Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Wedding Vows Are Very Traditional

Publish date: 2024-05-16

Prince Harry and Meghan's Markle's wedding day is finally here, and the Order of Service for the royal wedding has been released. And, rather importantly, it contains the exact vows that Harry and Meghan will say to each other as they become husband and wife.

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To many, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding vows will seem extremely traditional. Unlike in many modern weddings, their wedding vows aren't personalized and, instead, the bride and groom will both recite almost identical words to one another as they get married.

As the Order of Service on the Royal Family's official website reveals, their vows are as follows:

The Bridegroom says,I HARRY, take you, MEGHAN, to be my wife, 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 Bride says,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 reason that Harry and Meghan's vows are identical is because they're the official wedding vows of the Church of England. As the wedding is taking place in St. George's Chapel, and the royal family are members of the Church of England, the couple's wedding uses the traditional vows used in all weddings.

Plus, Meghan was baptized and confirmed into the church ahead of her wedding to Prince Harry, in order to honor Harry's grandmother, the Queen, who holds the title of "Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England."

For anyone hoping to hear personal wedding vows, in which Meghan and Harry listed the things they love about one another, this might seem disappointing. But it's also an exceedingly British way for Harry and Meghan to start their lives together as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

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Amy Mackelden is a freelance writer, editor, and disability activist. Her bylines include Harper's BAZAAR, Nicki Swift, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, ELLE, The Independent, Bustle, Healthline, and HelloGiggles. She co-edited The Emma Press Anthology of Illness, and previously spent all of her money on Kylie Cosmetics.

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