Brief Look at Royal Couple’s Church of England Ceremony at St. George’s Chapel
The newest royal couple, His Royal Highness Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, is to be wed at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018. Anyone who is familiar with the history of the British monarchs would know that several preceding members of the royalty and nobility have chosen this house of worship to host one of the most important days of their adult lives.
Among the notable names wedded at St. George’s Chapel include Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones (1999), Lady Helena of Cambridge and Maj. John Gibbs (1919) and none other than the great Queen Victoria and Prince Albert (1863). Cost Figures have revealed that the royal family is only paying roughly $189 (£175) for Prince Harry and Meghan’s ceremony fee. One must understand that for any UK-based couples to even begin wondering about the seemingly peculiar (if not mysterious) low-cost service bill, they must pass several challenging conditions to be granted the permission.
You don’t necessarily need to be related to the British royal family to get married at St. George’s Chapel. But being one of the 25 million members of the Church of England is not enough as well. You must either be a knight (e.g. Elton John, Sean Connery, and Bill Gates), a resident of Windsor Castle, or a resident of the College of St. George. This place of worship takes pride in fostering a spiritual community that is grounded in its strong national identity. Soon, the American actress will become a full-fledged Englishwoman by name and by spirit.
Speaking of the spiritual, what really is the Church of England?
A crucial point establishing its historical identity is the edict of King Henry VIII to separate his entire domain from the spiritual authority of the Roman Catholic pope, caused by the latter’s refusal to dissolve the English monarch’s first marriage. But apart from the official separation in 1534, the Church of England is far from dissimilar to its older Roman Catholic cousin.
Like the “Church of Rome,” the Church of England’s core statement of belief is The Apostle’s Creed. They also observe the same exact Seven Sacraments, follow slightly the same religious structure (diocese), and even undergo a relatively similar lengthy training period to be an ordained vicar.
Among the key differences that set the Church of England apart from its predecessor is the fact that their primate does not pledge loyalty to the Vatican head of state. In fact, the Archbishop of Canterbury pledges allegiance to his supreme governor, the British monarch. Prince Harry and Meghan are more than just members of the Church of England. Being the fifth-in-line to the throne, Prince Harry may potentially become the principal leader of English Christendom.
This infographic by Cost Figures breaks down the royal wedding’s massive budget, including everything from the $42 million security tag to the $189 in church fees.
