We Can’t Wait to Hear Meghan Markle’s Wedding Speech!

Shortly after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their engagement to the world, we’ve been counting down the days to their royal wedding on Saturday, May 19, the event that they promised will be a moment of “fun and joy” which will “reflect their characters and personalities.”

So, given that Meghan has long been a committed advocate for gender equality, it seems only appropriate that the royal-to-be will be re-dressing the male bias of one particular wedding tradition: by giving a speech at the reception that will follow the ceremony at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor.

Gayle King interviewed Sunday Times reporter Royah Nikkhah on CBS This Morning the day before the wedding, and asked her if it was really true that Meghan’s making a speech. “Yes. She’s not going to be a silent princess. She wants to have her voice heard,” she said. “My understanding is that she really wants to pay tribute and thanks to the royal family for welcoming her. And to thank the Queen, and most of all to pay tribute to her darling new husband.”

Sunday Times was the outlet that first reported the news a couple of months ago. Meghan is planning an “affectionate tribute to her new husband and will offer thanks to Queen Elizabeth, her family, and friends,” they wrote. There may, according to the Times source, “even be a couple of jokes.”

While Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle, is now not attending the special event after he was expected to walk the former Suits star down the aisle he also won’t be able to give a speech after the ceremony. “She was going to make that speech because her father wasn’t going to speak,” Nikkah told Gayle.

At the 2011 wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, speeches were given by Harry (in his capacity as best man), Prince Charles, and Michael Middleton, the father of the bride.

Details of Harry’s wedding party have been confirmed by Kensington Palace — and it will consist of all children. However, Harry returned the favor by asking his older brother to be his best man (we can’t wait for his speech, too!). Prince George and Princess Charlotte will serve as page boy and flower girl. Now bring on the big day!

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This post was written by Katie Rosseinsky. It originally appeared on our sister site, Grazia Daily.