Meghan Markle, who will marry Prince Harry in the spring, is prepared to step in and deliver a speech on the day in place of her father, Thomas, it has been reported. Photo / Getty
Meghan Markle, who will marry Prince Harry in the spring, is prepared to step in and deliver a speech on the day in place of her father, Thomas, it has been reported. Photo / Getty
They have promised a wedding full of "fun and joy", reflecting the characters of bride and groom as they begin their married lives together.
How fitting, then, if Meghan Markle lived up to her feminist credentials by choosing to make a speech at the reception.
Ms Markle, who will marry Prince Harry in Windsor Castle on May 19, is reported to be planning her own speech, offering "affectionate" praise of her new husband, thanks to the Queen and a few suitable jokes, the Telegraph reported.
The former actress, who has spoken regularly about the importance of gender equality, is "ready" to speak at the reception, should her father Thomas Markle choose to avoid the limelight, the Sunday Times reported.
Mr Markle, an award-winning Hollywood writing director who now lives a quiet life in Mexico, is expected to walk Ms Markle down the aisle, but may not make a formal speech in front of hundreds of guests and senior members of the Royal Family.
Ms Markle, who is American, is likely to be more used to seeing women speak at weddings than her British peers, with a stronger US tradition of inviting Maids of Honour to address guests.
Meghan Markle, who will marry Prince Harry in the spring, is prepared to step in and deliver a speech on the day in place of her father, Thomas, it has been reported. Photo / Getty
The bride-to-be is also likely to be keen to ensure her mother Doria Ragland, who spent much time with Prince Harry as the relationship bloomed, has equal credit and prominence as her father at the wedding.
A source told the Sunday Times of Ms Markle's decision: "She wants to have the chance to thank her husband and everyone who has supported them. Harry is fully behind her."
While many elements of the Royal wedding will be traditional, Prince Harry and Ms Markle, who are planning the event themselves, are keen to "reflect their characters and personalities" in their hosting, with a little tasteful deviation from the Royal weddings of decades past.
A decision for Ms Markle to give a speech would reflect a growing trend in Britain. But while women are more choosing to speak at their own weddings, a YouGov survey in 2016 suggested only 16 per cent thought they should be obliged to.
Other elements of the Royal wedding are also likely to be updated.
It is considered vanishingly unlikely that Prince Harry and Ms Markle will choose to include the bride's promise to "obey" the groom in her vows. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge omitted the traditional promise at their 2011 wedding, to little controversy.
Meghan Markle and her mum Doria Ragland attend UN Women's 20th Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference of Women in Beijing. Photo / Getty
At the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, reception speeches included words from best man Prince Harry, the groom's father the Prince of Wales and Michael Middleton, who affectionately described how he knew his daughter's relationship was serious when her boyfriend landed a helicopter in his garden.
ensington Palace have not yet announced details of Prince Harry's wedding party, with the Duke of Cambridge widely expected to be the best man.
Speaking at a mental health charity event, the Best Man Project, earlier this month, the Duke insisted he had not yet been officially asked.
Ms Markle has significant experience in public speaking.
In 2015, she told a UN gathering "I am proud to be a woman and a feminist", defining equality with the example: "A wife is equal to her husband."
