On May 19, 2018, Meghan Markle, most famously known for her role as Rachel in the hit American television series Suits got a new title as the Dutchess of Sussex, after marrying Prince Harry of Great Brittan in a Royal wedding.  

According to CNN’s special report, “A Royal Match,” Markle, a non-traditional royal bride who had recently ended her marriage to an aspiring Hollywood producer, initially matched up with Harry, on a blind date set up by a mutual friend. Soon, Markle would learn that Harry too was a non-traditional royal groom, who struggled to come to terms with his prince-hood after the death of his mother Princess Diana. The two hit it off right away, and perhaps bonded over shared struggles and passions.   

“A Royal Match” reveals each had difficulty coming to terms with their identities—she as a biracial woman growing up in Los Angeles during the riots, and he as a “spare” heir to the throne, still reeling from the loss of his mother. But found solace in helping and advocating for under- privileged, served, and represented communities, such as orphaned Lesothoian children who had lost parents to AIDs, and women and girls all over the world, including female entrepreneurs in India, and Rwandan girls looking to get an education and clean water.  

Soon, commonalities like these blossomed into a beautiful romance that, after several months of being kept secret from the press, overcame harassment (some of it racially driven) from the paparazzi, and resulted in a royal wedding on a beautiful May day at Windsor Castle. The regal ceremony upheld tradition in most respects, but bride Markle found little ways to make it her own, representing her county and culture alongside that of her groom’s, in ways British royalty hasn’t seen before. 

One such twist, according to People magazine, was having Michael Curry, a black Bishop and outspoken supporter of LGBTQIA rights, at her wedding. During the ceremony, he quoted Martin Luther King Jr. in saying, “We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love.” The Bishop added, “And when we discover that, we will be able to make of this old world a new world. Love is the only way.” The bride also had a gospel choir sing, “Stand by Me,” before the vows, along with the Etta James’s version of, “This Little Light of Mine,” as the newlyweds walked out of the chapel. 

To top the wedding’s uniqueness off, People reports that two of the bridesmaids were Markle’s goddaughters, and that Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, made a bold statement wearing Oscar de La Renta, a late fashion icon, who designed many clothes for several United States’ First Ladies. 

So, more traditional or not, this wedding makes clear that Markle has officially traded in her Suits, for more royal attire, and is ready to rule alongside her new beau in England.