Source: CBS News
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, are a 21st century couple — it’s their time. They know they have the opportunity to change perceptions about race and identity in Great Britain, the United States and around the world. Michelle Miller shows how this couple breaks the barrier of who can be a royal.
“Ladies, may we lift up our sparkling cider …to the happy couple!”
It’s a British high tea in South Orange, New Jersey, where Carolyn “Cookie” Mason is hosting daughter Chloe and her friends.
“There is no better way to celebrate a wedding than to have tea with friends,” Cookie tells CBS News correspondent Michelle Miller.
Even though Meghan’s official title is duchess, to this group, she is a princess – their princess.
“Now we see that a real-life black princess can actually be in the British royal family. So it shows young black girls … that like this can actually be a reality, not just a fantasy, like in story books,” says 16-year-old Tyler Newman.
“Why did she pick Harry?” Miller asks the partygoers.
“I heard it was a set up. A blind date,” Chloe Mason, 15, replies. “Can you imagine going on a blind date with a prince?”
The couple may be breaking with tradition, but not Cookie.
“You have to pronounce it sconz like the British. Not scones like the American’s do,” she instructs the young ladies seated at the table.
And the dessert is a cake congratulating Meghan.
“I noticed Meghan got all the congratulations,” Miller notes.
“You know, we debated that. I really struggled, because I didn’t want to make it about just her. But from our perspective, right … as young women, it really is about her,” Cookie replies.
“I think for me, because I actually grew up in London,” says Natalie Pemberton, 16. “And I was following, you know, Prince Harry’s journey to find love, you know [laughs] … I was always like, curious like who’s he going to find, you know. And when I saw it was her, I was like, ‘Whoa.'”
“OK, girls. Who was your favorite princess coming up? And why?” Miller asks.
“Well, I think I like Mulan because she wasn’t just like one of those girls that sat down and wore, like, prissy, pink dresses,” 11-year-old Jada Watson says as she shrugs her shoulders, rolls her eyes and points to herself.
The group howls with laughter.
“Even though you’re wearing a pretty, prissy, pink dress,” Miller points out. “Yeah,” says Jada.
While Mulan may be Jada’s favorite fictional princess, the most relatable was Tiana, Disney’s first…
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