Public ‘invited’ to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’ wedding
IT’S the most anticipated society wedding of the year. And now, new details about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding have been released, and the lucky guests who’ll get a front row seat.
SCHOOL children, wounded soldiers and community youth leaders will make up a crowd of more than 2600 people invited into the grounds of Windsor Castle for a front-row view of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s arrival at their wedding.
With the nuptials just over two months away, the royal couple have released further details about how they intend to involve the public in their big day.
The wedding will be at St George’s Chapel, inside the grounds of Windsor Castle, in front of 800 VIP guests and family members of Prince Harry, 33, and American actor Ms Markle, 36.
The couple have already confirmed they will take a carriage ride down Windsor High Street to allow the public a closer look at the festivities.
But Kensington Palace said the couple have invited a further 2640 people into the castle grounds to allow them a close-up look as the bride and groom and their wedding guests arrive and depart St George’s Chapel.
The group will include 100 students from the two local schools which have strong affiliations to Windsor Castle — the Royal School, Great Park, Windsor and St George’s School, Windsor Castle.
Another 200 people have been invited from the charities and organisations which Prince Harry and Ms Markle have a close association with, including those which Prince Harry serves as patron.
This includes the Invictus Games Foundation, established by Prince Harry to provide support for wounded and ill war veterans through sport and physical challenges.
Another charity to be represented is WellChild, which supports seriously ill children and their families.
“Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle have said they want their wedding day to be shaped so as to allow members of the public to feel part of the celebrations too,’’ Kensington Palace said.
“This wedding, like all weddings, will be a moment of fun and joy that will reflect the characters and values of the bride and groom.’’
A further 1200 people from “every corner’’ of the UK will be nominated to attend by the nine regional Lord Lieutenant offices. They will come from a range of ages and backgrounds, and will include young people who have shown strong leadership and those who have served their communities.
The couple has also invited 610 people from the Windsor Castle and St George’s Chapel communities, including those who live at Windsor Castle, the 1000-year-old private residence of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, west of London.
A further 530 staff members of the Royal Households and Crown Estate will attend.
Eagerly-awaited invitations to the May 19 wedding are due to be sent out shortly, revealing who will get a seat inside the chapel.
Prince William, Harry’s oldest brother, is expected to be his best man, while William and his wife Catherine’s children, Prince George, 4, and Princess Charlotte, 2, are also expected to be in the wedding party.
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