THE ROYALS

Meghan Markle Will Break Tradition and Give Her Own Wedding Speech

Women usually don't give speeches at royal wedding receptions.


Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Visit Reprezent
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Meghan Markle continues to stare down centuries of royal tradition and says, “Okay, that’s nice and all, but I’m just going to do things my way.” While she’s not exactly taking a sledgehammer to years of royal protocol, she does seem to have a habit of quietly sidestepping traditions that seem woefully outdated, uncomfortably stuffy, or rooted in sexism. She spent Christmas with the royal family despite not having officially married into the clan yet, showing off her shoulders if it pleases her, and rocking a messy bun now and again.

According to The Sunday Times, she’ll upend another Windsor formality by deciding to give a speech at her own wedding reception.

See, apparently the royals have a rule where the only people who get to speak are the groom, the best man, and the bride’s father. Putting a strict limit on the amount of people who can speak at a wedding is generally an idea we can get behind (no one really needs to hear the groom’s university roommate slur through some story of their Cambridge days, frankly), but the current royal rules seem pretty patriarchal and are based on old ideas that basically equated marriage of a transfer of control of a woman from her dad to her new husband. It is a holdover from a bygone time, especially considering the royals now follow succession rules that are gender neutral (for the first time in history, eldest daughters of a monarch can now inherent the throne, even if they have a younger brother).

Though, Markle’s tradition-breaking decision also stems in part from the fact that Markle’s father Thomas, a retired lighting director, is a private man. He will be walking his daughter down the aisle, but apparently isn’t up to delivering a rousing speech.

Instead, Markle will just do it herself. The Times suggests she’ll give an “affectionate” tribute to her husband, thank her family and friends, and give a special shot out to the Queen. “There may even be a couple of jokes,” reports the paper. Throwing in a few jokes during her wedding speech actually won’t be a break from tradition: Indeed, Prince Harry’s own best man speech at Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton was said to leave attendees in absolute stitches.

Harry’s speech at his own wedding, we assume, may be a bit more heartfelt, but hopefully Prince William gets to return the favor with a few jokes of his own. Though, it has not been confirmed yet that he’ll indeed serve as best man, even if it is widely assumed.

Related: What Scottish Titles Will Meghan Markle And Prince Harry Get When They Marry?

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce the engagement of Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace on November 27, 2017 in London, England. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been a couple officially since November 2016 and are due to marry in Spring 2018.

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took their first public pictures as a couple at Invictus Games Toronto.

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Actress Meghan Markle leaves the “Today Show” taping at NBC Rockefeller Center on July 14.

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Actress Meghan Markle enters the “Today Show” taping at NBC Rockefeller Center Studios on July 14, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/GC Images)

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Actress Meghan Markle attends the Instagram Dinner held at the MARS Discovery District on May 31, 2016 in Toronto, Canada.

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Meghan Markle attends Glamour and L’Oreal Paris Celebrate 2016 College Women Of The Year at NoMad Hotel Rooftop on April 27, 2016 in New York City.

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WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – JANUARY 20: Actress Meghan Markle attends ELLE’s 6th Annual Women In Television Dinner at Sunset Tower Hotel on January 20, 2016 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for ELLE)

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Meghan Markle attends the London Global Gift Gala at ME Hotel on November 19, 2013 in London, England.

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