These are the guests expected to be at Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s royal wedding
THE official guest list for the royal wedding has remained top secret, but when a fleet of buses pull up at Windsor Castle expect to spot these famous and faithful faces.
Royals
Don't miss out on the headlines from Royals. Followed categories will be added to My News.
HE’S the party prince. She’s the Hollywood starlet.
Combine their little black books, her theatrics, and his royal connections and the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be hard to beat as the gilt-edged invitation of the year.
While many of her rogue relatives have let the world know they’re not on the guest list, it’s the ‘family’ Markle has chosen for herself — friends, co-stars, influencers — which paints a picture of the royal bride-to-be and the global path she’s taken on the road to finding her prince.
RELATED: Worst and weirdest royal wedding memorabilia
MORE: Aussie actress among Meghan’s squad in the UK
OPINION: C’mon Thomas Markle, do your daddy duty
For his part, Harry has always counted on a close circle of society and military pals to have his back, keep his secrets and let him be himself — preparing for that day when he’d meet his match.
The official guest list has remained top secret, but when a fleet of buses pull up near St George’s Chapel, in Windsor, on Saturday, expect to spot these famous and faithful faces among the 600-strong throng:
MISHA NONOO
Fitting to begin with Meghan Markle’s fashion designer friend, who is widely regarded as the woman who played matchmaker between the happy couple and is expected to be acknowledged in the toasts at the Frogmore House reception. Was married to Prince Harry’s friend Alexander Gilkes.
MARKUS ANDERSON
Sat in the stands alongside Meghan as she navigated one of her first public engagements at the Invictus Games in Toronto. A consultant at Soho House, he also facilitated the private and discreet space for the couple’s first date, and has since cemented himself as one of their closest friends.
PATRICK J ADAMS
Along with Suits co-stars Gabriel Macht, Gina Torres, Sarah Rafferty and Rick Hoffman who have all arrived in London for the nuptials, Meghan’s on-screen husband helped keep her royal romance a secret. When the news was made official, he wrote on Twitter: ‘Your Royal Highness, you are a lucky man.’
MILLIE MACKINTOSH
This former Made In Chelsea reality star befriended the Suits actress before she met her prince. In 2016, they were snapped riding bikes around luxury retreat Soho Farmhouse. She is also engaged, with the newlywed royals expected to attend her wedding to Hugo Taylor at the end of June.
LINDSAY ROTH
One of Meghan’s longstanding friends, the pals met at a literature class in their first year at North Western University about 15 years ago. Roth is a producer and author and asked Meghan to be her maid of honour when she tied the knot in Greece in 2016.
JESSICA MULRONEY
They met back in 2014, when Meghan hired Mulroney as her stylist but they have since become firm friends and confidantes. She is married to Ben, the TV star son of former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney. Their three children — Ivy and twin sons, Brian and John — will be in the royal bridal party.
JANINA GAVANKAR
The True Blood star has been friends with Meghan for 15 years and posted about her duchess-in-waiting friend on Instagram: “Couldn’t be prouder of how far we’ve come, and couldn’t be more grateful for being able to share every step of it with you.”
BENITA LITT
Bag company owner and brand specialist, she is one of Meghan’s closest friends. The two have been spotted in Ibiza and the royal bride is godmother to Benita’s two daughters, Remi, 6 and Rylan, 7, who will both be flower girls at the wedding.
PRIYANKA CHOPRA
A star on Quantico and Baywatch, Priyanka has confirmed she is on the invite list. The two women met at a dinner celebrating women in Hollywood two years ago and have been firm friends and career supporters ever since.
ARTHUR LANDON
A 37-year-old film director, who inherited his father’s 500 million pound fortune, and was on that infamous Las Vegas trip when Harry was caught cavorting naked and playing strip pool. He is dating the daughter of New York property mogul, Andre Balazs (Katherine Keating’s ex).
TOM INSKIP
Known to pals as ‘Skippy,’ fellow redhead and old Etonian friend of Prince Harry, who was best man at his wedding to Lara Hughes-Young in Montego Bay last year. Is expected to be an usher at the royal wedding and sometimes described as Harry’s former wing man.
JAKE WARREN
Another Etonian and the son of the Queen’s horse racing manager. He was also one of Diana’s 17 godchildren, as his mother was a close friend to her. His two-year-old daughter Zalie will be the youngest member of the royal bridal party.
CHELSY DAVY
Along with Harry’s other long-time ex, Cressida Bonas, Davy is expected to be on the guest list. The daughter of a wealthy Zimbabwean land owner, now a lawyer, she was Harry’s first love. They met in 2004 when she was a boarder at Stowe School and they dated on and off for seven years.
GUY PELLY
British nightclub owner and close pal to both princes, who acted as ushers at his wedding to Holiday Inn heiress Elizabeth Wilson in 2014. Owns or has managed top London hot spots including Mahiki, Whisky Mist and Tonteria.
MARK DYER
Prince Charles’ equerry (royal staffer) was a loyal support system for Harry and William after the death of their mother. He and American wife Amanda Kline took Meghan under their wing at the polo in June last year. Their son Jasper will be a page boy, while Mark is expected to be an usher.
NICHOLAS VAN CUTSEM
Along with van Cutsem’s brother William, is a long-term friend of Harry and the sons of Prince Charles’ university pal, Hugh. For many years, their family were neighbours to the Royals in Norfolk. His daughter Florence, Harry’s goddaughter, will be a flower girl.
THOMAS VAN STRAUBENZEE
Met Harry in prep school and is godfather to Princess Charlotte. Harry was an usher at his 2013 wedding to Lady Melissa Percy, the daughter of the Duke of Northumberland. They have since divorced. He and brother Charlie, with his filmmaker partner Daisy Jenks are expected to attend.
SIR ELTON JOHN
After singing at his mother’s funeral, Sir Elton John has been a trusted friend to Harry and William since and is said to have cancelled two shows in Las Vegas to perform at the royal wedding. He’ll be celebrating the signing of his young son Zachary to the Watford FC soccer academy this week.
VICTORIA AND DAVID BECKHAM
The former Posh Spice turned fashion designer confirmed to talk show host James Corden last month that she and husband David had been invited; with growing speculation she will also reform with the Spice Girls to perform at the wedding reception.
SERENA WILLIAMS
Meghan and the seven-time Wimbledon champion have been friends since 2014 when they met at a charity football match. It has been reported she had been at the tennis watching her friend play during the day, before meeting Prince Harry for the first time that fateful night in July, 2016.
There will be some notable omissions on the wedding day, including:
THOMAS MARKLE, FATHER
Kensington Palace announced on May 4 that Meghan’s father, Thomas, would be walking her down the aisle. However, he has backflipped a number of times since then, following revelations he staged paparazzi images and that he has to undergo heart surgery. On Thursday, Kensington Palace issued a statement on Markle’s behalf saying Thomas Markle would not attend. “Sadly, my father will not be attending our wedding,” the statement said. “I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health.” The 73-year-old, from New Mexico, is said to be recovering in a hospital after heart surgery.
SAMANTHA GRANT
Meghan’s controversial half-sister, Samantha, 53, did not receive an invite, with many sources claiming it should have come as no surprise as the pair have been estranged for a long time. However, it could also have something to do with the fact Samantha has been outspoken and often nasty toward the royal-to-be since she came onto the scene.
THOMAS MARKLE JR
Meghan’s half-brother Thomas, 51, was also reportedly not very close with Meghan during her adult life. He was arrested in January after being accused of holding a gun to his girlfriend’s head. He shocked the world after writing an open letter to Prince Harry last month, claiming Meghan was not the right person for him and that he should cancel the nuptials. This week, he backtracked, describing Meghan as a “perfect modern princess”.
SARAH FERGUSON
Technically, Fergie is invited to the royal wedding. But it’s believed she didn’t score an invite to the private family reception hosted by Prince Charles due to their longstanding feud. Prince Harry reportedly had to push for the Duchess of York to even be invited to the ceremony.
Originally published as These are the guests expected to be at Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s royal wedding
Fears Harry, Meghan ‘running out of money’
Questions are mounting over the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s financial future, with claims they want to start a “global property empire”.
Queen Mary’s stunning looks on anniversary of rumours: photos
Queen Mary has dazzled onlookers with a series of gorgeous and bold fashion looks following her whirlwind Sydney trip and the anniversary of ‘those rumours’. See the photos.