Who Can Attend Royal Weddings?

Royal weddings are a grand affair, and while the public involvement and celebrations have changed over the years, many traditions have remained the same. For instance, the wedding of Princess Eugenie and Mr. Jack Brooksbank in 2018 saw 1,200 members of the public invited to the grounds of Windsor Castle, in addition to friends and family. Similarly, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle invited 2,000 members of the public to the grounds of their wedding at Windsor Castle in 2018.

2,000 members of the public attended Harry and Meghan's wedding

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a grand affair, with 600 guests in attendance at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, and over 2,000 members of the public invited to the castle grounds. The guest list for the wedding, which took place on 19 May 2018, included relatives of the groom and bride, members of reigning and non-reigning royal families, friends, and notable figures.

The 2,000 members of the public invited to the wedding grounds were a diverse group, carefully selected to represent different segments of society. This included 500 members of the Royal Household, a group with close ties to the royal family and its workings. In addition, 1,200 inspiring citizens and young people from across the country were chosen by Lord Lieutenants, recognising their contributions and potential. The couple also invited 200 guests from charity organisations they were closely associated with, reflecting their commitment to social causes. Lastly, 100 local school children were among those welcomed onto the castle grounds, celebrating this special occasion alongside their community.

The public guests were not mere spectators but active participants in the festivities. They were invited to greet the newlyweds outside the chapel, offering their congratulations and well-wishes. This aspect of the wedding reflected Harry and Meghan's desire to include the community in their celebration and share their joy with people from all walks of life.

The royal couple's choice to include members of the public in their wedding was a heartwarming gesture, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds and ages. It demonstrated their recognition of the support they received from the British people and their desire to include the community in this momentous occasion. This inclusive approach added a unique and memorable dimension to their wedding, making it not just a royal event but a celebration for the people.

The selection of the 2,000 public guests was a thoughtful process, ensuring representation from different regions of the country and a range of ages and backgrounds. This aspect of the wedding planning showcased the couple's thoughtfulness and their desire to connect with people from all walks of life.

Royal bridesmaids are historically aged 10-12

Royal bridesmaids are typically young, with ages ranging from 10 to 12 years old. This tradition has been observed in several royal weddings throughout history, with young princesses and ladies of nobility taking on the role of bridesmaids.

In 1885, all ten of Princess Beatrice's nieces served as bridesmaids at her wedding to Prince Henry of Battenberg. Princess Beatrice's ivory gown was outshone by the young bridesmaids' dresses.

The wedding of King George V and Princess Mary of Teck in 1893 was equally luxurious, with ten bridesmaids, including the King's sisters and nieces.

In 1923, the Duke and Duchess of York continued the tradition of large wedding parties, with eight bridesmaids, including Queen Mary's two nieces, Lady Mary Cambridge and Lady May Cambridge. Lady Mary Cambridge also served as a bridesmaid at the Earl of Eltham and Dorothy Hastings' wedding later that year.

Princess Elizabeth, who later became Queen, was nine years old when she served as one of eight bridesmaids at her uncle's wedding to Princess Alice in 1935. Princess Elizabeth continued her bridesmaid duties at Lord Brabourne and Patricia Mountbatten's autumn wedding in 1946, and at Vicary Gibbs and A.G.V. Elphinstone's wedding in the same year.

Princess Margaret, Princess Elizabeth's younger sister, was also a bridesmaid at the wedding of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips in 1973.

Other notable royal bridesmaids include Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, who served as a bridesmaid at Jeremy Cubitt and Diana du Cane's wedding before becoming a royal herself. Princess Anne, at just nine years old, was one of Princess Margaret's bridesmaids when she wed fashion photographer Antony Armstrong.

The wedding bouquet goes to the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior

The tradition of placing the wedding bouquet on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior dates back to 23 April 1923, when Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who later became the Queen Mother, married the future King George VI. Lady Elizabeth's brother, Captain The Honourable Fergus Bowes-Lyon, was killed in 1915 during World War One, and she honoured him and all those who had served in the war by placing her bouquet on the tomb before walking up the aisle.

The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, located in Westminster Abbey, is the final resting place of an unidentified World War One soldier. The soldier was buried on Remembrance Day, 11 November 1920, with soil brought from France. The grave is covered by black Belgian marble, inscribed with the words, "They buried him among the kings because he had done good toward God and toward his house."

Since the Queen Mother began this tradition, nearly all royal brides have sent their bouquets to the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior after their weddings. This includes Queen Elizabeth II, who put her own spin on the tradition by having her bouquet delivered to the tomb after the ceremony rather than carrying it there herself. The Princess Royal's bouquet was laid there in 1973, the Duchess of Edinburgh's in 1999, the Princess of Wales's in 2011, the Duchess of Sussex's in 2018, Princess Eugenie's in 2018, and Princess Beatrice's in 2020. The late Diana, Princess of Wales, and Sarah, Duchess of York, also laid their bouquets on the tomb.

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, which took place on 19 May 2018, included 2,000 members of the public in the grounds of the Windsor wedding. This included 500 members of the Royal Household, 1,200 inspiring citizens and young people, 200 guests from charity organisations, and 100 local school children.

The royal family sits on the right side of the church

The seating arrangement at a wedding is often a decision left to the couple getting married. However, in Western cultures, it is traditional for the bride's family and friends to sit on the left, while the groom's family and friends sit on the right. This tradition is said to originate from Christian worship services, where men and women would sit on opposite sides of the aisle.

In the case of a royal wedding, the public nature of the event and the presence of royalty necessitate certain protocols to be followed. The royal family, being members of the Church of England, would typically adhere to the tradition of the groom's family sitting on the right side of the church.

At the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the groom's relatives and friends were seated on the right side of the church, in accordance with Western tradition. This included the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh (the groom's paternal grandparents), the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall (the groom's father and stepmother), and other members of the royal family.

The right side of the church at a royal wedding is, therefore, a designated space for the royal family, who sit alongside other close relatives of the groom. This seating arrangement reflects the traditional Western culture and the Christian influence on wedding customs.

The Queen arrived at her wedding in an 1881 Glass Coach

The wedding of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh took place in 1947. The Queen arrived at her wedding in the 1881 Glass Coach, one of the principal State carriages of the British monarch. The Glass Coach was built by Peters & Sons of London, originally designed as a sheriff's coach. It was purchased by the Crown in time for the coronation of King George V in 1911.

The Glass Coach has been used at several royal weddings, conveying the bride-to-be to the church before the service or transporting the newlyweds from the church after the ceremony. It has carried several royal brides to their weddings, including Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1923, Princess Alexandra in 1963, Princess Anne in 1973, Lady Diana Spencer in 1981, and Miss Sarah Ferguson in 1986. In the case of Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, the Glass Coach conveyed the couple from the church after their wedding ceremony.

The use of the Glass Coach at royal weddings is not limited to British royalty. The Dutch royal family also owns a Glass Coach, which was ordered in 1821 for King Willem I and delivered in 1826. This carriage was used at the weddings of Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard in 1937, and Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus in 1966.

Royal weddings are exclusive events, with guest lists typically including close relatives of the bride and groom, members of reigning and non-reigning royal families, and notable individuals with connections to the couple. For example, the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018 included 2,000 members of the public in the grounds of the Windsor wedding, in addition to their friends, family, and other relations.

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