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 To royal watchers, it represented a statement of intent and a
clear demonstration of a new, modern path the 1,000-year-old
British monarchy will be treading as it seeks to remain relevant
in a fast-changing political climate exemplified by Brexit.
"Just 20 years ago, the monarchy seemed to be struggling for its
very survival," said the Daily Mail newspaper, referring to the
Windsors' grimmest hours in the aftermath of the death of
Harry's mother Princess Diana in a Paris car crash in 1997 when
the family were heavily criticized for seeming not to care.
"How different the picture looks today. Prince Harry's wedding
to the glamorous and thoroughly modern actress Meghan Markle did
more than put the seal on a fairytale romance.
"It symbolized the monarchy's evolution into a contemporary
institution - at ease with itself, outward looking and fit for
the 21st Century."
Saturday's wedding of Harry and Meghan, who has an African
American mother and white father, has been widely hailed as a
union of tradition and modernity and a breakthrough in race
relations.
The bride entered the church alone, while a passionate address
by Michael Curry, the first black head of the Episcopal Church
in the United States, which electrified Windsor Castle's 15th
century St George's Chapel, has been pored over for its
symbolism.
Now, the royal biography of Meghan, the newly titled Duchess of
Sussex, has been seen as showing another departure from the
usual stuffy image of the monarchy.
"From a young age, The Duchess had a keen awareness of social
issues and actively participated in charitable work," it says.
"Aged 11 she successfully campaigned for a company to alter
their television advert that had used sexist language to sell
washing-up liquid."
"MODEL MODERN COUPLE"
Commentators said it indicated the royal family, which
traditionally steers clear of making overtly political
statements, had given its blessing to her to speak out on issues
such as feminism.
"It's sure changed the Royal Family," historian and
constitutional expert David Starkey wrote in the Sun newspaper
of the marriage.
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"Meghan and Harry are the model modern couple: Mature,
bi-racial, bi-cultural, international, do-gooding,
fashion-conscious and media-savvy to their fingertips."
British newspapers on Monday dedicated dozens of souvenir pages
to every tiny detail of the wedding, while the British TV
audience was reported to be almost 18 million, making it the
most watched program of the year so far.
But amidst the eulogies, some have suggested that beneath the
splendid show of pomp and pageantry, where Britain boasts it has
few rivals, little might change.
"The royal family is not a place where you can make any strong,
particular statements," Kehinde Andrews, an associate professor
of sociology at Birmingham City University and author on race
issues told Reuters.
He said the wedding was meaningless for Britain's black
community in terms of addressing entrenched racism in job
prospects, the criminal justice system and health disparities.
"When we sit back and actually analyze what's happened and
what's changed, we'll realize it means nothing at all," he said.
Ironically, by being more modern and more relatable to ordinary
Britons, the younger royals such as Harry, his elder brother
Prince William and his wife Kate, who are at the forefront of
the overhaul of the Windsors, risk destroying the mystique which
gives the institution its cachet.
"I think the young royals do have to be careful because although
they are trying to become much more touchy-feely and accessible,
they are in danger of devaluing the brand because the brand is
based on the fairytale and the fact they aren't accessible,"
royal biographer Claudia Joseph told Reuters.
"It's a very difficult line for them to tread."
(Editing by Guy Faulconbridge)
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