The one thing a wedding celebrant does not normally do is upstage the couple getting married. The hyper-active homily delivered by the African-American head of the Episcopalian Church may have been the main talking point after the ceremony and might be the main thing people remember about this royal wedding, but if nothing else, it served to underline that fact that this marriage injects a genuine American element into the English monarchy.
No longer are Americans over-awed by the reserve and restraint of royal tradition. The contrast in the reactions to the histrionics of Bishop Michael Curry spoke volumes. While the older members of the Royal Family and most of the English congregation in St George's Chapel, Windsor, looked less than comfortable, the new Duchess of Sussex, her mother and American guests such as Oprah Winfrey and Serena Williams looked completely at home. Later in the ceremony, when a black gospel choir delivered a beautiful rendition of a rock and roll hit, Stand by Me, the cultural fusion seemed complete.
Ever since her engagement to Prince Harry, the monarchy's acceptance of Meghan Markle has been a welcome contrast to the last time one of its members wanted to marry and American divorcée, one who seemed much more willing to adopt the style and graces of the English aristocracy at that time. Unlike his great-great uncle, Prince Harry is not about to ascend the throne but if he were it almost certainly would not make much difference today. Times have changed and the royal family has become adept at changing with them.
It manages to change without losing its essential dignity and splendour. Many millions of people around the world will have tuned in to watch the wedding on television. The English sense of occasion did not let them down. Under blue skies and sunshine, England has never looked better. Windsor Castle and its adjacent town were picture-book perfect. The resplendent parades of palace guards and horse teams, the high-vaulted "chapel" with its banners and its choir celebrated the marriage of a thoroughly modern young couple.
Like William and Catherine at their wedding, Harry and Meghan did not let the occasion overwhelm them. They were able to exchange private words and glances that suggested pomp and ceremony was not the most important thing to them at that moment. They were like any other marrying couple, in their own bubble.
