Queen Elizabeth gives formal consent to Royal Wedding
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth has given formal consent to the marriage between her grandson Prince William and Catherine Middleton.
A statement on the Royal Wedding’s website, says the consent was signed by the Queen herself with her own hand at a Privy Council meeting.
“It was signed ‘by The Queen herself, signed with her own hand’ at a Privy Council meeting after the Monarch made a formal Declaration of Consent”, the statement said on April 21, 2011.
The consent which was transcribed in calligraphy 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 William Arthur Philip Louis of Wales K.G. and Our Trusty and Well-beloved Catherine Elizabeth Middleton.”
Under the Royal Marriages Act 1772, all descendants of King George II must obtain the Sovereign’s agreement before they wed, it said.
According to the statement, the consent features a decorative artwork chosen by the artist to represent the groom and bride-to-be, a white lily representing St. Catherine of Siena, whose feast day falls on April 29th and with whom Miss Middleton shares the name.
“There is also a red dragon – the heraldic symbol of Wales, the UK’s floral emblems – the rose, thistle and shamrock – and the Garter belt, Prince William’s blue and gold Order of the Garter belt, as well as a large gold E for Elizabeth.”
The Queen’s signature “Elizabeth R” can be seen at the top right of the Instrument of Consent, which is dated “the ninth day of February Two Thousand and Eleven in the Sixtieth year of Our Reign”.
By Ekow Quandzie