CHURCH TIMES readers will have been (on the whole) pleased to hear that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be married in church. A few worries have surfaced about her confirmation, however: “Harry and Meghan were surprised to discover the new curriculum for St George’s Chapel’s confirmation classes” (Che Seabourne); “The confirmation class considers the Church Militant” (Richard Barnes); “Harry appeared reluctant to leave Meghan at her first confirmation class” (Mark Hart).
We’re not sure which marriage-preparation classes our readers have attended: “We thought that we’d book in for the marriage-preparation class” (Janet Stockton); “The happy couple were puzzled — they thought they’d signed up for the marriage-preparation course” (Michael Foster).
The couple might have only just announced their engagement, but plans for the big day were at the front of readers’ minds: “Putting actions to the hymn ‘Fight the good fight’ took on a whole new meaning!” (Lynda Sebbage); “This reminds me, Meghan: I must ask St George’s to include ‘Fight the good fight’ as one of the hymns in the order of service for our wedding” (Mervyn Cox); “Page boy auditions were becoming quite competitive” (Richard Barnes).
There was little doubt among readers that Prince Harry would be seeking to protect his betrothed from the worst of the British Fourth Estate: “Harry realised that the demonstration to show Meghan how to deal with press photographers wasn’t quite what he’d planned” (Maree Foster).
And that no expense would be spared when it came to security: “Royal protection officers were getting younger by the year” (Patrick Irwin and Richard Barnes); ”The police can spare only two cadets for your personal protection squad, but they’re well trained in unarmed combat” (Ray Morris).
Meghan was coming to terms with the realities of royal life: “‘Oh dear,’ thought Meghan. ‘This is how life is going to be. . . No end of watching politely’”; “Prince Harry mused, ‘If Meghan thinks this is a tough visit, just wait until she has Christmas with the Windsors!” (both Chris Coupe).
Not to mention the reality of life in the UK: “As part of her British Citizenship course the ‘Saturday night pub fight’ section looked a little daunting to poor Meghan” (Tom Page); “‘OK, Meghan,’ Harry said. ‘Now you’ve got the finer points of boxing, we’ll go on to rugby, then cricket’” (Sue Chick).
A selection of other entries that we liked: “You don’t have Boxing Day in America, do you?” (Edward Mynors); “The youth club’s interpretation of Brexit negotiations entranced the royal couple” (Patrick Irwin); “Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams” (Robert Shooter); “Perhaps a large family is not on the cards?” (Vicky Lundberg); “It was all Prince Harry could do to stop himself joining in the contest” (Richard Hough).
The winner will receive a prize of Fairtrade chocolate, kindly provided by Divine (divinechocolate.com).