When she emerged from the car, Meghan Markle not only looked beautiful, she looked like a princess. An old-school, beautiful princess.
And no amount of Republican cynicism, and Royal Wedding kvetching on Twitter – really, stay away, go away, be gone, leave us to it, misanthropes! – could take away from it.
Meghan Markle’s stunning wedding dress was an haute couture gown designed by Clare Waight Keller, the first female artistic director of Givenchy. Simple, elegant, with a boat-neck and long train and long sleeves, Meghan accessorized it Queen Mary’s diamond bandeau, made in 1932, with the entre brooch dating from 1893, and a veil which Harry tenderly lifted away from Meghan’s face.
Kensington Palace said, “Ms. Markle expressed the wish of having all 53 countries of the Commonwealth with her on her journey through the ceremony. Ms. Waight Keller designed a veil representing the distinctive flora of each Commonwealth country united in one spectacular floral composition.”
Meghan and Prince Harry's wedding service was capped with Revd. Michael Curry's brilliantly stirring sermon and a gorgeous gospel rendition of "Stand By Me," and was both full of emotion and a long-overdue multicultural breath of fresh air for the British aristocracy.
Meghan's dress was also a quite literally crowning moment on a day of intensely glamorous, beautiful fashion from wedding guests including Amal Clooney, and Victoria Beckham.
And Harry? He wore his military finest and – most importantly and welcomingly – he kept his scruff-tastic beard, good man. Grrr.