Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: Church Service, Carriage Procession - May 19, 2018

[CyrilVladisla]

That entrance was just sublime. I loved the singular walk, and then joined by Prince Charles.

Prince Charles looked perfect in his morning suit. A uniform would have made him look too regimental.

 

[gerry]

1. You are in Church, performing a Royal Wedding in front of the Queen and the entire Royal Family. A spiritual stand is required. Stand-up comedy belongs somewhere else.
2. Mentioning actual companies by NAME (Facebook and Instagram, both owned by one man btw) at such event is inappropriate and vulgar.
3. Using an iPad in such setting is at the very least impolite.
4. the jokes were EMBARRASSING. He was even waiting for the laugh, he's so used to it. Going to church in the States I can confirm is now just as going to a comedy club. Unfortunately, I'm familiar with it.
5. Bringing up slavery? Mentioning MLK?
6. Glorifying technology (the Industrial Revolution! Fire allowed your cars to bring you here today!)...what's the point?? The true message about Love was drowned in embarrassing platitudes and fake tones.

Clearly you weren't listening with your heart, which is what Rev Curry was talking about, even stating his source and inspiration, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

 

[Alliec76]

Archbishop of Canterbury invited him,not Harry and Meghan. They never even met him until today according to an interview he gave along with Archbishop.
Judging from Prince Harry and Meghan's faces they really enjoyed his message and so did I. No one went to sleep at least.

You can literally see his sermons on YouTube, so this idea that they didn't know what they were getting is absurd. And maybe the BRF didn't enjoy it (and honestly we don't know how they feel) but I can tell you my Facebook timeline lit up with friends who were unbelievably moved and inspired by his sermon. Admittedly his speaking style was not foreign to us, so maybe that had something to do with it. But there was just a tremendous sense of pride in seeing our heritage being so prominently displayed and celebrated.

 

[O-H Anglophile]

Question - why didn't Harry and Meaghan bow and curtsy to the queen?

They did, the BBC cameras failed to capture it clearly. Right after "God Save the Queen." Big discussion earlier in the thread.

 

[Zaira]

Of course, I was joking with my original post.

What I would say is that Meghan comes to this marriage as a woman in her late thirties, who has been around the block and lived a very full life before she met Harry. She comes from a beautiful tradition that allowed her (our) ancestors to survive in captivity, in very difficult conditions.

Part of that tradition involves gospel music, long-winded, thought-provoking sermons that require a response to make sure the congregation is paying attention.

If the sermon made people uncomfortable, this is not a bad thing. Good preachers should make you uncomfortable at times.

Meghan has stated that she is proud of her heritage. I love that she was confident in her identity and what she wanted for her wedding, to basically insist on her heritage being represented.

I have a viewing party which was supposed to be 10 but turned into 25 lol. We were almost all POC, and to see our backgrounds so included meant the world to us.

I am glad Meghan was represented so well in this ceremony. It truly felt more like union between two souls, two cultures and two visions than any other royal wedding I've watched.

 

[lisaloveshearts]

Did anyone notice that Harry didn't smile much?

 

[Zaira]

1. You are in Church, performing a Royal Wedding in front of the Queen and the entire Royal Family. A spiritual stand is required. Stand-up comedy belongs somewhere else.
2. Mentioning actual companies by NAME (Facebook and Instagram, both owned by one man btw) at such event is inappropriate and vulgar.
3. Using an iPad in such setting is at the very least impolite.
4. the jokes were EMBARRASSING. He was even waiting for the laugh, he's so used to it. Going to church in the States I can confirm is now just as going to a comedy club. Unfortunately, I'm familiar with it.
5. Bringing up slavery? Mentioning MLK?
6. Glorifying technology (the Industrial Revolution! Fire allowed your cars to bring you here today!)...what's the point?? The true message about Love was drowned in embarrassing platitudes and fake tones.

What, precisely, is wrong with bringing up MLK? One of the greatest leaders in history? or mentioning slavery? Talking about modern life and technology? The horror!

How ever did the Queen survive the sight of the iPad???

Do folks really believe he did not have to get his sermons cleared by Canterbury, Harry/Meghan and likely the Queen? Harry and Meghan both looked into it, laughed at his jokes and seemed moved. I agree it could have been about 2 min shorter, but the message was IMO exactly what the couple wanted.

I am sorry, folks responses to this sermon are showing a lot of things that I find deeply uncomfortable. I am out.

 

[CyrilVladisla]

Did anyone notice that Harry didn't smile much?

At times Prince Henry was solemn. This was his wedding day. He may have felt serious and solemn at times.

 

[Zaira]

At times Prince Henry was solemn. This was his wedding day. He may have felt serious and solemn at times.

Harry smiled so much lol. They both were so full of emotion.

 

[Missjersey]

So happy I was able to watch entire wedding live. Thought the bride looked very pretty. Her veil was lovely though I thought the train could have been a tad shorter in length. Thought bouquet should be bigger. The pages’ outfits were too severe for me and the bridesmaids blah IMO. I don’t know if I’d say I was disappointed, maybe just old school, I like when the couple use their given names. Didn’t like the sermon at all. To each their own, it was meaningful to the bride and groom and that’s what counts. Hope everyone enjoyed their celebration. I enjoyed my day!

 

[Juliette2]

Archbishop of Canterbury invited him,not Harry and Meghan. They never even met him until today according to an interview he gave along with Archbishop.
Judging from Prince Harry and Meghan's faces they really enjoyed his message and so did I. No one went to sleep at least.

They didn't even meet him before today?? Oh wow.

P.S. Apparently Princess Seesito of Lesotho was sleeping... ? https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/t...eep-guest-sleeping-Prince-Harry-Meghan-Markle )

 

[suztav]

How was it decided that George and Amal and Serena Williams and her husband sat in the Quire while the Middletons, Elton John, and the Beckhams were relegated to the Nave?

 

[O-H Anglophile]

They didn't even meet him before today?? Oh wow.

P.S. Apparently Princess Seesito of Lesotho was sleeping... ? https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/t...eep-guest-sleeping-Prince-Harry-Meghan-Markle )

Or concentrating deeply on listening or in prayer.

 

[bluestocking]

I thought the reaction of the royal relations to the bishop was extremely bad mannered. Surely they’ve had occasion to hear different styles of preaching in their globe trotting existences. He preached in a style that is very typical of a black American church, on love, a topic that was very appropriate for a wedding, and with a view to what it means to the world audience for a biracial woman to marry a popular prince. It’s just too bad they didn’t seem to be listening or understanding the message.

 

[O-H Anglophile]

How was it decided that George and Amal and Serena Williams and her husband sat in the Quire while the Middletons, Elton John, and the Beckhams were relegated to the Nave?

I imagine Harry & Meghan chose where their guests would sit.

 

[Missy-]

Just putting in my two cents worth, I was disappointed. Her wedding dress was meh, the veil was pretty but too long, the flowers were very boring, Harry didn't dazzle me... The only thing that I really liked was the tiara, everything else including the children's clothes was a bore imo. It felt more like a society wedding, it wasn't very royal. Glad others enjoyed it, though.

 

[texankitcat]

Clearly you weren't listening with your heart, which is what Rev Curry was talking about, even stating his source and inspiration, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

No, we tuned in to watch a British Royal Wedding not Sunday fire and brimstone sermon. Thanks!

 

[Ish]

How was it decided that George and Amal and Serena Williams and her husband sat in the Quire while the Middletons, Elton John, and the Beckhams were relegated to the Nave?

Not sure about the Clooneys because I didn’t notice where they were sitting, but the bride’s side of the Quire was filled with her close friends, in lieu of her family, while the grooms side of the Quire was filled with his family.

Serena Williams, as a close friend of Meghan’s, sat in the “family” section. The Middletons, Elton John, the Beckhams, as friends of Harry’s, sat in the Nave.

 

[teruterubouzu]

Uh



The preacher gave a theatrical, wildly inappropriate address.

Wildly inappropriate?

It was a different presentation than some are used to, but his message was important and thoughtful. If anything was inappropriate, it was the behavior of a guest or two.

 

[Juliette2]

What, precisely, is wrong with bringing up MLK? One of the greatest leaders in history? or mentioning slavery? Talking about modern life and technology? The horror!

How ever did the Queen survive the sight of the iPad???

Do folks really believe he did not have to get his sermons cleared by Canterbury, Harry/Meghan and likely the Queen? Harry and Meghan both looked into it, laughed at his jokes and seemed moved. I agree it could have been about 2 min shorter, but the message was IMO exactly what the couple wanted.

I am sorry, folks responses to this sermon are showing a lot of things that I find deeply uncomfortable. I am out.

Yes.

Sorry you feel deeply uncomfortable but there is such a thing as "suitability". MLK could be the greatest leader in the world, I don't care. You are at a Royal Wedding IN BRITAIN, not a political rally in D.C. You bring up slavery at the wrong moment and for your own political purposes (read about Rev. Curry's agenda in the U.S.) when history in front of your eyes is showing you that the BRF is accepting, in fact, embracing a bi-racial woman.
Mentioning Facebook and Instagram? How about if he had said: "I was drinking a Coca-Cola this morning while reading the Bible.." Don't people see how vulgar and inappropriate mentioning brands is??
You're offending tradition by laughing at the royal using carriages, I mean...come on, people.

 

[texankitcat]

I thought the reaction of the royal relations to the bishop was extremely bad mannered. Surely they’ve had occasion to hear different styles of preaching in their globe trotting existences. He preached in a style that is very typical of a black American church, on love, a topic that was very appropriate for a wedding, and with a view to what it means to the world audience for a biracial woman to marry a popular prince. It’s just too bad they didn’t seem to be listening or understanding the message.

Personally, My husband was howling and I was in between laughing and cringing much like the Royal Family. There is a time and place for this type of sermon and it certainly wasn’t the time or place. For the record it wasn’t just the BRF that were reacting. Turn off the sound and just watch the audience. It was uncomfortable for many.

 

[bluestocking]

Maybe it’s time for them to update the tradition, hmm? The ceremony was a very nice blend of traditional English and black, contemporary American styles. It was all in good taste, all beautifully done, and the sermon had true meaning. It was very nearly perfectly done.

 

[Missjersey]

Just putting in my two cents worth, I was disappointed. Her wedding dress was meh, the veil was pretty but too long, the flowers were very boring, Harry didn't dazzle me... The only thing that I really liked was the tiara, everything else including the children's clothes was a bore imo. It felt more like a society wedding, it wasn't very royal. Glad others enjoyed it, though.

Have to agree Missy, it didn’t seem very Royal to me either

 

[O-H Anglophile]

Yes.

Sorry you feel deeply uncomfortable but there is such a thing as "suitability". MLK could be the greatest leader in the world, I don't care. You are at a Royal Wedding IN BRITAIN, not a political rally in D.C. You bring up slavery at the wrong moment and for your own political purposes (read about Rev. Curry's agenda in the U.S.) when history in front of your eyes is showing you that the BRF is accepting, in fact, embracing a bi-racial woman.
Mentioning Facebook and Instagram? How about if he had said: "I was drinking a Coca-Cola this morning while reading the Bible.." Don't people see how vulgar and inappropriate mentioning brands is??

So does the mention of slavery make you uncomfortable? Because part of the bride's family were slaves. I see nothing inappropriate with facing facts.

Yes, Harry's family has welcomed Meghan into the family, but that doesn't change history.


Facebook and Instagram are more than brands, they are a part of modern culture and communication.

 

[Juliette2]

Not sure about the Clooneys because I didn’t notice where they were sitting, but the bride’s side of the Quire was filled with her close friends, in lieu of her family, while the grooms side of the Quire was filled with his family.

Serena Williams, as a close friend of Meghan’s, sat in the “family” section. The Middletons, Elton John, the Beckhams, as friends of Harry’s, sat in the Nave.

Well, the Middletons, I understand. They're not really close to Prince Harry. The bride not having a large guest list, I believe chose her "side" according to her own preference and not necessarily according to close friendship. Oprah and the Clooneys?? I don't believe they're close at all but she probably thinks high of them or maybe would like to forge a closer relationship with them and assigned them a privileged spot. It felt a little lonely. I know she has very good girlfriends but she basically only had her mother there. No aunts, cousins, etc.?

On another note, I was surprised not to see Mia Tindall among the flower girls.

 

[Alliec76]

Are we really doing this? Having this conversation? And no one is going to state the obvious? We are just supposed to be ok with our heritage being mocked? Just because something is unfamiliar to you does not make it unsuitable or wrong. I'm sorry I'm not going to sit back and let this go unchallenged. I as a woman of color should not have to bite my tounge or dance around the obvious, when my heritage and way of worship is being mocked and deemed out of place, just to keep the peace. I have to do that enough in real life. But since those seem to be the rules, this is perhaps not the place for me.

 

[DuchessMia]

People had a problem with the minister mentioning slavery and MLK? Really? People are really reaching. I thought when he talked about how slaves even in their captivity kept their faith, kept their love, it was so poignant, because sitting right there is a woman descended from those very slaves sitting in a position her ancestors (my ancestors) never would have dreamed. If that made people uncomfortable so be it. It was a very distinctly African-American form of preaching. They knew what they were getting when they asked him to speak.

I thought the whole service was beautiful, from start to finish. It was personal, it was joyful, it was a perfect representation of both Harry and Meghan. When they walked out of the church and you could hear the choir singing Amen/This Little Light of Mine, it gave me chills. It was all so moving. I was definitely disappointed in some of the smirking and giggling during the sermon, but I wasn't surprised. Anyway it was made up for by Oprah doing the "black church lady sway" when he was preaching! LOL!

It was a great sermon. If people were uncomfortable, they should examine why they were and deal with it.

And lest we forget, the Queen made Meghan, the very first Duchess of Sussex, a title given to a man who fought to abolish slavery in the UK.

 

[Gawin]

Yes.

Sorry you feel deeply uncomfortable but there is such a thing as "suitability". MLK could be the greatest leader in the world, I don't care. You are at a Royal Wedding IN BRITAIN, not a political rally in D.C. You bring up slavery at the wrong moment and for your own political purposes (read about Rev. Curry's agenda in the U.S.) when history in front of your eyes is showing you that the BRF is accepting, in fact, embracing a bi-racial woman.
Mentioning Facebook and Instagram? How about if he had said: "I was drinking a Coca-Cola this morning while reading the Bible.." Don't people see how vulgar and inappropriate mentioning brands is??
You're offending tradition by laughing at the royal using carriages, I mean...come on, people.

This is what Rev. Curry said about Martin Luther King (who, by the way, had a doctorate in theology and was a Baptist minister):

"Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said: 'We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we discover that, we will be able to make of this old world a new world. Love is the only way."

This is the reference he made to slavery:

"Someone once said that Jesus began the most revolutionary movement in all of human history: a movement grounded in the unconditional love of God for the world. A movement mandating people to live that love, and in so doing, to change not only their lives, but the very life of the world itself. I am talking about some power. Real power. Power to change the world. If you don’t believe me, well, there were some old slaves in America’s Antebellum South who explained the dynamic power of love, and why it has the power to transform. They explained it this way. They sang a spiritual, even in the midst of their captivity. It’s the one that says there is a balm in Gilead—a healing balm.

There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole. There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul. One of the stanzas actually explains why: if you cannot preach like Peter, and you cannot pray like Paul, you just tell the love of Jesus, how he died to save us all. That’s the balm of Gilead."

In both cases he CLEARLY used those references to illustrate the power of love.

And you think they were unsuitable for a wedding????????? And it was done for Rev. Curry's political purposes????????

Go figure.

 

[texankitcat]

Maybe it’s time for them to update the tradition, hmm? The ceremony was a very nice blend of traditional English and black, contemporary American styles. It was all in good taste, all beautifully done, and the sermon had true meaning. It was very nearly perfectly done.

Or maybe we should respect that this is British traditions and not try to Americanize the entire country including he Royal Family. Incorporating touches os the bride’s heritage is wonderful and expected for the service, although it went too far IMO.

 

[HRHHermione]

Or maybe we should respect that this is British traditions and not try to Americanize the entire country including he Royal Family. Incorporating touches os the bride’s heritage is wonderful and expected for the service, although it went too far IMO.

It didn’t go “too far”, it was gorgeous and hopeful and progressive and truly one of the most joyful royal weddings I’ve ever seen.

It was a great sermon. If people were uncomfortable, they should examine why they were and deal with it.



And lest we forget, the Queen made Meghan, the very first Duchess of Sussex, a title given to a man who fought to abolish slavery in the UK.

Agreed. Anyone who was uncomfortable with such a beautiful message needs to look within and ask themselves why and do a little personal growth.