The five meter long silk veil Meghan Markle wore during her wedding with Prince Harry caught many eyes. When coming out of St. George’s Chapel the bride struggled a little as the long, decorated piece of headdress seemed pulling her slightly back. The twin kids who assisted her by taking the far ends of the veil in their hands were missing then. But it was a spectacular sight as the Duchess of Sussex climbed down the steps of the chapel with the royal groom. Behind the newlyweds, the long veil cascaded elegantly on the steps as if it were a romantic song scene right out of a Bollywood movie.
How Veils Became Marks Of Cultural Identity And Social Status
Wearing veil has a long history in Asian, African and European societies. In faiths like Judaism, Christianity and Islam the concept of covering the head was associated with propriety and modesty. Though in some cultures men, rather than women, are expected to wear a veil mainly the practice of veiling is associated with women and sacred objects (sacred objects were veiled so that they were protected from the sight of thieves). It is said that elite women in ancient Mesopotamia and, Greek and Persian empires wore the veil which was mark of respectability and high status. Roman women wore veils as a symbol of their husbands’ authority over them. A married woman who discarded the veil was seen as withdrawing herself from marriage.
Significance Of Veils In Weddings
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Veiling has a role in modern, non-religious contexts, such as wedding customs. Wedding veils used to symbolize the bride’s virginity and modesty. In Christian and Jewish culture the bride remains fully veiled until the ceremony concludes. After the wedding ceremony, either the bride’s father or the groom lifts the veil after that the groom kisses the bride.
7 Things That Made Meghan Markle’s Veil Unique
Markle’s wedding dress was rich but minimal, yet her dramatic veil was extraordinarily opulent.
Markle opted for a monarch-length veil. This name is obtained from royal weddings of the past.
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Princess Diana wore a long veil for her wedding to Prince Charles in 1981. Many people thought that Markle honoured her late mother-in-law on the day of her wedding by choosing a long veil for herself.
Clare Waight Keller, the British stylist and artistic director, who designed Markle’s wedding dress, had embroidered the trim of the veil with flowers–the signature flowers of all the countries in the British Commonwealth.
It was Markle who wished to have all 53 countries of the Commonwealth with her on her journey through the ceremony.
Waight Keller spent remarkable amount of time researching the flower of each Commonwealth country and took much care to ensure that every flower looked unique.
Wheat crops were delicately embroidered and blend into the flowers to symbolize love and charity. It is noteworthy that love and charity were most important to the late Princess Diana.
Read Also: Highlights Of The Royal Wedding Of Prince Harry And Megan Markle
