth and Empire and joined the EEC. The only thing that has kept it together since as been the Queen but when she goes the one link will go. Charles isn't respected enough and William is too (3) lightweight to have any hope of keeping together such a disparate organisation with so little in common anymore.
I notice no one can actually tell me ONE benefit the Commonwealth provides its members - not just the wealthy members but any member at all.
I would like to add that in Australia we don't even teach any history to do with the Commonwealth - other than the ANZAC invasion of Turkey in 1915. We used to teach that Australia was a member of APEC and the UN but now we only teach that Australia is a member of the UN - no mention of the Commonwealth. Why - because even the Australian government that sets the History syllabus sees no relevance for it in our lives.
I notice no one can actually tell me ONE benefit the Commonwealth provides its members - not just the wealthy members but any member at all.
I would like to add that in Australia we don't even teach any history to do with the Commonwealth - other than the ANZAC invasion of Turkey in 1915. We used to teach that Australia was a member of APEC and the UN but now we only teach that Australia is a member of the UN - no mention of the Commonwealth. Why - because even the Australian government that sets the History syllabus sees no relevance for it in our lives.
I would like to add that in Australia we don't even teach any history to do with the Commonwealth - .
If the Australian Government - who approved the national curriculum - thought that British history or the history of the Commonwealth was something they believed was relevant to Australia they would have put it in there.
Our History syllabus is all about Australia and its place in the world - and that really means our place in Asia with virtually no mention of Europe (other than to show how evil Europeans were when they conquered Australia or somewhere else e.g. the Americas).
European history and culture isn't taught at all - nor is American either - not relevant to young Australians according to our state and federal governments of both persuasions who sign off and fund education in this country.
If kids aren't taught it at school most will never learn it at all and so what is left out is as important as what is put in. Of course what is taught is schools is relevant - it is a sign of what the government regards as important for Australian students to know and they don't see the Commonwealth or European History as important for young Aussies.
well they've got no choice have they? She's got to live here to arrange her wedding, and so she's here without her family or friends for support, apart from Harry. So the RF have to welcome her..