Megan's Wedding: A Family Snub Or Personal Choice?

Meghan Markle's wedding to Prince Harry in 2018 was a star-studded affair, with the likes of Oprah, George and Amal Clooney, and David and Victoria Beckham in attendance. However, the absence of Markle's family from the ceremony and reception sparked speculation and raised questions about why she seemingly chose celebrities over her own relatives. Markle's niece, Ashleigh Hale, was notably not invited, which Markle claimed was due to instructions from the Firm, but anonymous palace sources have since refuted this, stating that the decision was ultimately Markle's and that they wanted more family members present. Markle's mother, Doria Ragland, did attend, but her feelings during the event are a subject of speculation, with some suggesting she may have felt uncomfortable or small without her family by her side.

Meghan Markle claimed she was told by the Firm not to invite her niece

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, claimed that she was told by the Firm not to invite her niece to her wedding to Prince Harry. Markle's relationship with her father and paternal half-siblings, Samantha Markle and Thomas Markle Jr., had become estranged before the wedding. This meant that Markle's mother, Doria Ragland, was her only close family member in attendance.

Markle's father, Thomas Markle Sr., was meant to walk his daughter down the aisle but pulled out of the wedding at the last minute due to health issues. In the lead-up to the wedding, he had been accused of staging paparazzi photographs. Markle's half-sister, Samantha, has since filed a defamation lawsuit against her, which was dismissed in March 2024.

The wedding ceremony took place on May 19, 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. The marriage ceremony was attended by Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, who sat alone in the cathedral. It is unclear whether Meghan's niece was also in attendance.

The exclusion of Markle's family from the wedding ceremony sparked speculation and criticism in the media. Some commentators claimed that Markle's mother must have felt uncomfortable or small without any family members by her side. However, others defended the decision, arguing that Markle had a close relationship with her mother and that her father's health issues were a valid reason for his absence.

Overall, the wedding ceremony of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry was a significant event that generated a lot of public interest and commentary, particularly regarding the absence of Markle's family members.

A Palace source denied this, saying Meghan wanted to shield her niece from media attention

In the Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, claimed that she was heartbroken when she was told by the Firm that her niece, Ashleigh Hale, couldn't come to her wedding to Prince Harry. According to Meghan, the reason given was that it would reflect poorly if Ashleigh was invited but her mother, Samantha Markle, wasn't.

However, a Palace source has denied this claim, stating that Meghan's decision not to invite her niece was to shield her from media attention and that it was not a question she directed to the Palace. The source emphasised that they would never tell Meghan not to invite her family and that they would never get involved in the management of her personal relationships.

Another royal insider supported this, saying, "No one on earth would have said don’t invite family to the wedding. That’s a complete and utter lie. We wanted more family there to make it look less weird for her." They implied that Meghan didn't want the media to know about Ashleigh's existence.

The contradiction between Meghan's claims and the Palace's denial has sparked confusion about who is telling the truth, and it's possible that the public may never know the full story behind the decision.

A royal insider said it was Meghan's decision not to invite more family

A royal insider has claimed that Meghan Markle made the decision not to invite more of her family to her wedding to Prince Harry. Markle has stated that she was heartbroken when she was told by 'the Firm' that her niece, Ashleigh Hale, couldn't come to the wedding because it would look bad that her mother, Samantha Markle, wasn't invited. However, a palace source has denied this, stating that they "never gave any advice, steer or guidance on who of her family or friends should or shouldn’t come". The source also claimed that Markle wanted to shield her niece from media attention and decided not to invite her herself.

The royal insider supported this claim, saying, "We wanted more family there to make it look less weird for her... No one on earth would have said don’t invite family to the wedding. That’s a complete and utter lie." This contradicts Markle's assertion that she was advised by the palace not to invite her niece.

The guest list for the wedding included a mix of extended family members, celebrities, and friends of the couple. Among the famous attendees were Oprah Winfrey, George and Amal Clooney, James Corden, Idris Elba, David and Victoria Beckham, Tom Hardy, and Carey Mulligan. The presence of these celebrities sparked some speculation about the nature of their relationships with the couple, particularly as Markle had inhabited a different galaxy of the entertainment world.

The selection of celebrity guests was seen by some as a strategic power play by Markle, who had reportedly surrounded herself with a "voluble court" of A-listers willing to speak out in public against criticisms of her. This new court, or "team Meghan", as it has been dubbed, has been described as a marked shift from Harry's traditional circle of blue-blooded friends.

The guest list included celebrities who did not know Meghan or Harry

The wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry was a grand affair, with a guest list that included celebrities and well-known personalities. However, the couple's decision to invite celebrities who did not know them personally caused some controversy and raised questions about the nature of their relationships with these guests.

The guest list for the wedding included a mix of celebrities and public figures, some of whom had a personal connection to the couple, while others were seemingly unknown to them. This raised eyebrows and sparked discussions about the motivation behind these invitations. It is speculated that the presence of celebrities added glamour and excitement to the event, attracting media attention and generating buzz.

While the couple's decision to invite celebrities may have been influenced by a desire to create a spectacular event, it also raised concerns about the snubbing of Meghan's family members, who were notably absent from the wedding. The absence of Meghan's family at the wedding was particularly noticeable, with her mother, Doria Ragland, being the only close relative in attendance.

The guest list included celebrities such as George and Amal Clooney, Serena Williams, and Oprah Winfrey, who were seated in the front rows, indicating their significance to the couple. Other notable guests included David and Victoria Beckham, Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, James Corden, and Elton John, who performed at the reception.

The presence of celebrities who did not have a personal connection to the couple sparked debates about the nature of celebrity culture and the value of fame. Some argued that the presence of celebrities added a sense of glamour and excitement to the event, while others criticized the couple for prioritizing fame over family.

The wedding of Meghan and Harry was a highly publicized event, and the guest list reflected their desire to create a memorable occasion. However, the decision to invite celebrities who were seemingly unknown to them overshadowed the joy of their special day and led to ongoing discussions about the role of celebrities in society and the value of personal connections.

Harry's old friends were reportedly edged out in favour of celebrities

It has been reported that Prince Harry has distanced himself from his old friends, including Tom "Skippy" Inskip and Astrid Harbord, since marrying Meghan Markle. A source told the Express that this was due to Meghan's influence, stating:

> "Like several others who were considered a questionable influence on Harry during his bad, old bachelor days, Tom has been dropped, even though he himself now has a lovely wife, Lara... it's all part of Meghan's quiet airbrushing out of Harry's old posse. She doesn't want temptation—of any sort—being put in his way while they concentrate on starting a family."

The Daily Mail has also reported on this shift in Harry's social life, noting that he has swapped "late-night partying with his society chums" for "long walks in the country" with Meghan and her friends. It has been claimed that Harry and Meghan's inner circle has become more celebrity-focused, with the couple reportedly entertaining Serena Williams, Priyanka Chopra, and George and Amal Clooney at their country home.

The royal couple's focus on celebrities over old friends may be due in part to the feud between Prince Harry and his brother, Prince William. Longtime friends of the brothers have reportedly felt pressured to choose sides, with many opting to side with William. This has resulted in Harry and Meghan's circle of friends dwindling, as confirmed by royal correspondent Katie Nicholl:

> "I think the ties have been severed. I think there is a sense that, possibly, friends, close friends, society friends, celebrity friends have sort of had to make a little bit of a choice."

Additionally, it has been suggested that Harry's old friends have not visited him in the US due to their dislike of Meghan. Royal expert Tom Quinn stated that Harry "misses his Old Etonian [college] and army friends, many of whom have not visited as they don’t get on with Meghan."

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