American Joins the Royal Family

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By Eunice G. Park
December 4, 2017

It’s not an everyday occurrence that the Royal Family accepts an American into their arms.

On November 27th, Kensington Palace announced the engagement of Britain’s Prince Harry and American actor, Meghan Markle. Already together since the summer of 2016, they became officially engaged since the beginning of the month of November and plan on getting married in spring 2018.

The couple also claims that their relationship is purely romantic. Having met in July 2016 in London by mutual friends, Prince Harry vied for her since. It is argued that his love for his wife to-be is evident in Markle’s engagement ring, which was personally designed by the Prince himself. With a gold band, a large diamond from Botswana, and two smaller outer diamonds from the personal collection of Harry’s late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, the ring itself is enough of a statement.

Philosophy teacher Scott Summers supports Prince Harry’s idea of customizing such an extravagant ring.

“I don’t think it should be viewed as excessive,” Summers explains. “If that is how the Prince wants to express his love for her, then he’s allowed to do whatever he wants.”

Meghan Markle, most known for her role in the hit US TV show “Suits,” has gained the favor of her fiance’s family, to many people’s surprise. Markle will be the first American to marry a British royal since the marriage of Wallis Simpson to King Edward VIII. The couple’s engagement was accepted by both families with joy.

Markle’s parents Thomas Markle and Doria Ragland, stated the following:
“We are incredibly happy for Meghan and Harry. Our daughter has always been a kind and loving person. To see her union with Harry, who shares the same qualities, is a source of great joy for us as parents. We wish them a lifetime of happiness and are very excited for their future together.”
Prince Harry’s grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip, are “delighted” for the couple and “wish them every happiness,” according to a Buckingham Palace spokesman.
Once the couple gets married, they will live at Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace, where Harry currently lives.

Post-wedding, the prince is also likely to be awarded a dukedom, meaning Markle would become a duchess. Markle cannot become a princess in her own right; only daughters of royals can claim such status. This again questions the Prince’s choice as well as the Royal Family’s seemingly-open acceptance of this new union.

However, senior Melissa Gormus smiles at the news.

“I think it’s cool that an American will be joining the Royal Family. I wouldn’t mind being her” Gormus provides. “And politically, there might even be benefits once an American representative is welcomed into the Royal Family.”

There are many obstacles that Meghan Markle has to overcome in this whole engagement process. However, putting her trust into her fiancee, they both are confident of their upcoming marriage.