Royal Wedding Guest List: Getting An Invite

Getting invited to a royal wedding is no easy feat. The guest list is usually small and includes a lot of royal relatives, celebrities, and friends of the royal couple. For example, at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, the guest list included celebrities like Serena Williams, Priyanka Chopra, and George and Amal Clooney. The Obamas, Donald Trump, and Theresa May were notably not on the guest list. In addition to the exclusive guest list, only some guests were allowed a plus one, and more than 2000 members of the public were invited to stand on the grounds outside and watch the royal processional.

Be a celebrity with a personal connection to the royal family

If you're a celebrity with a personal connection to the royal family, you're in with a good chance of scoring a coveted invite to a royal wedding. Take the nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, for example. The celebrity guest list was extensive, and many of the famous faces in attendance had a personal connection to the royal family or the happy couple.

Take Tom Hardy and his wife, Charlotte Riley, for instance. Hardy has been an ambassador for The Prince's Trust, a charity founded by Prince Charles, since 2010. He also appeared alongside Prince Harry and Prince William in cameo roles in *Star Wars: The Last Jedi*.

James Corden has been a close friend of Prince Harry for years, having been spotted partying with him and David Beckham back in 2011.

Tennis legend Serena Williams and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, were also among the celebrity guests at Harry and Meghan's wedding. Williams and Markle met in 2014 at a celebrity charity football event and have been close friends ever since.

George and Amal Clooney were also among the celebrity guests at the royal wedding, thanks to the close bond Amal and Meghan share. The two became friends after being introduced by a mutual friend following Markle's move to the UK.

So, if you're a celebrity with a personal connection to the royal family, your chances of getting invited to a royal wedding are definitely high. It seems that having a pre-existing relationship with the happy couple or their family is key!

Be a member of the public with a notable achievement

If you're a member of the public with a notable achievement under your belt, there's a chance you could bag an invite to a royal wedding. For the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, 1,200 members of the public from across the UK were invited to the royal wedding. These guests were nominated by nine regional Lord Lieutenant offices.

The couple also invited 200 people from charities they're associated with, 100 students from local schools with close ties to Windsor Castle, 610 Windsor residents and members of St. George's Chapel, and 530 members of the Royal Households and Crown Estate. While most of these invitees were not invited to sit inside the Chapel, they were awaiting the couple upon their exit from the ceremony.

One such member of the public was Daniella Timperley, a high school student from Ireland who was invited to the royal wedding in recognition of her extraordinary charity work. Timperley was invited to sit in St. George's Chapel for the ceremony, and attend the luncheon hosted by the Queen at St. George's Hall.

Be a member of the royal family

Being a member of the royal family is one of the surest ways to get invited to a royal wedding. The royal family is a large group, and there is no strict legal or formal definition of who is or is not a member. However, the Royal Household has issued different lists outlining who is a part of the royal family. These lists include:

• King Charles III and Queen Camilla
• William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales
• Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
• Prince Andrew, Duke of York
• Anne, Princess Royal
• Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh
• Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester and Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester
• Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
• Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy

Other members of the royal family holding royal rank who do not carry out official duties include:

• Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis of Wales
• Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet of Sussex
• Princess Beatrice
• Princess Eugenie
• The Duchess of Kent
• Prince Michael of Kent and his wife

If you are a member of the royal family, you are almost guaranteed to be invited to a royal wedding. However, it is important to note that the Duke of Sussex and the Duchess of Sussex have stepped back as working members of the Royal Family.

Be a representative of a charity the royal couple support

If you want to get invited to a royal wedding as a representative of a charity, there are a few things you can do to increase your chances. Firstly, it's important to note that the royal couple usually chooses charities they have a personal connection to or are patrons of. In the case of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, they selected charities that represented a range of issues they were passionate about, such as sport for social change, women's empowerment, conservation, homelessness, HIV, and the Armed Forces. Therefore, if you're involved with a charity that aligns with the royal couple's interests and values, you may have a higher chance of being invited to their wedding.

Another way to increase your chances is to gain recognition for your charitable work. This could involve making significant contributions to the charity's projects or initiatives, or finding ways to raise awareness and bring attention to the charity's efforts. For example, Adam Hughes and Kimberley Watkin, who started the Carlisle Undercroft charity, were invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding because of their work in converting a historic space underneath Carlisle train station into a community arts venue. The royal couple likely recognised the impact of their project and wanted to honour their dedication to the community.

It's also worth noting that the royal couple may choose to invite representatives from charities they have personally supported or worked with in the past. For instance, Meghan Markle visited the Myna Mahila Foundation in Mumbai, which empowers women in urban slums by providing them with professional and personal support. The foundation was later chosen as one of the charities to receive donations in lieu of wedding gifts for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. Therefore, if you're involved with a charity that has a personal connection to the royal couple or has received their support in the past, you may have a higher chance of being invited to their wedding.

Lastly, it's important to keep in mind that being invited to a royal wedding as a charity representative is a rare honour and may depend on various factors beyond your control. However, by aligning your charitable work with the royal couple's interests, gaining recognition for your contributions, and fostering a personal connection with them, you can increase your chances of receiving a coveted invitation.

Be a student at a local school

If you're a student at a local school, there are a few ways you might be able to score an invite to a royal wedding. One way is to showcase your exceptional musical abilities. For instance, three students from The Queen's School in Chester performed as choristers at the royal wedding of the Duke of Westminster and Olivia Henson. Grace Crook, the Head Chorister of the Chester Cathedral Choir, along with two other students, Isla Mills and Cassie Lounds, were invited to sing at the prestigious event held at Chester Cathedral.

Another way to increase your chances of getting invited is to showcase your writing skills. Leading up to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, students at local schools with close ties to Windsor Castle were invited to write and submit creative pieces. For instance, Daniella Timperley, a high school student from Ireland, received an invitation as a recognition of her extraordinary charity work, and she was invited to sit in St. George's Chapel for the ceremony and attend the luncheon hosted by the Queen.

Additionally, if your school has a strong connection to the royal family or the wedding venue, you may have a higher chance of receiving an invitation. For example, students from The Royal School in Great Park and St. George's School, both of which have close ties to Windsor Castle, were invited to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Lastly, if your school is located in an area with strong ties to the royal family, you may have a better chance of being invited. For instance, the wedding of William and Kate seemed to have a particular focus on schools, with many educational institutions across the country holding mock weddings and royal-themed parties. In some cases, local businesses provided support for these events, and it is possible that students from these schools were invited to attend the actual royal wedding.

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