Meghan Markle’s Latest Wedding Plan Is Shaking Up Centuries of Royal Gender Roles

Ah, weddings—the most wonderful yet simultaneously stressful time of your life. While everyone strives to make their own wedding unique, there are a lot of traditional aspects of weddings, too, that usually go without saying: the couple’s first dance, parent dances, cutting of the cake, and bouquet toss, to name just a few.

The thing is, if you don’t want any of these aspects at your wedding, you can forgo it and no one will really think twice (except maybe your super-traditional mom who can’t even believe you’re not going to wear a veil).

When it comes to royal weddings, protocol is a bit more complicated. There are quite a few royal rules and expectations that’ll raise an eyebrow if broken—and if you haven’t heard by now, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s engagement has broken quite a few of them. And now? They’re planning to break yet another tradition, one that might even challenge traditional gender norms.

Let’s recap their nontraditional engagement thus far. Markle is biracial, for one thing—half African-American and half white—which isn’t typical for the royal family.

She’s also American, so she isn’t a royal. She’s an actress, most famous for her role in the show Suits. There hasn’t been a royal wedding involving an American commoner in 81 years!

Another thing? Markle is formerly divorced. While there’s not a set rule against marrying a divorcee anymore – it wasn’t until 2002 that the Church of England agreed that divorced people could remarry in church – it’s certainly not the norm.

But hey, Prince Charles (Prince Harry and Prince William’s father) also married a fellow divorcee, Camilla, in 2005, so maybe they’re starting their own traditions.

Anyway, as the wedding planning continues for these two royal rebels, we’re learning even more about how they’ll defy the norm on their big day.

The latest news: Markle might be making a speech at her wedding.

What’s so bad about that? Well, this breaks the rule that only men can speak at wedding receptions.

While the traditional male to make a speech is the father of the bride, it It turns out Markle’s father is more introverted than his daughter and isn’t as comfortable speaking in front of a large crowd. (They’ll have around 800 people there, so we feel him on this one.)

Markle’s speech isn’t going to be a long, drawn out discourse—she simply wants to thank her family, her new royal family, and her husband for all the things she’s grateful for in leading up to her wedding day.

So what’s her hubby-to-be think about her making a speech? He’s supported his bride throughout their entire relationship, so he’s super for it. Cue the awwws.

The two will be wed on May 19, 2018 at Windsor Castle in St. George’s Chapel. Maybe she’ll walk down the aisle in a pink gown and really shock us all!

What do you think about all the unusual ways Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have broken royal tradition? Do you think rules (even royal ones) are meant to be broken?

For even more information on how Markle’s speech could break the royal mold, check out the video below!