Who's Invited? Prince Charles' Wedding Guest List Unveiled

The wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer on 29 July 1981 was a grand affair, with 3,500 guests in attendance at St Paul's Cathedral in London. The guest list included members of royal families from around the world, republican heads of state, and members of the bride's and groom's families. As Prince Charles was the heir to the British throne, the event was deemed a state occasion, requiring the invitation of many foreign heads of state. Notable guests included Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Princess Anne, and First Lady Nancy Reagan, among others. The wedding was also watched by a record-breaking 750 million people worldwide, making it one of the most famous royal weddings in history.

Who was invited to Prince Charles' wedding to Lady Diana Spencer?

The wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer took place on 29 July 1981 at St Paul's Cathedral in London. The guest list included many notable figures, including members of other royal families, republican heads of state, and members of the bride and groom's families.

All of Europe's leaders were invited, but some declined to attend due to political disputes. The President of the Republic of Ireland, for example, declined because of disputes over the status of Northern Ireland, and the President of Greece did not attend because former King Constantine of Greece, a cousin and friend of Prince Charles, was invited with the title of 'King'. King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain also did not attend because the newlyweds planned to board the Royal Yacht Britannia for their honeymoon in Gibraltar, which was claimed by Spain.

America was represented by First Lady Nancy Reagan, and other notable invitees included Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Princess Anne, and Mark Phillips. Prince Charles' current wife, Camilla Parker Bowles, was also in attendance but was not invited to the more intimate wedding breakfast.

The couple's wedding breakfast following the ceremony was a more intimate affair, with only 120 of the 3,500 guests invited to the gathering at Buckingham Palace.

Who attended the wedding?

The wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer on 29 July 1981 was a grand affair, with 3,500 guests in attendance at St Paul's Cathedral, London. The guest list included members of royal families from around the world, republican heads of state, and members of the bride and groom's families.

Relatives of the Groom

The groom's parents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, were in attendance. Prince Charles's sister, the Princess Anne, and her husband, Captain Mark Phillips, were also present. Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, the groom's brothers, were there as well. Other relatives included Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, the groom's maternal grandmother, and the Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, the groom's maternal aunt.

Relatives of the Bride

The bride's father and stepmother, the Earl and Countess Spencer, were in attendance. The bride's sisters, the Lady Sarah and Lady Jane, along with their husbands, were also present. The bride's brother, Viscount Althorp, and other relatives, including aunts, uncles, cousins, and extended family members, were part of the guest list.

Notable Guests

The guest list also included several notable figures, such as Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco, Nancy Reagan, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and other world leaders. Camilla Parker Bowles, a friend of the groom, was also in attendance.

Bridal Party

The bridal party consisted of seven attendants, with two page boys, Lord Nicholas Windsor and Edward van Cutsem, and five bridesmaids, including Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones, India Hicks, Catherine Cameron, Sarah-Jane Gaselee, and Clementine Hambro.

Supporters

Princes Andrew and Edward served as the supporters or best men for the groom, Prince Charles.

Celebrities

Celebrities such as Spike Milligan and Harry Secombe were also invited to the ceremony by Prince Charles.

Was Prince Charles invited to his own wedding?

On 29 July 1981, Prince Charles, the heir apparent to the British throne, married Lady Diana Spencer at St Paul's Cathedral in London. The wedding, which was declared a "state occasion", was attended by 3,500 guests, including many members of royal families from around the world, republican heads of state, and members of the bride's and groom's families.

Prince Charles, as the groom, was naturally in attendance at his own wedding. As the heir to the British throne, the event was a "state occasion", which formally required the invitation of many foreign heads of state. The guest list included the groom's parents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, as well as his siblings, the Princess Anne, the Prince Andrew, and the Prince Edward. Other relatives of the groom who were in attendance included the Queen Mother, the Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, Viscount Linley, Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones, and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, among others.

The wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer was a grand affair, watched by a record-breaking 750 million people worldwide and deemed the "wedding of the century". It was the first royal wedding to be held at St. Paul's Cathedral since 1501 and broke traditions in refreshing ways, such as the omission of the word "obey" from the bride's vows. The ceremony was a traditional Church of England service, presided over by the Dean of St Paul's Cathedral, Alan Webster, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie.

Who designed Princess Diana's wedding dress?

Princess Diana's wedding dress was designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, also known as the Emanuels. The Emanuels described the dress as something that "had to go down in history" and be "suitably dramatic in order to make an impression".

Princess Diana personally selected the designers, having previously worn one of their custom-made chiffon blouses for her engagement portrait session. The blouse, which featured a ruffled pink top, recently sold at auction for $381,000.

The Emanuels' creation was an ivory silk taffeta and antique lace gown, with a 25-foot train and a 153-yard tulle veil. The gown was decorated with hand embroidery, sequins, and 10,000 pearls, centring on a heart motif. An 18-karat gold horseshoe was stitched into the petticoats as a sign of good fortune, and a small blue bow was sewn into the waistband of the gown for Diana's "something blue".

The Emanuels also designed a second, backup wedding dress for Diana, in case the original design was leaked to the public or suffered damage. The spare dress was made from pale ivory silk taffeta with embroidered scalloped details on the hem and sleeves, and pearls sewn onto the bodice. It featured a V-neck, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a wide skirt, similar to the original design.

The original wedding dress has since been exhibited at Kensington Palace as part of the "Royal Style in the Making" exhibition in 2021.

What was served at the wedding breakfast?

The wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer took place on 29 July 1981 at St Paul's Cathedral in London. The wedding breakfast was attended by 120 guests, including Camilla Parker Bowles, who was not invited to the more intimate reception.

The menu for the breakfast included:

• Brill in lobster sauce
• Suprême de Volaille Princesse de Galles (a.k.a. Princess of Wales chicken) - a chicken breast stuffed with lamb mousse
• Strawberries and Cornish cream
• 27 wedding cakes, including the official cake, a five-foot-tall, 225-pound fruitcake decorated with the couple's coat of arms, initials, and a sprinkling of roses, lilies of the valley, and orchids.

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