Royals At Weddings: Who Gets An Invitation?

When it comes to royal weddings, the guest list is a mix of family, friends, and public figures. While the number of guests varies depending on the venue, royal weddings typically include a large number of invitees, ranging from close relatives to celebrities and public figures. For instance, at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, around 600 guests were invited to the ceremony and lunchtime reception, with the guest list including Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Kate Middleton, and Prince William, as well as celebrities such as Victoria and David Beckham, Elton John, and Priyanka Chopra. In addition to the royal family and celebrities, members of the public are also often invited to royal weddings, either to stand on the grounds outside or as part of a carefully vetted group that includes individuals with notable contributions to the community or affiliations with the couple's charities.

Family members of the bride and groom

Prince Harry's Family Members

For Prince Harry, as the groom, several of his family members were in attendance. Firstly, his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, and grandfather, Prince Philip, were present. Prince Harry is particularly close to his grandmother, and their bond is well-known. The Queen also played a hosting role during the wedding, welcoming the guests to a luncheon in St. George's Hall after the ceremony.

Prince Harry's father, Prince Charles, and his wife, Camilla Parker Bowles, were also in attendance. They played a significant role in the wedding celebrations by hosting the second, more intimate wedding reception at their residence, Frogmore House.

Prince William, Prince Harry's brother, served as the best man, and his presence was naturally expected. Kate Middleton, Prince William's wife, was also in attendance, and she was instructed to "enjoy the day" and relax, especially after recently giving birth. Their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, also had special roles as a page boy and flower girl, respectively, while the youngest, Prince Louis, was likely too young to attend.

Other notable family members on Prince Harry's side included his cousins: Zara Tindall, who attended with her husband, a former English rugby star, and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie of York. Lady Gabriella Windsor, who is further down the line of succession to the throne, was also in attendance.

Meghan Markle's Family Members

For Meghan Markle, the bride, her family members in attendance included her mother, Doria Ragland, who is a yoga instructor, and her father, Thomas Markle. Meghan's Canadian best friend, stylist Jessica Mulroney, and her daughter Ivy, who served as a flower girl, were also considered part of the bride's family contingent.

Extended Family and Friends

In addition to the immediate family members mentioned, both Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have close relationships with other royal family members, who were also in attendance. These included Prince Harry's two ex-girlfriends, Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas, who remained on good terms with the prince and each other.

The wedding also brought together a mix of extended family members and friends from both sides. For instance, the cast of "Suits," which Meghan starred in, were invited, including Abigail Spencer and Patrick J. Adams, who played Meghan's onscreen love interest.

Overall, the family members of the bride and groom played a crucial role in the royal wedding, with a mix of close relatives and extended family, creating a supportive and celebratory atmosphere for the happy couple.

Close friends of the couple

In addition to close friends, other notable guests are also invited to royal weddings. For instance, celebrities and other famous personalities may be invited. At Prince William and Catherine Middleton's wedding, notable guests included David and Victoria Beckham, Sir Elton John and David Furnish, and Rowan Atkinson and his wife, Sunetra. Similarly, at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, notable guests included George and Amal Clooney, Oprah Winfrey, and Idris Elba and his fiancée, Sabrina Dhowre.

Furthermore, members of foreign royal families and dignitaries may also be invited to royal weddings. For example, at Prince William and Catherine Middleton's wedding, members of foreign royal families included the King and Queen of Norway, the King and Queen of Spain, and the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Japan. Additionally, dignitaries such as the Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard, and the Governor-General of the Bahamas, Sir Arthur Foulkes, were also in attendance.

Celebrities

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a star-studded affair, with many celebrities invited to celebrate the royal couple's nuptials. The guest list included a mix of A-list celebrities, actors, musicians, and TV personalities.

The Celebrities

One of the most notable celebrity guests was Oprah Winfrey, who arrived at Windsor Castle alongside English actor Idris Elba. Winfrey wore a custom Stella McCartney dress and a Phillip Treacy hat, which she reportedly already owned. Other famous guests included George and Amal Clooney, who have a close friendship with the couple, particularly between Amal and Meghan. The Clooneys' English countryside home is just a 30-minute drive from the wedding venue.

The wedding also saw the reunion of the Spice Girls, with Victoria Beckham, Mel B, Melanie C, Emma Bunton, and Geri Halliwell in attendance. Victoria Beckham and her husband, David Beckham, were also guests at Prince William and Catherine's wedding in 2011.

Meghan's close friend and tennis legend Serena Williams and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, were also in attendance. Williams and Markle became friends in 2014 and have maintained a close relationship since. Another notable guest was Priyanka Chopra, who became close friends with Meghan after meeting at the ELLE Women in Television dinner a few years ago.

The Suits cast, including Patrick J. Adams, Gabriel Macht, Gina Torres, Rick Hoffman, Sarah Rafferty, and Abigail Spencer, were also invited to the royal wedding. Patrick J. Adams, who played Meghan's onscreen love interest, posted a heartfelt tribute to his former co-star on Instagram.

Other celebrities who attended the wedding included Tom Hardy and Charlotte Riley, Carey Mulligan and Marcus Mumford, Joss Stone, James Corden and Julia Carey, Sofia Wellesley and James Blunt, and Sir Elton John.

Political leaders

For the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011, the guest list included foreign royals, Commonwealth governors-general, ambassadors, senior religious figures, and politicians from around the world. The then-Prime Minister David Cameron, Deputy PM Nick Clegg, and Labour leader Ed Miliband were among those who attended.

However, for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018, no political leaders were invited. This included UK Prime Minister Theresa May, US President Donald Trump, and former US President Barack Obama. The decision was made based on the church's size and the fact that Prince Harry is only fifth in line to the throne. A Kensington Palace spokesman confirmed:

> "It has been decided that an official list of political leaders – both UK and international – is not required for Prince Harry and Ms Markle's wedding. Her Majesty's government was consulted on this decision, which was taken by the royal household."

The couple instead invited members of the public with a range of backgrounds and ages, including people with a close relationship to the couple.

Members of the public

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle invited more than 2,600 members of the public to the grounds of Windsor Castle to share their wedding day. The invitees were able to watch the arrivals of the bride and groom and their guests at St. George's Chapel, and to see the newlyweds depart the castle on a carriage procession through the town of Windsor.

The couple said they wanted members of the public "to feel part of the celebrations too". They added that the wedding would be "a moment of fun and joy that will reflect the characters and values of the bride and groom".

The invitees included:

• 1,200 members of the public from across the United Kingdom, chosen from a broad range of backgrounds and ages, including young people who have shown strong leadership and those who have served their communities.
• 200 pupils from two local schools: The Royal School and St. George's School.
• 200 people from charities and organisations that Harry and Meghan were closely associated with.
• 610 Windsor Castle community members, including residents of Windsor Castle and members of the St. George's Chapel community.
• 530 members of the royal households and Crown Estate.

While most of these invitees were not invited to sit inside the Chapel, they were able to watch the ceremony from the castle grounds and see the couple upon their exit.

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