On May 19, Meghan Markle – divorcee, biracial American actress, cultural , blogger, feminist, most influential list, and outspoken advocate for gender equality and human rights - will walk down the aisle to marry Prince Harry.
Markle’s every step will be scrutinised by enthralled by this unlikely fairytale romance.
She will be watched, too, by an army of cultural commentators.
Many hail her as a , a flagbearer for race, class, diversity and inclusivity, and a much-needed symbol of change who will reboot the role of royal princess and drag the British monarchy into modernity.
Markle, 36, they say, is the “” - articulate, , photogenic and a millennial-friendly figure who also happens to be an emerging commercial powerhouse in everything from to .
“It is becoming increasingly apparent that Meghan really does have the right stuff to take on the (princess) role in the modern era," writes . "Royal brides used to be required to be two things—pretty and quiet—but those days are, thankfully, dead and buried.”
Will Markle, 36, really redefine the “pretty and quiet” role of royal princess, escape the straightjacket of protocols, exert her own autonomy and agency in areas outside polite charity causes and fashion?
But are Sykes and right? Will Markle, 36, really redefine the “pretty and quiet” role of royal princess, escape the straightjacket of protocols, exert her own autonomy and agency in areas outside polite charity causes and fashion?
The sceptics aren’t sure.
Far from being a trailblazer and revolutionary, Markle appears to have obediently trod the orthodox path of all Windsor brides-to-be.
In the leadup to her marriage, she closed down all her social media account accounts, including her popular blog The Tig.
She announced that she would be giving up acting – Markle came to prominence as feisty paralegal Rachel Zane in US TV series Suits over seven successful seasons - mirroring, in a small way, .
In drawing a curtain on a lifetime of hard work, and financial , Markle’s critics says she’s conformed to a time-honoured royal tradition – reportedly, there hasn’t been a single
Industry figures like , says he’s disappointed that she appeared to be toeing the line.
"It would be interesting to see a modern woman continuing her career... but it's not where she seems to be headed."
In her new incarnation, Markle will also not , according to royal convention.
It seems a big price to pay for this passionate United Nations advocate and World Vision ambassador who once called , who has spoken up for the and women’s rights from , and campaigned to change everything from to , whose social justice activism was seeded at the tender age of 11 when she took on , the same year she watched her hometown engulfed by the .
Markle, it seems, will face an uphill battle to bring about real change in this role, embodied perfectly - if in decidedly anti-progressive fashion - by her future sister-in-law Kate Middleton, .
She’ll still pay a steep price, not just in terms of her career and independence but a life of royal protocols, security restrictions, public scrutiny
It’s little surprise to Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages.
She argues that while there have been some concessions to modernity in Royal family traditions, from the acceptance of commoners to , the role of modern-day female royals – from Princess Diana to Kate Middleton - is surprisingly similar to that of royal consorts in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.
“It fascinates me that the Duchess of Cambridge is doing exactly the same kinds of things that a queen consort would have done at any time from 1500 on. The role has not changed at all.”
On May 19, Markle will willingly enter that gilded cage.
As wife to a royal highly unlikely , she will have more leeway than her sister-in-law, the Duchess of Cambridge.
But she’ll still pay a steep price, not just in terms of her career and independence but a life of royal protocols, security restrictions, public scrutiny.
Will she miss her old life as a working actress?
Women married to men in political power have a chequered history. Some have proven effective , others not so much.
But perhaps, for Markle, love conquers all.
As Markle said in her last year, “I've ticked this box [a successful acting career], and I feel very proud of the work I've done there…now it's time to work with [Harry] as a team."
Royal Wedding LIVE will air live Saturday 19 May from 7:30pm AEST on SBS and . Coverage of The Royal Wedding will follow at 9pm AEST.
