The word Meghan Markle is choosing to leave out of her vows
Following in the footsteps of Princess Diana and more recently Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle has chosen not to include a key aspect of previous royal wedding vows.
Ms Markle will omit the word “obey” from her traditional Anglican vows after she walks down the aisle at St George’s Chapel on Saturday.
According to the order of service, Meghan’s vows will read:
“I, Meghan, take you, Harry, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part; according to God’s holy law. In the presence of God I make this vow.”
The omission was expected from Ms Markle, with the decision far less controversial than when Princess Diana chose not to include the word in 1981.
A series of royal brides before Diana, including Queen Elizabeth, included the phrase in their wedding vows, as laid out in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer dating from 1662.
After all, Megan, a self-declaring feminist, has served as an ambassador for the United Nations Women as well as working with One World Vision helping women in Dubai and Mumbai.
Not all royal brides-to-be have followed Princess Diana’s lead since, with Sarah Ferguson in 1986 and Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999 both vowing obedience.
