Chicago-Born Bishop To Give Sermon At British Royal Wedding

A Chicago-born Episcopal bishop has been asked to speak at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The Rev. Michael Curry will give the address at the couple's wedding Saturday, the Royal Family announced over the weekend.

The selection of Curry, who is the 27th presiding bishop and primate for the Episcopal Church, breaks from the usual protocol for British royal weddings. In past ceremonies, sermons have been reserved for senior Church of England clergy, although representatives from other Christian denominations have recited prayers, according to the Episcopal Church. The Rev. David Conner, the Dean of Windsor, will conduct the service, and the Rev. Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, will officiate the couple's marriage vows.

"The love that has brought and will bind Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle together has its source and origin in God, and is the key to life and happiness," Curry said in a statement. "And so we celebrate and pray for them today."

Curry was born in Chicago in 1953, but his family moved to Buffalo, New York, when he was 3 years old. He was elected as presiding bishop in 2015.

The ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, May 19. HBO will air "The Royal Wedding Live With Cord and Tish!" with Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon at 6:30 a.m., and BBC America will broadcast the ceremony at 7 p.m. Live coverage will be available starting at 6 a.m. on CBS, streamed on CBSN, The Today Show (NBC), PBS and BBC America, according to Harper's Bazaar.

The Rev. Michael Curry (Photo via British Royal Family)