The Instrument of Consent records Queen Elizabeth’s formal consent to the marriage of Prince Harry to Ms Meghan Markle.

Queen Elizabeth formally gave her consent to the marriage in accordance with the 2013 Succession to the Crown Act by making her declaration at a Privy Council meeting on the 14th of March 2018.

This rather ornate document is handwritten and illuminated on vellum by one of a panel of scriveners in the Crown Office.

Vellum is used only for important State documents.

The design on the left includes a red dragon, which is the heraldic symbol of Wales, together with the UK’s floral emblems: the rose, thistle and shamrock.

It also features Prince Harry’s label, including three tiny read escallops from the Spencer family arms.

On the right-hand side of the document, the design includes the rose, which is the also the United States’ national flower. On either side of the rose are two golden poppies, which is the state flower of California where Ms Markle was born.

Between the two poppies is the Welsh leak, with Prince Harry’s Label.

Olive branches, adapted from the Great Seal of the United States, are beneath the Label.

The document also features a coronet for Prince Harry at the bottom left and the Commonwealth symbol is on the lower-right side.

The Great Seal of the Realm is attached to the bottom of the Instrument of Consent by woven cords.

The Queen’s signature, ‘Elizabeth R’ can be also seen on the document, which will be presented to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after their wedding in a red case.

Listen to our 11 May 2018 Podcast about the Instrument of Consent.