Meghan Markle and Prince Harry receive Queen's formal consent

With less than a week until the royal wedding, Queen Elizabeth has given the happy couple her official consent.

In accordance with the 2013 Succession to the Crown Act, the formal instrument of consent has been signed by the Queen - and shared by the royal family’s Twitter account.

The hand-written document is the formal version of the previously released charter of declaration letter, which also expressed the Queen’s consent for the wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to take place.

According to the royal website, the instrument of consent is hand-written and illuminated on vellum, which is only used for important state documents, by one of a panel of scrivener artists retained by the crown office.

The ornate letter reads: “NOW KNOW YE that We have consented and do by these Presents signify Our Consent to the contracting of Matrimony between Our Most Dearly Beloved Grandson Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales, K.C.V.O., and Rachel Meghan Markle.”

As Prince Harry is sixth-in-line to the throne, he must receive the formal approval of the monarch, his grandmother, before he can wed.

The certificate is also beautiful visually.

To the left of the wording, a red dragon, the heraldic symbol of Wales, appears together with the UK's floral emblems – the rose, thistle and shamrock, according to the royal website. Underneath, Prince Harry’s label is featured - with three scallops from the Spencer family Arms.

The art to the right of the wording is also symbolic and especially meaningful, as it symbolises Meghan Markle’s identity as a American-born citizen.

In addition to a rose, the national flower of America, two golden poppies represent the state of California, where Markle was born. The design also includes a Welsh leek, Prince Harry’s label, and an olive branch, from the seal of the United States.

The instrument of consent will be presented to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after the royal wedding on May 19 2018.