Royal Wedding Guest List: Can I Go To Windsor?

Windsor, a town in Berkshire, has played host to many royal weddings over the years. The town is known for its stunning architecture, rich history, and close proximity to London, making it a popular destination for tourists and couples looking to tie the knot. While there are restrictions on who can marry at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, the town offers a range of other venues for weddings and civil ceremonies, including the majestic Windsor Guildhall, where Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles exchanged vows. With its picturesque backdrop, luxurious accommodations, and royal charm, Windsor provides an enchanting setting for any wedding celebration.

Homelessness in Windsor

In 2018, Windsor, the Berkshire town that hosted the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, was criticised for its treatment of the homeless. The leader of the Royal Borough, Simon Dudley, had demanded that police expel homeless people from the town centre ahead of the wedding. This was an attempt to prevent the public from seeing the town's social issues on the day of the royal wedding.

The town's homelessness crisis, which has around 20 people regularly accessing support services, could have been improved with a fraction of the wedding's cost to taxpayers, which was upwards of £7.2 million.

The town's homeless population is made up of men, women, youth, and children, and can be caused by a number of factors, including abuse, loss of employment, unmanageable living expenses, mental health, and addiction problems. In addition to those who are visibly homeless, there are also "hidden homeless" individuals who are "couch surfing" by staying with friends or family, often in overcrowded conditions.

In October 2024, dozens of volunteers took to the streets of Windsor to count and survey the homeless population as part of a federally required Point in Time Count. The survey aims to document the number of people experiencing homelessness in a predetermined geographical area on a single night and gather information about their situations.

The survey found that many of those living on the streets in Windsor receive Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program payments, which are not enough to pay for market-rate housing. The maximum monthly payment for Ontario Works is $733, while the maximum for the Ontario Disability Support Program is $1,368. As a result, many individuals are unable to afford rent, with some being evicted from their homes or kicked out of relatives' houses.

Windsor has been working to address the issue of homelessness through various residential and non-residential programs, transitional housing units, and support services. However, there is still a need for more affordable housing options, as the waitlists for these units are years long.

Royal Wedding venues

Royal weddings are a big deal, often seen as important occasions of state and attracting significant national and international attention. The venues for these weddings are usually historic and luxurious, with some being open to the public for their own ceremonies. Here are some of the most popular venues for royal weddings:

St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle

St. George's Chapel has been the venue of choice for many royal weddings over the years. Located on the grounds of Windsor Castle, it has witnessed the nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones, and Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly, to name a few. The chapel boasts Gothic-style architecture and a grandiose vaulted stone ceiling, with a capacity to accommodate 800 guests.

St. Paul's Cathedral, London

This iconic London cathedral, built between 1675 and 1710, was the setting for the royal wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981. With the second-largest dome in Europe and adorned with frescos and mosaics, it has also been featured in films such as Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. While it is possible to marry here, there are strict criteria for eligibility.

Chapel Royal, St. James's Palace

The Chapel Royal, originally the royal wedding venue of choice, has hosted the weddings of Queen Anne, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and King George V and Queen Mary. It is also where several royal infants, including Prince Louis, were baptised. The palace itself was home to many British monarchs before Queen Victoria's reign.

Westminster Abbey, London

Westminster Abbey has been the site of many royal weddings, including that of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, as well as the more recent wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011. With its Gothic design and stained glass windows, the abbey is deemed a "royal peculiar," meaning it is under sovereign control rather than belonging to a specific diocese. However, eligibility criteria for weddings here are strict.

Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge Windsor

Princess Beatrice broke with tradition by marrying Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in a private ceremony at the Royal Chapel of All Saints, located in the grounds of her family home, Royal Lodge Windsor. This historic chapel is available for weddings for select members of the public, including staff of the royal household and people who live and work within Windsor Great Park.

Other notable royal wedding venues include Kensington Palace, Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland, Hampton Court Palace, Kew Palace, and Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.

Royal Wedding procession routes

The procession route for the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took the newlyweds through the streets of Windsor, past thousands of well-wishers, and back to Windsor Castle.

The route began at St George's Chapel, where the ceremony was held, at 1 pm, and lasted for approximately 25 minutes. The couple travelled in a horse-drawn Ascot Landau carriage, used by the Queen at Royal Ascot, and were escorted by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.

The procession included the following landmarks:

• A bronze statue of Queen Victoria, created by Austrian sculptor Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm, unveiled for her Golden Jubilee in 1887.
• The 17th-century Guildhall, where Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles were married in 2005.
• The Church of St John the Baptist, once the site of a leper colony.
• Victoria Barracks, where the Household Division, who provide the Foot Guards at Windsor Castle, is based.
• Life-size bronze statues of two horses, Daniel and Storm, two Windsor Greys stabled at the Royal Mews, which draw the Queen's carriages on state occasions.
• The Long Walk, famous for The Copper Horse, a statue of George III on horseback.

The procession ended back at Windsor Castle, where a formal luncheon reception, hosted by the Queen, was held for 600 wedding guests in St George's Hall.

Royal Wedding accommodation

If you're planning to be in Windsor for the Royal Wedding, you'll need to start thinking about accommodation. With the world's eyes on the happy couple, demand for rooms is high, and you'll need to be quick to secure a booking.

Hotels

Hotels in Windsor are experiencing a bookings bonanza, with international and national broadcasters, as well as royal enthusiasts, snapping up rooms. Within hours of the wedding date being announced, most spaces were taken.

Some hotels are holding meetings to fix room rates, which are expected to be at a premium. Many TV stations have requested provisional bookings for stays of up to two weeks to cover the buildup to the wedding.

If you want to stay in a hotel, try contacting them directly, as some are only making offline sales.

• Macdonald Windsor Hotel
• The Harte and Garter
• The Castle Hotel
• Oakley Court
• Windsor Holiday Inn
• Delta Hotels by Marriott™ Heathrow Windsor
• The Runnymede on Thames
• LEGOLAND® Castle Hotel Windsor
• LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort Hotel
• The Runnymede on Thames
• Sheephouse Manor Cottages
• Fairmont Windsor Park
• De Vere Beaumont House
• Easthampstead Park Hotel
• Macdonald Windsor Hotel
• The Royal Adelaide Hotel
• Royal Berkshire Hotel
• Sir Christopher Wren Hotel & Spa

Other Options

If hotels are proving difficult to come by, there are other options for accommodation in Windsor. You could try bed and breakfasts, self-catering, or camping.

Travel Tips

Windsor is well used to hosting royal events, so there are plenty of things to do and see while you're there. The town has a rich mix of history, culture, heritage, and fun, making it a lovely destination for a short break.

You can visit Windsor Castle, take a river cruise along the Thames, or try your luck at the races. There are also plenty of shops, restaurants, bars, and cafes to enjoy.

Happy travels, and congratulations to the happy couple!

Royal Wedding transport

Royal weddings are steeped in tradition and pomp, with the wedding procession and transport playing a key role in the spectacle. The carriages, horses, and cars used to convey the newlyweds and their guests are carefully selected and hold symbolic significance.

The Wedding Carriage

The wedding carriage is a central feature of the royal wedding procession. The choice of carriage is often influenced by tradition, with certain carriages being favoured for specific occasions.

1902 State Landau

The 1902 State Landau is a carriage built specifically for King Edward VII in 1902 and intended for his coronation. It is the most frequently used carriage at the Royal Mews and is usually utilised by the Queen to greet foreign heads of state. This carriage was used by Prince William and Catherine Middleton for their wedding procession in 2011, as well as by Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981, and the Duke and Duchess of York in 1986.

The Glass Coach

The Glass Coach, built in 1881, was purchased for King George V's coronation in 1911. It has a long history of transporting royal brides, including Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1923, Princess Anne in 1973, and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981.

Ascot Landaus

The Royal Mews houses five Ascot Landaus, which are used for the Queen's procession during the Royal Ascot Race meeting and other official visits. In a wedding procession, these carriages typically carry the best man, maid of honour, and bridesmaids.

Semi-State Landaus

There are five Semi-State Landaus in service, used for significant occasions such as the Queen's coronation visit to Edinburgh and state visits. In a wedding procession, these carriages often transport the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, as well as other senior members of the royal family and the bride's family.

State Cars

For their wedding service, the bride and groom travel separately to the venue using state cars from the Royal Mews. The collection includes:

• Two Bentleys
• Three Rolls-Royces
• Three Daimlers

Horses and Harness

The Royal Mews is home to 30 carriage horses, including two breeds: the Windsor Greys and Bays, with the majority being Cleveland Bays. For a royal wedding, 14 sides of state harness, with matching appointments for outriders, are utilised. The harness requires regular cleaning and polishing by the dedicated Royal Mews staff.

The Processional Route

The processional route from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace is a well-established tradition. It runs from Westminster Abbey to Parliament Square, along Whitehall, Horse Guards Parade, and then The Mall to Buckingham Palace.

The transport and procession of a royal wedding are steeped in tradition and symbolism. From the selection of carriages to the processional route, each element contributes to the grandeur and spectacle of the occasion. The Royal Mews plays a pivotal role in housing and maintaining the carriages, horses, and state cars required for these momentous events.

Frequently asked questions