The New Royals

Prince Harry was born in 1984. He is the younger son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, who died in 1997. Charles is the heir of Queen Elizabeth II, Harry’s grandmother.

Elizabeth, 92, is Britain’s longest- reigning monarch, having ascended the throne in 1952. She was not originally in line to be queen, but her destiny changed when her uncle, King Edward VIII, fell in love with a divorced American in the 1930s.

At the time, royals were forbidden from marrying divorcées. Refusing to give up love for his duties, the king abdicated in 1936. His decision catapulted his brother—and later, his niece Elizabeth—to the throne.

Prince Harry was born in 1984. He is the younger son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Diana died in 1997. Charles is the heir of Queen Elizabeth II, Harry’s grandmother.

Elizabeth, 92, is Britain’s longest-reigning monarch. She ascended the throne in 1952. Elizabeth was not originally in line to be queen. Her destiny changed when her uncle, King Edward VIII, fell in love with a divorced American in the 1930s.

At the time, royals were forbidden from marrying divorced people. The king refused to give up love for his duties. He abdicated in 1936. His decision pushed his brother, and later his niece Elizabeth, to the throne.

Despite her title, Queen Elizabeth is largely a symbolic leader. In the U.K., the prime minister leads the government (see "Who's Really in Charge?" sidebar, below).

Still, millions are fascinated by the royal family and have watched its traditions evolve. 

In 2011, for example, Harry’s older brother, Prince William—second in line to the throne—married Catherine (Kate) Middleton, a commoner. Their marriage was seen as an example of how the younger generation is determined to marry for love, rather than choosing partners with royal lineage.

Moreover, in 2013, Britain ended a centuries-old rule that put boys ahead of their older sisters in line for the throne. Now the firstborn is heir—regardless of gender.

Prince Harry attributes many of the progressive changes in the monarchy to his grandmother.

“The monarchy is a force for good,” he told Newsweek last year. “And we want to carry on the positive atmosphere that the queen has achieved for over 60 years, but we won’t be trying to fill her boots.”

Despite her title, Queen Elizabeth is largely a symbolic leader. In the U.K., the prime minister leads the government (see “Who’s Really in Charge?” sidebar, below).

Still, millions of people are fascinated by the royal family. They have watched its traditions evolve. 

Prince William is Harry’s older brother. He is second in line to the throne. In 2011, he married Catherine (Kate) Middleton, a commoner. Their marriage was seen as an example of how the younger generation is determined to marry for love, rather than choosing partners with royal lineage.

Moreover, in 2013, Britain ended a centuries-old rule that put boys ahead of their older sisters in line for the throne. Now the firstborn is heir, regardless of gender.

Prince Harry credits many of the progressive changes in the monarchy to his grandmother.

“The monarchy is a force for good,” he told Newsweek last year. “And we want to carry on the positive atmosphere that the queen has achieved for over 60 years, but we won’t be trying to fill her boots.”

Indeed, Harry, along with his brother, his sister-in-law, and soon, Meghan Markle, seem focused on changing what it means to be a royal. They often interact with the public and run their own errands. 

Harry, 33 and a former officer in the British army, has also taken on a cause previous generations of royals never tackled: mental health issues. The prince regularly speaks out about depression and other illnesses in an effort to encourage people to seek help.

As Harry’s wife, Markle, 36, is expected to put aside her acting career for humanitarian work.

Indeed, Harry, along with his brother, his sister-in-law, and soon, Meghan Markle, seem focused on changing what it means to be a royal. They often interact with the public. They even run their own errands.

Harry, 33, is a former officer in the British army. He has taken on a cause previous generations of royals never tackled: mental health issues. The prince regularly speaks out about depression and other illnesses in an effort to encourage people to seek help.

As Harry’s wife, Markle, 36, is expected to put aside her acting career for humanitarian work.

In addition to highlighting how the monarchy has evolved, experts say the royal wedding will serve as a welcome distraction for Britain. 

The U.K., like much of Europe, has been struggling with a backlash against migrants since 2014, when war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa started driving millions of people into Europe.

And the country’s future remains uncertain after it voted in 2016 to leave the European Union, an alliance of 28 countries that trade with one another. As the U.K. negotiates its departure, known as Brexit, experts worry about what it will mean for Britain’s economy.

For a country struggling with such issues, “this wedding reflects a side of Britain that many want to celebrate,” Chernock says. “It’s a feel-good story—a love that has overcome historical obstacles.”

In addition to highlighting how the monarchy has evolved, experts say the royal wedding will serve as a welcome distraction for Britain.

The U.K., like much of Europe, has been struggling with a backlash against migrants since 2014. That was when war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa started driving millions of people into Europe.

And the country’s future remains uncertain after it voted in 2016 to leave the European Union (E.U.). The E.U. is an alliance of 28 countries that trade with one another. The U.K.’s departure is known as Brexit. As the U.K. negotiates Brexit, experts worry about what it will mean for Britain’s economy.

For a country struggling with such issues, “this wedding reflects a side of Britain that many want to celebrate,” Chernock says. “It’s a feel-good story—a love that has overcome historical obstacles.”