Schools
NU Marks Meghan Markle's Royal Wedding, Her Sorority Does Not
The Northwestern chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma reportedly voted against holding events to celebrate the royal wedding of one of its sisters.
EVANSTON, IL — Northwestern University is eager to capitalize on the attention brought by the royal wedding of an alum, hosting historians discussing the evolution of England's monarchy and publishing remembrances of Princess Diana's visit more than two decades ago. But the local chapter of Meghan Markle's sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma, voted against holding any celebration to mark the May 19 ceremony and the group's national office declined interview requests, the Evanston Review reported.
Markle graduated from Northwestern with an undergraduate degree in theater and international studies in 2003. Formerly the chair of recruitment for the sorority, she is due to be declared a duchess following the ceremony Saturday at Windsor Castle. After the wedding, the couple will live at Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace.
Diana visited the Evanston campus on June 4, 1996 as part of a three-day visit after being invited by then Northwestern President Henry Beinen. On her visit to the Chicago area, she visited patients at Cook County Hospital and was received by breast cancer researchers, trustees, the governor of Illinois and mayors of Evanston and Chicago and their spouses.
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The princess also headlined fundraisers for cancer research at the Field Museum of Natural History and Pritzker School of Law, according to the university. Guests included Michael Jordan's mother, who presented Di with autographed souvenirs for William and Harry on the night of Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
“I love Chicago,” Diana said. “It’s been wonderful.”
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Scott Sowerby, a Northwestern history professor and expert on the British monarchy, said he expects Markle to focus on making a positive impact on the world, as she is now set to perform before a far larger audience.
“[She's] displayed a deep interest in women’s rights in her work for the United Nations and with World Vision," Sowerby said. "She will be able to build on that in her new role as a member of the royal family. She’s acting on a bigger stage now."
The Evanston chapter of the sorority voted against holding any celebration to mark the occasion, citing Markle's "privacy," and its national offices said it will not be giving interviews on the subject. But one Glencoe resident, Kappa Kappa Gamma member and alumna of University of Michigan told Pioneer Press she planned to host a royal viewing party around 5:30 a.m. on Saturday morning with a couple dozen KKG sisters from several universities.
“A lot of it is, I love royal weddings,” she said.
Markle will become the first royal bride to walk unescorted down the aisle at her wedding, CNN reported. She will be joined by her future father-in-law, Prince Charles, after reaching the Quire where guests are seated. Her father will not attend due to ill health.
The wedding is expected to cost $2.7 million, according to CNBC. The "core aspects" will be covered by the royal family, although Markle is expected to pay for her own dress at a reported cost of $550,000. However, the British public will be picking up the tab for the $40 million or more that is projected to be spent on extra security.
A petition from a group opposed to the monarchy describes the wedding as a "private, personal event, dressed up as a national occasion" and demands that the UK parliament reveal the full cost to taxpayers of the event. It has received more than 33,000 signatures by the eve of the wedding.
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