Royals Officiating Weddings: Who, When, And Why?

The short answer is no, a king or queen cannot officiate a wedding. However, historically, the monarch's consent has been required for royal marriages.

According to the Royal Marriages Act of 1772, royal descendants must seek the monarch's approval before proposing. This law was repealed in 2015, and now, only the first six people in the line of succession need permission to marry. The monarch's consent is still sought, however, and the Queen has approved all the unions of her children and grandchildren.

In terms of who can legally officiate a wedding, this depends on the location of the ceremony. In general, a wedding officiant is anyone who can legally marry a couple. This includes religious, civil, ordained, or licensed ministers, judges, magistrates, justices of the peace, licensed celebrants, and, in some states, notaries.

The Royal Marriages Act of 1772

The main provisions of the Act were as follows:

• No descendant of King George II, male or female, could marry without the consent of the reigning monarch, signified under the great seal and declared in council. This consent had to be set out in the marriage licence and register and entered into the books of the Privy Council. Any marriage contracted without the monarch's consent was to be null and void.
• Members of the royal family over the age of 25 who were refused the sovereign's consent could still marry one year after giving notice to the Privy Council, unless both houses of Parliament expressly declared their disapproval.
• It was a crime to perform or participate in the illegal marriage of any member of the royal family.
• The Act applied to Catholics, even though they were ineligible to succeed the throne.

The Act was in force for 243 years, until it was repealed in 2015 as a result of the 2011 Perth Agreement. Under the new Succession to the Crown Act, only the first six people in line to the throne need permission from the monarch to marry.

The role of the Queen

Consent and Approval

The Queen plays a crucial role in granting consent and approval for royal marriages. According to the Royal Marriages Act of 1772, members of the British royal family must seek the monarch's approval before marrying. This includes the Queen's children and grandchildren. The monarch's consent holds immense weight, and a marriage without it is considered null and void. The Queen's approval extends beyond the immediate royal family, encompassing distant relatives as well.

Wedding Dress Approval

The Queen has a say in the design and aesthetic of royal wedding gowns. For instance, the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, is said to have shown her wedding gown to the Queen during the design process and again before her wedding to Prince William. Meghan Markle is also reported to have followed this tradition before her marriage to Prince Harry.

Bridal Bouquet Tradition

Royal brides are expected to include at least one sprig of myrtle in their bridal bouquets. This tradition dates back to Princess Victoria, and myrtle symbolizes hope and love.

Setting the Tone

The Queen's behaviour serves as a cue for others during royal events, including weddings. When the Queen stands, everyone in her presence is expected to stand as well. Similarly, when the Queen sits or begins to eat, others follow suit.

Preserving the Line of Succession

The Queen's role also involves ensuring the continuity of the line of succession. To achieve this, two heirs are not allowed to travel together. This tradition is in place to prevent a potential simultaneous loss of multiple heirs in the event of an accident or tragedy.

In summary, the Queen's role in a royal wedding goes beyond mere ceremonial duties. She is integral to various aspects of the wedding, from providing consent and approving wedding dresses to setting the tone and preserving the line of succession. The Queen's involvement adds a layer of tradition, protocol, and legal framework to royal nuptials.

Who can legally marry a couple

The laws and regulations regarding who can legally marry a couple vary from state to state, and even county to county. In general, the person who can legally perform the marriage is one of several types of officiants: civil, professional, ordained, or religious.

A civil officiant is someone who has gone through a formal, legal process to become recognised as an officiant. Examples include a justice of the peace or a magistrate, but anyone can become a civil officiant. A civil ceremony is a non-religious, legal marriage ceremony.

An ordained officiant is a close friend or family member who has received the legal ability to officiate through non-denominational churches, nonprofit organisations, or online services. However, many states require the marriage officiant to be registered with the state where the marriage takes place.

A professional officiant, or celebrant, is a non-religious and non-civil officiant who offers marriage services, as well as guidance for writing vows and planning the ceremony. These professionals are licensed and have a lot of experience officiating weddings.

A religious officiant is someone ordained by a specific religious denomination and is typically a leader within their faith, like a minister, priest, imam, or rabbi. While many people can become religiously ordained, some states have limits on who they consider a religious officiant.

In Washington State, for example, the person performing the marriage ceremony must be a judge, retired judge, or ordained minister or similar official of any religious organisation.

The Royal Family's dress code

The British royal family has a strict dress code to follow, especially when it comes to hats and skirt length, and even facial hair and makeup. Here are some of the rules and protocols they follow:

• Bright colours: The late Queen Elizabeth II often wore bright and bold colours so she could easily be spotted in a crowd. Royal women often follow this tradition, with Princess Kate also opting for bright colours. They also tend to wear the colours of the country they are visiting on state visits.
• Myrtle: Royal brides typically carry at least one sprig of myrtle in their bouquet, a tradition dating back to Princess Victoria. Myrtle symbolises hope and love.
• Gloves: While gloves used to be a common accessory for the royal family, they are now mostly worn at highly formal events such as royal weddings, galas and balls. If worn, the gloves should be short with long sleeves, or long with short sleeves. They should also complement the shoes and handbag. Gloves must be removed for dining.
• Clean-shaven: Most male royals are clean-shaven in keeping with military traditions. Since 1916, beards have been banned by the British Army. However, Prince Harry has been known to sport a beard.
• Hats: Hats are common at weddings, funerals and special events such as the Royal Ascot. In other settings, they are now more of an individual choice. Straw hats are worn from Easter to September, and felt hats the rest of the year. Hats must be pinned and never held, and small brims are advised for women at weddings and funerals so that guests behind them can see. Hats must be removed after 6 pm, when tiaras would traditionally be worn.
• Tiaras: Only married royal women are allowed to wear tiaras as they are seen as a sign of status, indicating that the woman is not looking for a husband.
• Modest hemlines: Royal women are expected to wear knee-length skirts or longer. This tradition dates back to the idea that trousers on young boys were "middle-class suburban". Princess Charlotte, for example, often wears knee-length dresses.
• Black clothing: Black clothing is usually reserved for funerals. However, the royals always pack a black outfit when travelling, in case they need to attend a funeral.
• Clutches: Royal women often carry clutches or handbags, usually held in the left hand so that their right hand is free to wave. The Queen used her handbag to send signals to her staff.
• Subtle makeup: Royal women are expected to look modern but not overdone, aiming for an elegant and lady-like appearance.
• Natural nails: Bright or neon nail polish is avoided in favour of toned-down pink or nude colours, especially at formal events. However, Kate has been known to sport red nails.
• Casual wear: In casual settings, royal women wear smart day dresses, trousers, jackets or cardigans, while men wear blazers, collared shirts or chinos. Jeans are generally avoided, although they are acceptable for outdoor activities such as walking the dogs.
• Wedding dresses: The monarch has the final say on royal wedding dresses, which must be modest, elegant and not too revealing.

While the royal dress code is strict, it is not as formal as it once was and has been relaxed in recent years.

The Royal Family's travel arrangements

The British Royal Family has a variety of travel options available to them, from private planes to commercial flights, trains, and even motorbikes.

Private Planes

The Royal Family has access to charter planes, which are often used for official visits to multiple countries or islands. For instance, Prince Charles and Camilla took a charter plane to Cuba and the Caribbean in 2019. The cost of this trip was £416,576 (roughly $506,286). On another trip, Prince Harry and Meghan took a charter plane to Fiji and Tonga, which cost £81,002 (roughly $98,444).

The Royal Family also has access to the RAF Voyager A330, a specially converted Airbus A330 with 58 business seats, available to them at a cost of around £2,000 per hour.

Commercial Flights

The Royal Family also flies on commercial airlines, especially when travelling for leisure. Prince William and Kate, for example, have flown on British Airways, Ryanair, and Flybe. Prince Harry and Meghan have also been spotted sitting in economy on a British Airways flight to Nice in 2017.

Trains

The Royal Family also travels by train, including the Queen, who takes a regular train service to start her Christmas break at Sandringham. There is also the Royal Train, which is used occasionally and costs several thousand pounds per trip.

Helicopters

The Royal Family uses helicopters to get around the UK, making 204 journeys by helicopter between April 2018 and April 2019, at a total cost of £688,845. The Queen's Helicopter Flight has two helicopters based at RAF Odiham.

Cars

The Royal Family also travels by car, with the Queen travelling in her custom-made Bentley State Limousine, designed for her Golden Jubilee in 2002. The car has higher doors and a higher roof to allow the Queen to get in and out more easily, and for well-wishers to see her more clearly. The Royal Family also frequently uses Jaguar Land Rover vehicles, and some members, such as the Queen, Prince Philip, and William, enjoy driving themselves.

Motorbikes

Finally, both William and Harry are fans of motorbikes, having taken part in an eight-day, 1,000-mile charity bike ride across South Africa in 2008. William also owns a 1198S Ducati, though Kate is not a fan, admitting that it "fills [her] with horror" when he rides it.

Frequently asked questions