Meghan Markle made a big statement in St. George’s Chapel on her wedding day. She walked down part of the wedding aisle by herself and looked stunning.

Only her bridesmaids and pageboys were with her. Talk about a strong, independent lady who doesn’t need a man, right?

Prince Charles greeted her in the Quire, which is the space immediately before the altar.

When Harry saw her, he was captivated and said, “You look amazing. I’m so lucky,” while pulling her veil back.

However, while some applauded Markle’s decision to begin the walk down the aisle alone and to leave out any wording about “giving away” the bride as a feminist innovation, her walk without her father really had years of history behind it.

There was a lot of tension leading up to Charles walking Markle halfway down the aisle. Thomas Markle, Meghan Markle’s father, was set to play the role, but he was unable to attend the wedding due to heart surgery. As a feminist statement, Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, went inside the chapel with her before she resumed her procession alone.

Meghan responded to the topic of who would lead her down the aisle with a statement, stating Prince Charles would do the honor. The announcement states, “Ms. Meghan Markle has asked His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales to accompany her down the aisle of the Quire of St George’s Chapel on her Wedding Day,” the statement reads. “The Prince of Wales is pleased to be able to welcome Ms. Markle to The Royal Family in this way.”

Charles, for his part, did not give Markle away, but instead stood aside as she approached her future husband-to-be, his son Harry. According to CNN, this arrangement went off without a hitch. “CNN understands that Markle came up with the plan herself,” the publication said at the time. “It was always the intention that her father Thomas would meet her at the Quire and she would walk the first part alone.”

Though the Church of England wedding ritual is based on centuries-old ceremonies, the bride’s journey to the groom has occurred in a variety of ways, and almost any choice made by Markle or any other bride may be viewed as adhering to an element of tradition.

Markle did, in fact, create history: “No other royal bride in the UK has walked unescorted down the aisle at their wedding ceremony,” CNN said ahead of the event. “Markle’s decision indicates that she wishes to assert herself as a strong, independent woman who is prepared to challenge royal norms.”

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