Written By: Sara Robinson & Natalie Williams

On Saturday, May 19th, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got married at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor. Now known formally as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the couple’s royal wedding has been a popular topic for the past week. This has been the first royal wedding in the English Monarchy since Kate Middleton and Prince William became married on April 29, 2011. Queen Elizabeth II was present as well as Meghan and Harry tied the knot.

Students at Newport Harbor are celebrating this global event as well. Even though England is eight hours ahead of California time, many students woke up in the middle of the night to watch the live footage of the spectacle. Junior Chanse Hill woke up at two in the morning to watch the Royal Wedding with her mom. She says that “it was so worth it to wake up and watch the ceremony, and to see all of the Royals in their traditional outfits”.

Other students see this celebratory event as the end of a dream. Junior Payton Steiner and Sara Robinson lament the loss of their final chance to be a princess. Steiner says that she has “always wanted to be a princess, and it is so sad that Prince Harry is no longer an option”. While these two wish the Duke and Duchess of Sussex the best, they still joke about the end of their childhood dream.

On a similar note, other students at Newport Harbor are excited to see the first African American Duchess in England. Meghan Markle is an American actress, and met Prince Harry on a blind date set up by their mutual friends. There were many celebrities present at this Royal event, including David and Victoria Beckham, Oprah, and tennis star Serena Williams.

Although this wedding is a union of America and England, students at Newport Harbor are divided over opinions of Markle’s dress. Former NHHS student Katie Robinson calls herself a “Royal Connoisseur” and was disappointed in the Royal wedding dress. She prefers the wedding dress of Kate Middleton from 2011. Meghan’s plain, high neck dress was beautiful, but simple for an event of such proportion.

The next royal wedding will not be for a while, as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s children are still young. Prince George of Cambridge is the oldest at four years old, and we can’t wait for the next royal wedding in a few decades.