Royal Wedding 2018 - Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: Union raises diversity bar, roots and all

Meghan Markle, right, and her mother Doria Ragland leave Cliveden House Hotel in Taplow. Photo / AP

When I was growing up, watching royal weddings was fun, but, as a woman of colour, it was like watching a wildlife documentary about a different species. It all helped to enforce the sense and reality that the circles the royal family moves in are the most privileged and exclusive in the land.

But this wedding changes that. The image of Meghan Markle leaving Cliveden House with her dreadlocked mother Doria Ragland was spine-tingling. To see this strong, proud black woman accompanying her confident, warm, accomplished bi-racial daughter to her wedding was game changing. After the Markle debacle about who would walk her up the aisle, it suddenly didn't matter one jot. Meghan and Doria are living testament to the mantra "strong women - may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them".

In an era where we fetishise vulgar, vapid, mindless, hyper-sexualised female celebrities, what a tonic it was to see a mother and daughter exude elegance, poise and dignity. Their story will do so much to inspire young women from disadvantaged backgrounds and show that you can rise to the top without being born into wealth and privilege.

When you make your way in the world as a person of colour, you get used to hiding your heritage. Meghan did the opposite at this wedding. Her African-American roots infused the occasion in a way which no diversity campaigner would have dared to dream about, and it worked.

Doria Ragland, alongside Prince Charles, exuded dignity. Photo / AP

This was the most diverse guest list we've ever seen at a royal marriage. You would often see a sprinkling of Commonwealth heads at royal weddings in a professional capacity - but you knew they weren't there as close friends of the couple.

This crowd looked a bit like modern Britain. Black music and talent was given a platform, from cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason to the gospel choir singing Stand by Me. But my favourite moment was black American pastor Michael Curry, who boomed Martin Luther King from his iPad not far from where Henry VIII was buried. It doesn't get more modern than that. It's fair to say that he went on for way too long, but his gutsy turn captured the culture clash that this union represents in all its glory - as did the rather pained expressions of the more senior royals. It's clearly not all going to be plain sailing and that's okay. That's life!

Meghan has changed how people see the royal family and their affection for it. I cheered when a young black woman said: "We've got a sister in the house now." Many people of colour can feel invested in this institution for the first time. Meghan hasn't joined the royal family because of political correctness - she and Harry are head over heels in love. But Cupid's bow has afforded the royal family the greatest gift. By welcoming Meghan so warmly, the royal family have shown they can not only talk about modernity, they can actually live it too.

• Ayesha Hazarika is a a Scottish comedian, broadcaster and political commentator.