While only a lucky handful of people will receive one in the mail, anyone with an Internet connection can now get a glimpse of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding invitation.
“Invitations to the wedding of Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle have been issued in the name of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales,” Kensington Palace tweeted today, following it up with a photo of the cards.
Although aesthetically simple with its black cursive and gold detailing, it’s an invitation that is full of symbolism. Each one is adorned with the feathered badge of Charles, Prince of Wales, which depicts three ostrich plumes emerging from a crown with the motto ich dien in a banner beneath. Its origin traces back to the 14th century and the time of Edward, the Black Prince.
In addition to announcing the wedding time and location, the invitation also describes the dress code: uniform, morning coat, or lounge suit for men; day dress with hat for women.
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The invitations were made by Barnard & Westwood, a London stationer that has held a royal warrant since 1985. Unsurprisingly, for the royals, it was done with a traditional printing process known as die stamping, on a machine from the 1930s.
However, while the cards, and the company that made them, are English, the ink isn’t—it’s American.
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So although the cards are just paper and ink, they are a poetic symbol of Harry and Meghan themselves—a complementary fusion of two countries, two cultures, and two backgrounds. Their cake, too, will represent these values: Claire Ptak, the baker, is a California expat living in London.
It seems that despite their wedding being in Britain, in a British landmark, infused with British traditions, Harry and Meghan are bringing a noticeable American flair to the day after all.