Royal Wedding Guest List: How Many Made The Cut?

Royal weddings are a grand affair, with hundreds of guests in attendance. The number of people invited to a royal wedding varies, depending on the venue and the couple getting married. For instance, the wedding of Princess Eugenie and Mr Jack Brooksbank at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, had 1,200 members of the public in attendance, while the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey had 1,900 guests. The royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, had 600 guests, with over 2,000 others on the grounds of the castle.

Celebrities at royal weddings

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank's wedding at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, was a star-studded affair. Celebrities who attended the ceremony included supermodels Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss, who attended with her daughter, Lila, as well as Demi Moore, Liv Tyler, and Dave Gardner. Singers Ellie Goulding and Robbie Williams, who attended with his wife, Ayda Field, were also in attendance. Other celebrities included James Blunt and Sofia Wellesley, model Cara Delevingne, comedian and writer Stephen Fry, who attended with his husband, comedian Elliott Spencer, and actress Gwyneth Paltrow.

The guest list for the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton included approximately 1,900 people, with friends and family members of the couple and official dignitaries. Celebrities who attended included David and Victoria Beckham, Sir Elton John and David Furnish, Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, and Rowan Atkinson.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding also had a star-studded guest list, including George and Amal Clooney, Serena Williams, Oprah Winfrey, and the cast of Suits.

How the public can attend

The public has always been involved in royal weddings, although the nature of their participation has changed over the years. For instance, when Princess Eugenie and Mr Jack Brooksbank married in 2018, 1,200 members of the public were invited to the grounds of Windsor Castle from a total of 100,000 applications.

If you're hoping to attend a royal wedding, there are a few ways to increase your chances of receiving an invitation. Firstly, consider applying through the appropriate channels, such as the regional Lord Lieutenant offices, as the royal couple often invite members of the public "from every corner of the United Kingdom". Secondly, demonstrate an exceptional commitment to charitable causes or community service, as the couple also tend to invite people associated with charities they support. For example, Harry and Meghan invited survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire to their wedding. Finally, if you are a young person facing adversity, you could apply for a grant from The Prince's Trust, which was established by Prince Charles to improve the lives of disadvantaged youth in the UK. Recipients of the Trust's grants have been invited to royal weddings in the past.

While it may be challenging to secure an invitation to the actual wedding ceremony, members of the public are often invited to wait outside the chapel or castle grounds to catch a glimpse of the royal couple. In some cases, the royal family may also host celebrations in public spaces, such as street parties or receptions, where members of the public can join in the festivities without a formal invitation.

It's worth noting that the dress code for royal weddings is typically formal, with men encouraged to wear military uniforms, single-breasted coats with tails, or lounge suits, and women expected to wear hats in the church during the day.

Selection process for guests

The selection process for guests at a royal wedding is a meticulous affair, with a mix of commonwealth politicians, foreign royals, family, friends, celebrities, and members of the public receiving invitations. While the final guest list is a closely guarded secret until the wedding day, there are some insights into how guests are chosen for this grand event. Here is a breakdown of the selection process for guests at a royal wedding:

Royal Family and Foreign Dignitaries

Foreign royalty and dignitaries are often invited to royal weddings, as seen in the weddings of Prince William and Kate Middleton, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. This includes members of foreign royal families, governors-general, prime ministers, and other political leaders from Commonwealth nations. The guest list also includes members of the British Royal Family, such as the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, and other royal relatives.

Friends and Associates

The royal couple usually invites a wide range of their friends and associates, including those they have worked closely with. For example, David Beckham, who worked with Prince William on England's 2018 World Cup bid, was invited to the royal wedding. Other celebrities who are friends of the couple may also receive invitations.

Charity and Community Involvement

The royal couple often uses their wedding as an opportunity to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to charities and their communities. For example, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle invited members of charities they were associated with and recognized individuals for their outstanding charity work.

Public Nominees and Local Representation

Lord Lieutenants, who serve as the Queen's personal representatives, play a crucial role in selecting members of the public to attend the royal wedding. In the case of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, nine regional Lord Lieutenants nominated 1,200 individuals from across the United Kingdom to be part of the celebrations. Additionally, local schools, communities, and royal households are represented in the guest list.

Special Guests and Considerations

The royal couple may also invite individuals with whom they share a special connection or those who have supported them in the past. For instance, Prince Harry invited guests from Malawi, with whom he had worked on a conservation project, and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, with whom he co-founded a charity.

In summary, the selection process for guests at a royal wedding involves a careful consideration of various factors, including royal protocol, family ties, charitable endeavours, and personal connections. The final guest list aims to represent a diverse range of backgrounds and ages, ensuring that the royal couple's special day is shared with those who hold significance in their lives and have made notable contributions to society.

Notable absences

Although the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry was a grand affair, there were some notable absences from the guest list.

Political Leaders

Due to the smaller scale of the wedding, the couple decided not to invite political leaders, including former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama. This decision also extended to then-President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May.

Thomas Markle Sr.

Markle's father, Thomas Markle Sr., was notably absent from the wedding. Initially, he was expected to walk his daughter down the aisle, but he did not attend due to health issues and the revelation that he had staged photoshoots. Markle released a statement, expressing her concern for her father's health and her desire for him to have space to focus on his well-being.

Sarah, Duchess of York

Sarah, Duchess of York, the former wife of Prince Andrew, was invited to the wedding ceremony but was notably absent from the evening reception hosted by Prince Charles at Frogmore House. She was reportedly "deeply upset" by her omission from the evening festivities.

Royal wedding traditions

Royal weddings are steeped in tradition, with many rituals and customs that have been passed down through generations. While each wedding is unique, reflecting the personalities and preferences of the couple, there are several traditions that have endured over the years. Here are some of the most notable royal wedding traditions:

Wedding Attire

Royal brides often wear elaborate white wedding gowns, a tradition that was started by Queen Victoria when she married Prince Albert in 1840. She chose to wear white, which was unusual for the time, and her choice set a new standard for bridal attire. Royal brides also typically wear a tiara, which serves as their "something borrowed" and is often selected from the royal collection. For example, Meghan Markle wore the Queen Mary bandeau tiara, while Kate Middleton wore a Cartier halo tiara, both borrowed from Queen Elizabeth II.

Royal grooms usually wear military attire adorned with sashes and medals. This tradition was also started by Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, who wore his military uniform at their wedding.

Wedding Rings

Royal wedding bands are traditionally made from Welsh gold. The wedding rings of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, The Queen, Princess Margaret, Princess Anne, and Diana, Princess of Wales were all crafted from the same nugget of Welsh gold from the Clogau St David's mine in Bontddu. This tradition has continued with more recent royal weddings, with bands crafted from a new nugget of Welsh gold.

Bridal Bouquet

Royal brides often carry a sprig of myrtle in their bouquets, a tradition that dates back to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The myrtle, which represents love, fertility, and innocence, was first given to Queen Victoria by Prince Albert's grandmother in 1845. It has been grown at Osborne House, Queen Victoria's holiday home on the Isle of Wight, ever since.

Tomb of the Unknown Warrior

Since the 1920s, royal brides have honoured fallen soldiers by laying their bridal bouquets on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey. This tradition was started by Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, later known as Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, who laid her flowers at the tomb in memory of her brother, Fergus, who died at the Battle of Loos in 1915.

Official Photographs

Royal weddings are also marked by official photographs, a tradition that began with the marriage of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra (then Prince and Princess of Wales). As photography became a reliable recording medium, numerous photographs were taken of the royal couple, often between the ceremony and wedding reception. These photographs were then shared with the public through postcards, a popular collecting craze at the time.

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