No swords, no cameras, no gifts: guide to enjoying royal wedding
ALL weddings come with a degree of logistical difficulty, from transport to speeches to the all-important hats.
Few will come with written instruction regarding the usefulness of swords.
The guests invited to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been sent their instructions on how best to enjoy the day, it has been reported, including a ban on cameras and bringing gifts.
Guests have been offered seven pages of “critical guidance”, according to the Mail on Sunday, with meticulous attention to detail.
Taking one of two suggested driving routes, they will be required to meet at the Windsor Farm Shop, founded in 2001 after the Duke of Edinburgh had an idea to support local businesses by selling produce.
There, three miles away from the venue, guests will be put through security checks and asked to show identification before being ushered onto buses to travel to Windsor Castle.
Cameras will be banned, along with bulky bags. Before the private reception, guests will be asked to “surrender mobile telephones… and any devices used for image capture.” The guidance, the newspaper reports, states: “It should be noted that gifts cannot be brought to St George’s Chapel or Windsor Castle.
“Guests are advised to seek further guidance on delivery arrangements for any gifts to Kensington Palace.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have asked instead for guests to donate to seven chosen charities to honour their big day.
A dress code laid out in the invitations asks guests to wear dress uniform, morning coat or lounge suit for men, and day dress and hat for women.
The instructions further specify that they should not wear medals in suggestions about accessories that also includes: “No swords.”
Some 600 guests are invited to St George’s Chapel for the May 19 ceremony and afternoon reception. A third of those will continue on to an evening reception at nearby Frogmore House, where the couple’s closest friends and family will party into the early hours.