The CHOSEN few (hundred) & the royally SNUBBED
It may seem a large wedding to some, but even 600 invitations to the weekend wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leaves many on the outside looking in. The National Post’s Monika Warzecha compiles who’s in and who’s out.
HARRY’S FAMILY
Who’s in?
There are rather a lot of British royals, and most are expected to show up for the big day.
Queen Elizabeth, who officially issued the 600 wedding invitations, will obviously be in attendance. Kensington Palace is also hopeful Prince Philip will make it despite recovering from hip surgery.
Prince Charles and Camilla, who are hosting an even more exclusive evening reception, will of course attend. Prince William is best man. Prince George is expected to be a page and Prince Charlotte a flower girl (baby Prince Louis will stay at home). Kate and her sister Pippa Middleton naturally made the cut. The late Princess Diana’s siblings — Earl Spencer, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes — are guests. Lady Jane is to give a reading during the ceremony.
Who’s out?
Duchess Sarah Ferguson was not invited to William and Kate’s wedding in 2011, but will be at the chapel for Harry’s walk down the aisle after he reportedly intervened on her behalf. She did not make the cut for the evening’s black-tie reception, however; there still appears to be bad blood between her ex-brother-in-law Prince Charles, who controls the reception guest list. Fergie is said to be “deeply upset.”
EXES
Who’s in?
The Daily Mail seems confident that two of Harry’s ex-girlfriends, Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas, will be on the guest list, arguing that the prince has remained on excellent terms with both of them.
Who’s out?
Meghan’s ex-husband, Trevor Engelson, is not expected to attend. After all, Harry is breaking with royal traditional by marrying a divorcee.
MEGHAN’S FAMILY
Who’s in?
Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle, was supposed to walk her down the aisle of St. George’s Chapel, but after an embarrassing photo shoot and reported heart trouble, it seems unlikely that he will be able to attend. The palace has not confirmed he was in hospital in Mexico having a stent put in Wednesday, nor has it announced any alternative plans for his role. Meanwhile Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, arrived from Los Angeles Wednesday and was met at Heathrow by Meghan’s personal assistant. On Saturday, she is to accompany the bride to the chapel by car.
Who’s out?
Meghan’s estranged half-siblings, from her father’s previous marriage, are not invited. Samantha Grant has said she is writing a tell-all book about her soon-to-be-royal relation with the title The Diary of Princess Pushy’s Sister. Thomas Markle Jr. sent a handwritten note to InTouch regarding his exclusion from the wedding, warning Harry that Meghan is a “jaded, shallow, conceited woman that will make a joke of you and the royal family heritage.”
SOLDIERS
It’s likely some of the soldiers who served alongside Harry in Afghanistan will be invited.
FOREIGN DIGNITARIES
Who’s in?
Prince Seeiso of Lesotho has announced that he and his wife will be attending. He co-founded a charity with Prince Harry to help children affected by AIDS and HIV. Queen Sofia and King Juan Carlos of Spain are also expected to attend.
Who’s out?
The British press will no doubt miss the chance to fixate on Prime Minister Theresa May’s shoes, but no politicians have been invited to the wedding. That means Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who helped Prince Harry launch the Invictus Games in Toronto, is out. So is Barack Obama, who has been seen palling around with Harry, and current U.S. President Donald Trump (Meghan publicly backed Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election). Unlike the 1,900-guest wedding of his older brother, Harry’s “small” wedding means fewer royals as well. The Swedish royals have already reported they were not invited, even though Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, is Harry’s fourth cousin.
THE MAYBES
Harry’s aristocratic peers — Tom “Skippy” Inskip, Tom and Charlie Van Straubenzee, Guy Pelly, Adam Bidwell, Arthur Landon and Mark Dyer — are likely groomsmen.
Violet von Westenholz, an aristocrat and fashion publicist is a friend of both Meghan and Harry and is rumoured to have brought the pair together.
Millie Mackintosh is a friend of Meghan’s, but also part of the royal set: one of her friends is married to Pippa Middleton, and her fiancée once dated Princess Eugenie.
Likewise, although Meghan’s friend Misha Nonoo is a Bahrainborn, American fashion designer she is married to a British socialite who went to Eton with Harry and is friends with Princess Eugenie.
THE CANADIANS
Billionaires Galen and Hilary Weston, who were invited to William’s wedding and have a close relationship to the British royals (Prince Charles and Galen played polo together and Queen Elizabeth was invited to Hilary’s 60th birthday party) are likely guests.
Jessica Mulroney, a stylist and wardrobe consultant on Markle’s TV show Suits, is expected to have a big role in her close friend’s nuptials.
All three children of Jessica and husband Ben (yes, son of Brian Mulroney) will be in the wedding. Ivy, 4, will be a bridesmaid and seven-yearold twins Brian and John will act as page boys.
A total of six young bridesmaids and four page boys make up the wedding party.
Patrick J. Adams, a Toronto actor who marries Meghan’s character on the show Suits, is likely to attend, along with other cast members.
CELEBRITIES
Indian actress Priyanka Chopra, a close pal of Meghan’s, dispelled rumours that she will be a bridesmaid, but seems a likely invitee.
Eagle-eyed royal watchers have noted that Sir Elton John (a close friend of Princess Diana) cancelled concert dates close to the big day.
Singer Mel B let slip that all the Spice Girls have been invited. Victoria Beckham, aka Posh Spice, has confirmed she will also bring husband David Beckham (the couple were also guests at Prince William’s wedding).
George and Amal Clooney will be at the big event too, at least according to Amal’s hairstylist Miguel Perez, who spoke to the press after rumours emerged he would be in charge of the bride’s ‘do.’
Rumours also suggest tennis powerhouse Serena Williams will be at St. George’s Chapel.