Americans At A Royal Wedding: Who Got The Nod?

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018 was a star-studded affair, with many Americans invited to the nuptials. While the Obamas and Trumps were notably absent, other famous Americans who attended included:

- Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian

- George and Amal Clooney

- Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre

- Tom Hardy and Charlotte Riley

- Victoria and David Beckham

- Oprah Winfrey

- James Corden and Julia Carey

- James Blunt and Sofia Wellesley

- Abigail Spencer and Priyanka Chopra

- Carey Mulligan and Marcus Mumford

- Elton John and David Furnish

Celebrities

The wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in 2018 was a star-studded affair, with a host of celebrities in attendance. The couple had many high-profile friends, and while they kept their guest list fairly tight-lipped, several famous faces were spotted at the ceremony and receptions.

Tennis star Serena Williams and her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, were among the guests. Williams and Markle became close friends after meeting at a charity event in 2014, and Williams even wrote about their friendship on her blog, The Tig.

George and Amal Clooney were also in attendance, with Meghan and Amal sharing a close friendship due to their shared passion for human rights and philanthropy. Another famous couple, David and Victoria Beckham, were also guests at the wedding. David Beckham is a long-time friend of the royals and has been honoured by the Queen.

US TV icon Oprah Winfrey was a surprise guest, walking alongside actor Idris Elba, who has credited the Royal Family's generosity for helping him change his life. Other notable names included James Corden and Julia Carey, James Blunt and his wife Sofia Wellesley, and Tom Hardy with his wife Charlotte Riley.

Several of Markle's Suits co-stars were also invited, including Patrick J Adams, who played her on-screen love interest, along with his wife Troian Bellisario, Rick Hoffman, Vanessa Ray, Gina Torres, Gabriel Macht, and Sarah Rafferty. Markle's onscreen love interest, Adams, posted a sweet tribute to his former co-star on Instagram, calling Harry a "lucky man".

Two of Prince Harry's ex-girlfriends, Cressida Bonas and Chelsy Davy, were also invited and attended the wedding.

Long-time royal friend Sir Elton John attended with his husband, David Furnish, and reportedly performed a mini-concert for the couple at the reception.

Other celebrities spotted at the wedding included Priyanka Chopra, Joss Stone, and the Duke and Duchess of York.

Politicians

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018 was a grand affair, but the couple decided to exclude politicians from their guest list. This meant that no American politicians were invited to the royal wedding.

The Obamas

There was much speculation about whether former US President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama would be invited to the royal wedding. The couple had a good relationship with Prince Harry, having worked together on several occasions, including the Invictus Games. However, it was eventually confirmed that the Obamas did not make the cut.

President Trump

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, an American citizen, sparked a flurry of speculation that US President Donald Trump may be on the guest list. However, the couple decided not to invite any politicians, avoiding a potential controversy over the inclusion of President Trump.

The British Prime Minister

Even the British Prime Minister at the time, Theresa May, was not invited to the wedding. This decision was made in consultation with the royal household and the UK government.

Other Politicians

It is worth noting that former British Prime Minister Sir John Major and his wife, Dame Norma Major, did attend the wedding. This may have been due to his position as a former prime minister rather than an active politician.

Overall, the decision to exclude politicians from the guest list allowed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to keep their wedding a more intimate affair, focused on those with whom they shared a close relationship.

Charity workers

While it is unclear whether any American charity workers were invited to the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the couple did invite 200 people from charities they were associated with. The couple also requested that donations be made to seven charities of their choice in lieu of gifts.

The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011 also saw charity workers in attendance. The couple asked that donations be made to charity in place of traditional wedding gifts and established The Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton Charitable Gift Fund. The fund supported 26 named organisations, including:

• Oily Cart: a charity providing interactive theatre for under-fives and young children with learning difficulties
• Beatbullying: a charity that works with children affected by bullying to provide them with support and confidence
• The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia: a charity delivering health care and emergency service to those who live, travel and work throughout Australia

The wedding of Queen Elizabeth and Phillip in 1947 also saw donations made to charity in place of gifts.

Fashion industry figures

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018 saw a host of American fashion industry figures in attendance. With 600 guests at the ceremony, the guest list was a well-kept secret until the day.

One of the most famous American couples in attendance was George Clooney, the actor, and his wife, Amal Clooney, a human rights lawyer. Amal Clooney wore a golden yellow gown designed by Stella McCartney, who also designed a last-minute dress for Oprah Winfrey, the American media mogul and talk show host.

Another famous American couple at the wedding was David Beckham, the English soccer superstar, and his wife, Victoria Beckham, a fashion designer and former Spice Girl.

Other American fashion industry figures in attendance included:

• Sabrina Dhowre, the fiancée of British actor Idris Elba
• Abigail Spencer, an actress and friend of Meghan Markle
• Priyanka Chopra, an Indian actress and winner of Miss World 2000, and a friend of Markle's
• Serena Williams, the tennis superstar, and her husband, Alexis Ohanian
• Patrick J. Adams, Markle's co-star in the TV drama "Suits", and his wife, Troian Bellisario
• Tom Hardy, the actor, and his wife, Charlotte Riley
• Carey Mulligan, the actress, and her husband, Marcus Mumford, the lead singer of the band Mumford & Sons

Members of the public

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle invited 2,640 members of the public to the grounds of Windsor Castle for a prime view of the procession. About 1,200 of those invited were members of the general public, including:

• Amelia Thompson, a 12-year-old schoolgirl caught up in the Manchester terror attack
• Zoe Ardunell, a 20-year-old volunteer at Valley Kids charity, helping disadvantaged families
• Reuben Litherland, a 14-year-old deaf pupil who is teaching his classmates sign language
• Rosie Gindway, a 34-year-old entrepreneur who owns a baking business in Birmingham
• Pamela Anomneze, a 52-year-old who uses art to help people with mental health issues
• Amy Wright, a 26-year-old volunteer social enterprise worker who chairs The Usual Place cafe in Dumfries, providing training opportunities to adults with additional support needs
• Jorja Furze, a 12-year-old schoolgirl born with one leg who became a charity ambassador and mental health champion
• Catherine Cooke, a 53-year-old coordinator at the Foyle Women's Information Network
• Julie-Ann Coll, a 35-year-old who runs a support group for parents dealing with child bereavement
• Tessa Hince and Hayley Ash, both 32, who run a Christmas community lunch in Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire, catering for people who are lonely over Christmas
• Philip Gillespie, a 30-year-old who lost a leg in a bomb in Afghanistan and now raises funds for an Army charity
• Daniella Timperley, a high school student from Ireland invited in recognition of her extraordinary charity work

Around 200 of the invited members of the public were representatives of charities and other organisations supported by the couple. The remaining invitees were local schoolchildren, residents of Windsor, and members of the Royal Household.

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