I got up in the middle of the night for Diana and Charles’ wedding in 1981. I watched Kate Middleton and Prince William exchange vows. Then I staggered in at 3:34 AM Central to watch Prince Harry take Meghan Markle as his princess.

I realized I could have slept in another two hours, but they said people camped out for days! Thousands lined the roads to Windsor Castle. Major networks were broadcasting from every angle, which was a challenge, given all those hats! 

Kathy Lee Gifford was broadcasting in a little feathered number, only with a stuffed goose on top! Yes. that’s her sidekick, Meghan Kelly. The large parade of celebrities, friends, and a long line of royals finally took their seats, as a beautiful harp was strummed.

However, this royal wedding was a little different. Prince William married his college love. Harry, now 33, took the bachelor life to heart, partying for years, but never finding the one. He served time in Afghanistan, did charity work and co-founded Sentebale.org, an organization that helps the most vulnerable children due to poverty and Aids/HIV.

Prince Harry did fall in love long ago, with a place called Botswana, where he became involved in conservation efforts and saving the endangered rhino, due to poachers for the horn.

Prince Harry often visits Botswana as part of his work for Rhino Conservation Botswana, and previously said he was “incredibly fortunate” to call it his second home. It is a place he fell in love with soon after the death of his mother, Princess Diana, when his father took him and Prince William on safari to get away from their grief. The royal has since recalled how that first trip turned into a boyhood obsession and how it is a country he feels he can be free to be himself, away from media attention.

Only recently was he able to talk about the pain he’d been carrying from his mother, Princess Diana’s death. He gave an interview saying he and his brother talked about her all the time, shared their grief privately, but he could not do so publicly and tried to find ways to hide that suffering, including all the years of partying. I remember Diana’s funeral and thought it was terrible that they had to walk behind her casket all that long way on that dreadful day.

Then Prince Harry found true love with an American actress, 36-year-old Meghan Markle. I didn’t realize she was biracial until the media mentioned it. The church was filled with gospel music and a black American minister who preached the likes that I’m sure no one has ever heard in that chapel! His message was love, love, and more love. He said to “just imagine” if love permeated every corner of life, quoting Dr. King a number of times. Some of the royals and guests shuffled, flipped through their programs, awkwardly grinned or just sat wide-eyed. Gospel and traditional English choirboys together.

I wondered how long some had even set a toe inside a chapel or heard preaching with such passion. The traditional English pastor conducted the vows and prayed over the couple, also with power and conviction. He said, “Love comes from God. What brings a man and woman to the altar of their own free will to be married is love, so both love and marriage were created by God and has a purpose – His purpose.” He asked God to protect this couple “on all sides” from danger. All walks of life heard the Gospel that day, with beautiful Christian prayers, and wanted to honor the traditional institution of marriage, when so much of today’s world is rejecting both.

There was also a distinct sense of passing from old to new. The royal couple omitted the word “obey” in their vows, replaced by “protect.” Prince Charles walked Meghan down the aisle, but didn’t “give her away”; her choice not to be handed over, but stepping freely to her betrothed – another modern element. They also asked that no gifts be given, to donate to a charity instead – Diana all the way. Yet the old wasn’t discarded, it was respected, revered. “God save the Queen,” was sung in the chapel with gusto to a standing and smiling Queen Elizabeth.

As they exited the church, little Princess Charlotte had the royal hand-wave down pat, as she gestured goodbye to her uncle and new aunt. This is the British people’s history, the past and what will come next, the good with the bad, the trials, the joys, the new traditions, even the pomp. One young British news commentator said he felt overwhelmed with emotion — he’d learned all about the history of his country throughout school and here it all was unfolding before him. Even 97-year-old Prince Philip who just had hip surgery and was expected to be on a walker for a month, threw it out after two weeks and walked into the church on his own. British steel isn’t just a Land Rover.

Outside thousands cheered, every age, ethnic persuasion, income, faith, gender was on-hand shouting good wishes, some Muslim women wore British flag headscarves and waved flags, children jumped around and danced. There was even the sound of the traditional African ululation. Someone commented it was like the biggest tailgate party in the world, with champagne corks popping as the carriage with the new couple, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, rolled past. The British admire their royalty and the world loves a real fairy tale. I think Diana is smiling on her children who have found happiness.

Violence and cynicism dominate daily media headlines. There were no protests, no “privilege signs,” no resentment of any kind — the minister said “just imagine,” and love ruled for a day.