Instrument of Consent
Published 11 May 2018
THE WEDDING OF PRINCE HENRY OF WALES AND MS. MEGHAN MARKLE Instrument of Consent
Buckingham Palace has today shared an image of the Instrument of Consent, the hand-written document which records Her Majesty The Queen's consent to the Marriage of Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle.
The Instrument of Consent is drafted by the Crown Office and is, in the case of Prince Harry's marriage, hand-written and illuminated on vellum by one of a panel of scrivener artists retained by the Crown Office. Vellum is used only for important State documents.
The design to the left of the text incorporates a red dragon, the heraldic symbol of Wales, together with the UK's floral emblems – the rose, thistle and shamrock. It also features Prince Harry’s Label, including three tiny red escallops from the Spencer family Arms.
The design to the right of the text also includes the rose, as this is also the national flower of the United States. To either side of the rose are two golden poppies – this being the state flower of California, where Ms. Markle was born. Between the flowers is the Welsh leek, together with Prince Harry’s Label. Beneath the Label are olive branches, adopted from the Great Seal of the United States.
To the left, underneath the two main designs, is the coronet for Prince Harry. On the lower right side of the document is the Commonwealth symbol.
The Instrument of Consent is sealed with the Great Seal of the Realm, which is attached to the foot of the document by woven cords sealed within the Great Seal itself. The Queen's signature, "Elizabeth R," can be seen at the top right of the document, which will be presented to Prince Harry and Ms. Markle after the wedding.
It reads: "NOW KNOW YE that We have consented and do by these Presents signify Our Consent to the contracting of Matrimony between Our Most Dearly Beloved Grandson Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales, K.C.V.O., and Rachel Meghan Markle."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Her Majesty formally gave her consent to the marriage of Prince Harry to Ms Meghan Markle in accordance with the 2013 Succession to the Crown Act by making Her Declaration at the meeting of the Privy Council on the 14th March 2018.
The photographs were taken in the 18th Century Room at Buckingham Palace.
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