Hello-Hello! Can you believe we're only six days away from the wedding? This evening, we're chatting about several topics related to the big day as Saturday fast approaches...

The Instrument of Consent... Last night, the Palace released several photos of the document signed by The Queen in March, giving her official consent for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to marry. The Instrument of Consent is drafted by the Crown Office and is hand-written and illuminated on vellum by one of a panel of scrivener artists retained by the Crown Office. Vellum is used only for important state documents. The image below was taken in the 18th century room at Buckingham Palace.

More from the Palace: "The design to the left of the text incorporates a red dragon, the heraldic symbol of Wales, together with the UK's floral emblems – the rose, thistle and shamrock. It also features Prince Harry’s label, including three tiny red escallops from the Spencer family arms. The design to the right of the text also includes the rose, as this is also the national flower of the United States. To either side of the rose are two golden poppies – this being the state flower of California, where Ms. Markle was born. Between the flowers is the Welsh leek, together with Prince Harry’s label. Beneath the label are olive branches, adopted from the Great Seal of the United States. To the left, underneath the two main designs, is the coronet for Prince Harry. On the lower right side of the document is the Commonwealth symbol."


The document 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 Henry Charles Albert David of Wales KCVO and Rachel Meghan Markle."


The Queen's signature, "Elizabeth R," can be seen at the top right of the document. It will be presented to Harry and Meghan after the wedding.


Presiding Bishop Curry to Give Address... Harry and Meghan have asked that the Most Reverend Michael Bruce Curry, 27th Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church, give the address at their wedding. Presiding Bishop Curry, from Chicago Illinois, will travel to Windsor to take part in the service. He will join the Dean of Windsor, The Rt. Revd. David Conner, who will conduct the Service. The Most Revd. and Rt. Hon. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, will officiate as the couple make their marriage vows. The Most Reverend Michael Bruce Curry said: "The love that has brought and will bind Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle together has its source and origin in God, and is the key to life and happiness. And so we celebrate and pray for them today."


Harry and Meghan's Wedding Gift List... Whilst Harry and Meghan have asked the public and those attending the wedding to consider donating to one of seven carefully chosen charities in lieu of wedding gifts, the couple have do have a private gift list at Soho House. The Sunday Times wrote: "The list, however, is only for their inner circle of friends and family to choose a present from Soho House, a chain of clubs, restaurants and spas around the world where the mission is “to create a comfortable home away from home”. The choice is not entirely surprising — the couple’s first date took place at Soho House in London in July 2016."


More from Roya Nikkhah:

'Items on the Soho House wedding list include a “cinema armchair” in red or green mohair for £2,495, with an optional £695 “cinema footstool” in chocolate leather, a “Chelsea chaise longue” in flax linen for £2,495, a “cosy emperor bed” at £2,095 and a loft grey linen sofa for £3,295.

There are also Soho House duvet covers starting at £110, “cut crystal champagne coupes” at £64 for a set of two, and a martini glass and cocktail set for £75.

The Queen recently appointed Harry as a Commonwealth youth ambassador, and the newlyweds are soon to embark on several overseas tours, including a trip to Australia in October. Soho House offers just the thing for a new royal bride requiring several outfit changes a day with a £775 “Vanderbilt leather trunk” as an option.'

A look at three items on the list.


Another item on the list will most definitely have been selected by foodie Meghan - the Nordic Cookbook. The £29 book is described as: "This is the definitive guide to Nordic home cooking and features 700 authentic recipes from the region, all of which can be easily recreated at home. Leading international chef Magnus travelled throughout the Nordic region not only collecting recipes but photographing the landscape and people too."


Another popular option at Soho House is the Cowshed Knackered & Lazy bath and shower products. Made in England, the award-winning products use the very best organic and wildcrafted plant extracts.


A Trip to The Netherlands... With a tour of Australia and New Zealand and a two-day visit to Dublin on the cards for Harry and Meghan, the second half of the year promises to be a busy one. In addition to these trips, Hannah Furness revealed in The Telegraph, there's also a visit to the Netherlands in the offing:

As soon as they are married, they are expected to join senior members of the Royal Family in overseas tours, cementing affection for the monarchy around the world.
Later this year, they are expected to make their first visit to the Netherlands, with as-yet-unconfirmed proposals for a trip to Dublin too.

A trip to the Netherlands, currently under discussion, would likely see the couple meet King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima and their family, as well as visit key sights and charities reflecting causes including conservation, mental health and the Dutch Invictus Games team.

In October, they will visit Australia for the Invictus Games in Sydney, likely to incorporate wider visits to Commonwealth countries such as New Zealand or the Pacific Islands.

Prince Harry's press secretary, Jason Knauf, said during a briefing about the Royal wedding this month: "You'll be pleased to know they're planning a lot of work to happen in the second part of the year, which is going to be incredibly busy."

What Meghan Markle Means to Black Britons...

Another terrific piece by Ellen Barry for The New York Times:

“There is nothing that racist people can do about it,” said Tshego Lengolo, 11, about the royal wedding. “So they might as well get used to it.” Credit Andrew Testa for The New York Times. In the days to come, anyone wishing to criticize Meghan Markle, the American actress set to marry into Britain’s royal family, will have to contend with Tshego Lengolo, an 11-year-old black girl and newly minted monarchist.

Tshego is a child of southeast London. She has taught herself “road,” the slang emanating from the city’s grime music scene, but drops it the second she enters her apartment, a zone patrolled by her all-seeing South African mother. They squabble affectionately, for approximately the thousandth time, over whether she can be called Tiffany.

If Tshego (SEH-ho) is royal-crazy this summer, it is because Ms. Markle is biracial, the daughter of an African-American woman and a white man. When she looks at Ms. Markle, Tshego sees a version of herself, new to England, trying to find a place among its racial codes.'

What to Expect in the Coming Days... We are expecting the following announcements from Kensington Palace and other news this week:

• Details of the Bridesmaids and Page Boys;
• The work of florist Philippa Craddock and the Crown Estate gardeners who have been growing and preparing the flowers that will fill the church;
• An update from Claire Ptak, the baker who will make the wedding cake, and the chefs who have been working in the Palace kitchens to make the final preparations
• Meghan's parents and close friends will be arriving throughout the week.
• We now expect to see Meghan arriving at the location she will spend the night before her wedding on Friday. It is possible William and Harry will also greet members of the public outside Kensington Palace.
• I think it likely we will hear information regarding Harry and Meghan's first post-wedding engagement, due to take place days after the wedding.
• The Palace will publish the full Order of Service on the website on Saturday morning so members of the public can follow the service at home.