Prince William had a tactful response when pressed to comment upon rumours of an impending royal engagement between his younger brother Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle, after the couple made their official public debut at an Invictus Games event on Monday.
On the Prince’s itinerary for yesterday’s visit to Milton Keynes was a trip to William Cowley Parchment Makers, the company in charge of making the vellum (an old-style parchment made from the skin of a calf) which is traditionally used for royal document and to record acts of Parliament.
Should Harry get engaged to his girlfriend, he’ll have to seek permission from his grandmother the Queen. All being well, she will then officially give the couple her royal blessing by issuing a document called the ‘instrument of consent,’ which tradition dictates is written upon vellum. It’s a link that general manager Paul Wright couldn’t help but make when he met with Prince William. With the couple’s public debut doubtless in mind, he pointed out to the Duke of Cambridge that ‘If Prince Harry marries Meghan, then his certificate will be in our vellum.’
William, however, couldn’t be pressed to comment upon his younger brother’s relationship, and instead responded with all the tact and diplomacy we’d expect from the royal, choosing to see the funny side and simply laugh off the suggestion. According to People, Wright revealed that he ‘just laughed – a nice laugh.’
Though the Prince tends to avoid discussing Harry’s private life with the press, he has previously released a statement through Kensington Palace on the subject. In this instance, the comments from the Palace sought specifically to quash rumours that he did not support Harry’s decision to confirm his relationship with Suits star Meghan in an open letter last year.
‘The Duke of Cambridge absolutely understands the situation concerning privacy and supports the need for Prince Harry to support those closest to him,’ the statement read.
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