Harry and Meghan: Wedding Suggestions and Musings

[Rudolph]

23 million was still slightly higher than for Charles and Diana and in the U.K. it was around 34 million. Again almost the same as Charles as Diana.

Plus don’t forget we have the internet now. The BBC website crashed during William and Catherine’s wedding.

I expect big numbers for Harry and Meghan especially in America.

 

[Erin9]

People made a big deal out of Americans watching the 2011 wedding and it turns out the number wasn't that large less than 23 million; more people watch the Oscars every year which IDK is a good or bad thing.

IMO that’s pretty good considering how TV rating have been dropping across the board. And it’s for British royals. My guess is that’s easily the highest rated non US related program from that time.

Eh- I haven’t watched the oscars in years. I don’t care to hear anyone’s political views- be it about current events or the president-in an entertainment program, whether I agree with said view or not. It’s too long. I don’t watch enough of the movies anyway. And....I’ve started to wonder what makes the film industry so important that I should spend my time watching them congratulate themselves for a movie. Plus- the whole thing is pretty political- both for nominations and winners. I think I’ve gone off on a bit of a tangent. Lol

 

[Curbside]

I think there will be a healthy US viewership and/or DVR rate. I'll either watch or DVR it--or both.

 

[XeniaCasaraghi]

23 million was still slightly higher than for Charles and Diana and in the U.K. it was around 34 million. Again almost the same as Charles as Diana.

Plus don’t forget we have the internet now. The BBC website crashed during William and Catherine’s wedding.

I expect big numbers for Harry and Meghan especially in America.

And that was almost 30yrs ago when people had to stay home and watch or not see it. In 2011 they could stay home DVR or watch online and the numbers were still lower than an award show. Not trying to imply anything just pointing out that this theory that America is obsessed with British Royalty doesn't hold up to tests.

And I never said people should watch the Oscars, just that more Americans watched the Oscars than either royal wedding... if anything that implies we like shinny things, pretty clothes, and parties.

Apparently more Americans watched Diana's funeral in comparison to the 2 weddings, then there is factoring in things like Olympics and Super Bowls; don't Google those numbers because that just boggles the mind. 48 million Americans watched Nancy and Tonya skate in 1994.

 

[wyevale]

Whether Americans are interested in our Royal Family is a matter for them, but of PERFECT disinterest to us, [other than the press or the media who are interested in making money out of you].

 

[Dman]

An American woman—an American woman of color—is marrying the ever so popular, Prince Harry. The American viewership of this wedding will be significant.

I’m beyond proud and it’s what I hoped for too. I’m with Whoopi!

 

[Pranter]

Still waiting to hear what free channels here will air the wedding. At this point I'm planning to watch it online.


LaRae

 

[ACO]

I am sure ABC, CBS and NBC are all airing and over on cable CNN, FOX News, E! and BBC America will all be airing it. They all did for William and Kate and based on how these stations are reporting on the wedding, no doubt they will all be there. Other stations likely involved too and no doubt plenty of streaming options. I don't think you will be about to avoid it.

 

[Pranter]

I don't know...not convinced ABC/CBS/NBC are going to pre-empt several hours on a Saturday morning. Cable yes..I'm talking about free TV though.


LaRae

 

[ACO]

Why wouldn't they? For one it is early in the morning. The wedding coverage will be over by like 9am EST. They do this with other things like parades, special events and breaking news. As said NBC, ABC, and CBS all covered W&K. I don't see why they wouldn't cover H&M especially when we know these stations are already renting out space in Windsor.

 

[CyrilVladisla]

TLC Network aired the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. Do you think that TLC Network will air the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan?

 

[Osipi]

TLC, here in the States, routinely airs programs and documentaries on the British royals so I would be very surprised if that channel didn't do anything for Harry and Meghan's wedding.

I don't care, really, how many people are going to watch it and the demographics really don't matter to me. What matters is that its a wedding that is of interest to me and there will be ways for me to watch and enjoy it to the fullest with TV coverage, streaming and, of course, everyone here on TRF. And.... to our great delight, for years afterwards we can reminisce to our hearts content with videos on YouTube.

 

[XeniaCasaraghi]

Whether Americans are interested in our Royal Family is a matter for them, but of PERFECT disinterest to us, [other than the press or the media who are interested in making money out of you].

So its not of disinterest to GB.
Anyway the reason I brought it up is just to point out that the Americans interested are a minority. I see people here, online, and on TV acting like the US just loves the BRF and acting like it's so cute.
Speaking of the Oscars apparently all the political stuff caused the ratings to drop... serves them right. But if their political talk causes a certain someone to be re-elected I'm going to be pissed.

Back to the wedding, I for one hope Meghan arrives in a car like Kate did; I also liked how you could see Kate's dress but not get a good look at it as she was getting in the car.

 

[ACO]

I don't know disinterested folks are as I'm sure people are equal parts excited and blasé. The US media all over it and I know people interested in it. Also know some who don't care. I think plenty will watch just like they do with all the royal stuff.

 

[Princess Larisa]

I expect many who aren’t in the same time zone or have to work, ets. will simply watch it online later. Those people wouldn’t count in the ratings numbers.

 

[Countessmeout]

I expect many who aren’t in the same time zone or have to work, ets. will simply watch it online later. Those people wouldn’t count in the ratings numbers.

Or they will DVR it which is more reliable then watching online. And DVR does count towards ratings. So the time difference wont kill it.

Besides a lot of people stayed up for William and Kate. And while William may be the future king, Harry the bachelor prince getting married to an American actress, will definitely draw in viewers.

No doubt TLC will air a special like they did for William and Kate. And it wont be the morning of the wedding. Its the kind of show many TLC viewers like, and will get high ratings.

 

[ACO]

ABC announced a new royal documentary airing in August that will highlight the wedding, Kate's birth and the line of succession.

People and ABC Announce New Royals Documentary | PEOPLE.com

They are in royal fever right now.

 

[Mbruno]

I don't know...not convinced ABC/CBS/NBC are going to pre-empt several hours on a Saturday morning. Cable yes..I'm talking about free TV though.


LaRae

I don't think they would do it on prime time, but Saturday morning programming is mostly children's shows, which are easily expendable.

Unfortunately, Harry and Meghan's wedding will be far less "grand" than William and Kate's and, therefore, won't make for a big show. The ceremony itself will be a traditional (High) Anglican service, which is pretty uneventful, except for those teenage girls who actually sob when the bride and groom exchange their vows.

 

[Countessmeout]

I don't think they would do it on prime time, but Saturday morning programming is mostly children's shows, which are easily expendable.

Unfortunately, Harry and Meghan's wedding will be far less "grand" than William and Kate's and, therefore, won't make for a big show. The ceremony itself will be a traditional (High) Anglican service, which is pretty uneventful, except for those teenage girls who actually sob when the bride and groom exchange their vows.

In reality that is no different then William and Kate's. The only difference will be less guests and a smaller venue. The ceremony wont be very different, except choice in music. If people could sit through Will and Kate's wedding ceremony, they will sit through Harry's. There will still be plenty of big name guests for people to watch arrive. And the celebrities will be more of a draw for viewers, then the thousand politicians and such that attended the Cambridge but not Harry's wedding.

 

[Mbruno]

In reality that is no different then William and Kate's. The only difference will be less guests and a smaller venue. The ceremony wont be very different, except choice in music. If people could sit through Will and Kate's wedding ceremony, they will sit through Harry's. There will still be plenty of big name guests for people to watch arrive. And the celebrities will be more of a draw for viewers, then the thousand politicians and such that attended the Cambridge but not Harry's wedding.

William and Kate also had plenty of celebrity guests (the Beckhams, Elton John, etc.) plus foreign royals and top British and Commonwealth public figures who, to me personally, are far more interesting than celebrities. In particular, I like to see gatherings of many royals from different countries, which is why I enjoyed weddings like Frederik's, Victoria's or Felipe's so much.

Besides, William and Kate had the Abbey setting and the RF procession from the Abbey back to BP, which we won't see in Harry and Meghan's wedding. The service itself might be similar in those parts that are actually mandatory in the liturgy, but I don't think the music will be as "grand" as in William and Kate's wedding, especially for the walking down the aisle or for the newly weds leaving the church.

I'm pretty sure it will be a nice wedding, but "toned down" compared to William's, which was in turn already a step down from Charles and Diana's. Interest in the US will be huge mostly because Meghan is American and Americans in general are very self-centered (sorry to say that !).

 

[Denville]

She could if she so chooses. However, if not her father, then her mother. And she has plenty of other relative and friend options as well, which I outlined in a previous post.

I think it would look very odd at a royal wedding to break tradtion to that extent. if her father doesn't attend or isn't able/doesn't want to escort her down the aisle the proper thing would be for her to be escorted by a male relative or if not relatives are available, a friend...

 

[MaiaMia_53]

I think it would look very odd at a royal wedding to break tradtion to that extent. if her father doesn't attend or isn't able/doesn't want to escort her down the aisle the proper thing would be for her to be escorted by a male relative or if not relatives are available, a friend...

I'm responding to others who have suggested this. Personally, I would like to see Meghan accompanied down the aisle by her father. Should Meghan's father be unable to escort her, I hope he is there to witness this special day for his daughter. I already stated earlier in this thread my order of preference:

Father
Father and Mother
Mother
Markus Anderson
Alvin Joffrey Ragland
Ben Mulroney
Christopher Hale
Prince Charles

As I said, there are plenty of family and friend options, even beyond these choices, including Harry's mentor, Mark Dyer. With so many options, why should Meghan walk down the aisle alone? That's a question I asked earlier too. I do not think she will walk alone.

 

[Lady Reem]

I think it would look very odd at a royal wedding to break tradtion to that extent. if her father doesn't attend or isn't able/doesn't want to escort her down the aisle the proper thing would be for her to be escorted by a male relative or if not relatives are available, a friend...

That’s your own opinion but thankfully whoever she decides/wants to walk her down the aisle will be her decision and mainly hers, with the support of her loving husband-to-be of course.

And Meghan marrying Prince Harry is already breaking the mode on many fronts just as the Queen inviting her for Christmas at Sandringham before marriage was another great change in protocol for the RF. Doria was there for her daughter at her previous wedding and if Meghan for whatever reason would like her mother’s support in a different capacity this time around then so be it.

Commoner women have been marrying into the reigning royal houses of Europe for quite sometime and are now Queens and Crown Princesses etc.., heck there’s even a Queen who was a former divorcee, and a Crown Princess a former single mother.

Women walking their daughters down the aisle is not unusual and not that big a deal in the grand scheme of things.

What I find disturbingly “odd” is the suggestion that her mum whom she is very close to should be disregarded in favour of other people if her dad is unavailable. Regardless of her feelings.

 

[Iolanthe]

I could see them walking the aisle togehter, if her father isn't an option for whatever reason. Haakon and Mette-Marit went together and I really liked that (https://youtu.be/DorodTW9nlIhttp://).
https://youtu.be/DorodTW9nlIhttp://

 

[Mbruno]

I could see them walking the aisle togehter, if her father isn't an option for whatever reason. Haakon and Mette-Marit went together and I really liked that (https://youtu.be/DorodTW9nlIhttp://).

The bride and groom walking the aisle together is common in some countries, but I don't think it is very usual in the American or British culture. Correct me if I am wrong, but the CoE liturgy for marriages still includes someone who "gives away" the bride and, as far as I recall from previous British royal weddings, the groom is usually facing the altar and is not even supposed to look at the bride as she walks down the aisle. Both Diana and Kate wore veils to cover their faces too. Everything is still terribly old-fashioned, far more so actually than in Roman Catholic weddings, which, surprisingly, have been greatly "modernized" in recent years as far the liturgy goes.

I am not saying it is impossible, but, if Harry and Meghan enter the chapel together, it will be a big departure from tradition. Queen Victoria, who was fatherless when she got married, was escorted by one of her uncles, I think (in the ITV series, it was the Duke of Sussex, but I don't know if that is historically accurate).

 

[ACO]

What I find disturbingly “odd” is the suggestion that her mum whom she is very close to should be disregarded in favour of other people if her dad is unavailable. Regardless of her feelings.

I kind of agree. I think IF her father can't walk her down the aisle then it should be her mother. We already know how close they are to each other. On her big day why would she share that with anyone other than her parents? I don't see it.

 

[Denville]

The bride and groom walking the aisle together is common in some countries, but I don't think it is very usual in the American or British culture. Correct me if I am wrong, but the CoE liturgy for marriages still includes someone who "gives away" the bride and, as far as I recall from previous British royal weddings, the groom is usually facing the altar
I am not saying it is impossible, but, if Harry and Meghan enter the chapel together, it will be a big departure from tradition. Queen Victoria, who was fatherless when she got married, was escorted by one of her uncles, I think (in the ITV series, it was the Duke of Sussex, but I don't know if that is historically accurate).

It would completely take away from the symbolism of the marriage, which is that 2 single people come together and are joined into a married couple... and that they come from their own birth families to form a new family...

 

[JR76]

It would completely take away from the symbolism of the marriage, which is that 2 single people come together and are joined into a married couple... and that they come from their own birth families to form a new family...

In Sweden the symbolism is that the couple enters the church and proceed down the aisle to get married at their own free will. Most ministers in the Church of Sweden are against the bride being given away as that is seen as a symbol of the bride having no choice of her own. When it was made public that Crown Princess Victoria wanted to be given away by her father The King there was a clash between the wishes of the bride and the Archbishop performing the marriage who was totally against it. In the end a compromise had to be found and The King escorted his daughter halfway down the aisle where Daniel met them and took over after which the couple walked up to the altar together.

Different context, different symbols.

 

[JR76]

If for some reason Mr Markle is present in the church but can't walk down the aisle they could do like was done at the wedding of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxemburg and Stephanie de Lannoy. Her father, the old Count de Lannoy, was in a wheelchair and in general ill health so Stephanie was escorted down the aisle by one of her brothers and when they reached the front benches her father took her hand and put it in the hand of Guillaume who was waiting there. It was a very touching and sweet moment.

 

[Denville]

In Sweden the symbolism is that the couple enters the church and proceed down the aisle to get married at their own free will. Most ministers in the Church of Sweden are against the bride being given away as that is seen as a symbol of the bride having no choice of her own. When it was made public that Crown Princess Victoria wanted to be given away by her father The King there was a clash between the wishes of the bride and the Archbishop performing the marriage who was totally against it. In the end a compromise had to be found and The King escorted his daughter halfway down the aisle where Daniel met them and took over after which the couple walked up to the altar together.

Different context, different symbols.

Seems odd to me, but different strokes.. but since Harry and Meghan are part of the British RF I would expect them to stick with british tradtions.
And while it is true that in past days there was an element of the bride being passed from the protection of her father to that of her husband, that is no longer the case.. I was very glad at my wedding for there to be a friend to escort me..