A fairy tale touch for a prince and his bride

The signature of the Queen atop the 'Instrument of Consent', which is the Queen's historic formal consent to Prince Harry's forthcoming marriage to Meghan Markle. Photos / AP

The official document granting permission for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to marry has been released, incorporating the symbols of America on to traditional vellum to represent the bride.

The ornate Instrument of Consent, the official document confirming the approval of the Queen, features emblems for Markle including a rose, the national flower of the United States, two golden poppies from her home state of California, and olive branches adopted from the Great Seal of the United States.

The Queen signed the Instrument of Consent in March, at the top of a vellum document transcribed in calligraphy and issued under the Great Seal of the Realm.

The document states: "Now know ye that we have consented and do by these presents signify our consent to the contracting of matrimony between our most dearly beloved grandson Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales KCVO and Rachel Meghan Markle."

The wording differs from the instrument signed to give consent to the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, when the bride was described as "our trusty and well-beloved Catherine" in a phrase reserved for citizens of the United Kingdom and the Queen's realms.

Significantly, it includes a Commonwealth emblem, reflecting the couple's commitment as youth ambassadors in the family of nations, as well as images for Prince Harry's maternal heritage from the Spencer family.

The design to the left of the text incorporates a red dragon, the heraldic symbol of Wales, together with the UK's floral emblems, the rose, thistle and shamrock.  It also features Prince Harry's Label, including three tiny red escallops from the Spencer family Arms.

A wider view of the 'Instrument of Consent'.

The document bears the names of Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle.

The 'Instrument of Consent' at Buckingham Palace in London, has a medieval look.

The design to the right of the text, representing Markle, also includes the rose, the national flower of the United States. To either side of it are two golden poppies, the state flower of California where Markle was born.

Between the flowers is the Welsh leek, together with Prince Harry's Label with olive branches underneath. To the left, underneath the two main designs, is the coronet for Prince Harry with the Commonwealth emblem on the right.

Prince Harry, as sixth-in-line to the throne following the birth of Prince Louis, had to seek the permission of the Queen under the Succession to the Crown Act 2013.

The Act requires the first six people in line to obtain the Queen's blessing to marry, unless they wish  to be disqualified from succeeding to the Crown.