May 16, 2018

On Saturday, May 19, the United Kingdom's Prince Harry will marry American actress Meghan Markle — but she won't become Princess Meghan, according to a royal wedding guide from AP Stylebook

"She is likely to be known by whatever title the queen gives her the day of the wedding," the guide reads. "Many royal observers think the queen will make the newlyweds the duke and duchess of Sussex, one of the few remaining 'dukedoms' that are available."

Here are some other timely style tips in case you're covering the big day.

It's 'royal wedding' and 'royal couple': "Always in lowercase," AP Stylebook says. "This is an informal designation that could be applied even when very minor royals get married. The same applies to the royal couple. That is always in lowercase."

'BBC' is OK: "Acceptable on all references to the British Broadcasting Corp."

It's 'Queen Elizabeth,' she's the 'queen':  "Capitalize king, queen, prince and princess when they are used directly before one or more names; lowercase when they stand alone," AP Stylebook says. "Queen Elizabeth II. The queen or Elizabeth on second reference. Capitalize a longer form of the sovereign's title when its use is appropriate or in a quote: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth."

But it's never 'Duchess Katherine': "The wife of a duke is a duchess: the Duchess of Kent, the duchess, but never Duchess Katherine or Lady Katherine."

If you'd rather watch soccer/football: "Two top British soccer teams, Chelsea and Manchester United, will play for the FA Cup on the afternoon of the royal wedding," AP Stylebook says.

And if you need some good wedding day details: The florist "plans to use locally sourced foliage from the surrounding parkland for many of the displays," AP Stylebook says. And the cake "will be a lemon elderflower cake covered with buttercream and decorated with fresh flowers."

You can find more here

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Kristen Hare teaches local journalists the critical skills they need to serve and cover their communities as Poynter's local news faculty member. Before joining faculty…
Kristen Hare

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