Harry and Meghan: Wedding Suggestions and Musings

[O-H Anglophile]

There is something else to consider in all this--if it is true that Sr has a heart blockage and is having a procedure for it--heart disease can cause confusion and impaired thinking. Which could explain some of this mess.

 

[XeniaCasaraghi]

There is something else to consider in all this--if it is true that Sr has a heart blockage and is having a procedure for it--heart disease can cause confusion and impaired thinking. Which could explain some of this mess.

Good try but a swish and a miss.

Anyway as for who is walking her down the aisle I say Phillip jump in and show everyone else how its done.

 

[WillVictoria]

I’d be very surprised if Princess Margaret’s children and grandchildren aren’t invited. They’ve celebrated Christmases with the Queen and her family. Even if they aren’t as close as Harry and his cousins, they cross paths. I imagine the only Kent and Gloucester grandchildren that will be invited, if any, would be those that know Harry well (if any of them do). At some point, inviting third cousin might be a little much given this is a more scaled down wedding at a smaller venue.

It also is probably better optics wise to limit the perceived size of the royal family. While those on this forum know the Kent and Gloucester's kids and grandkids don't get taxpayer money and aren't official parts of the royal family, the media (DM) is already referring to them in that manner.

Simply put, it'll provoke more "outrage" to have increased rows of Windsors that (whether it's true of false) are seen to be "on the taxpayer's bill", then to "snub" third cousins most Brits couldn't pick out of a lineup.

 

[WillVictoria]

Good try but a swish and a miss.

Anyway as for who is walking her down the aisle I say Phillip jump in and show everyone else how its done.

Sorry for the double post, but I doubt after this surgery that the royal family wants to increase Philip's role and potential amount of walking.

 

[Mirabel]

I’d be very surprised if Princess Margaret’s children and grandchildren aren’t invited. They’ve celebrated Christmases with the Queen and her family. Even if they aren’t as close as Harry and his cousins, they cross paths. I imagine the only Kent and Gloucester grandchildren that will be invited, if any, would be those that know Harry well (if any of them do). At some point, inviting third cousin might be a little much given this is a more scaled down wedding at a smaller venue.

Well, Harry and William grew up right next door to Freddie and Gabriella Windsor. They used to play together, so it seems strange he'd leave them out yet invite people from his charities.

I know it's a scaled-down wedding, but it isn't that small if 600 people will be there.

 

[O-H Anglophile]

Anyway as for who is walking her down the aisle I say Phillip jump in and show everyone else how its done.

Sure, because an almost 97 year old man who just had hip replacement surgery 5 weeks ago is a perfect choice.

It also is probably better optics wise to limit the perceived size of the royal family. While those on this forum know the Kent and Gloucester's kids and grandkids don't get taxpayer money and aren't official parts of the royal family, the media (DM) is already referring to them in that manner.

Simply put, it'll provoke more "outrage" to have increased rows of Windsors that (whether it's true of false) are seen to be "on the taxpayer's bill", then to "snub" third cousins most Brits couldn't pick out of a lineup.

I am sick of the idea that the royal family has to do certain things because of better "optics." Haters are going to hate no matter the "optics."

 

[Countessmeout]

I don't get how not inviting them to the wedding is the 'slimming down of the royal family'

They will be on the balcony at trooping like they are every year. This is a public event proclaiming them members of the royal family. This is a lot more of a 'look we are royal' then attending Harry's wedding is.

People don't care how many royals are attending the wedding. THey aren't going to look at the guest list and say 'oh there are 600 guests, but wait, there are only 20 royals, so that's okay'. Royals don't cost more as wedding guests.

I would argue its actually worse PR for them. That they are not inviting family but they are inviting celebrities? I can even see the press if some of the Middletons are invited. How did Carole and Mike get an invite, when the Duke of Kent's children didn't??? Heck I could see 'Carole weaseled her way into an invite and pushed the family out' headlines as we know the press would love to do.

Its not like these are distant relatives they don't know. William and Harry grew up with Freddie and Gabriella. Playing together at Kensington. When they were kids, they would have still attended family holidays as well. And now things like the Christmas party. They aren't some unknown faces. They likely see them as much if not more then some of the Spencers, or Linleys.

 

[Zonk]

Do we think they will release an official guest list? Why not wait until then and see if the rumours are true.

So, we have
The title
the bridal party

anything else that needs to be announced?

 

[Countessmeout]

Do we think they will release an official guest list? Why not wait until then and see if the rumours are true.

So, we have
The title
the bridal party

anything else that needs to be announced?

Coat of arms for Meghan unless I missed it.

The guest list for the Cambridge wedding was published ahead of time. Though it only showed about 300 of the 1900 guests. But it covered the big ones like the family members.

https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2011/apr/26/royal-wedding-guest-list-invite

 

[King of the Jungle]

I think the families of The Kents and Gloucesters will be in attendance.
Why have a royal wedding without all the royals who have supported the Queen for decades and will support Harry and Meghan in the years to come? Also, it makes for familiar watching and a family feel. The wedding is being televised for a reason. The BRF is not as fractured as the Markles.

I hope Meghan's father ends up well enough to participate.

When are the bridal attendants due to be announced?
I'm missing some fun, historical and interesting factual information.
There is too much focus on what could be fake news in the media.

Meghan and Harry, at this point, can only try their best with the Markles and then plough all their energy into their big day and having a meaningful wedding.
(With hindsight, it was crazy to entertain a family wedding when the groom had not met the bride's family.)

 

[Countessmeout]

I think the families of The Kents and Gloucesters will be in attendance.
Why have a royal wedding without all the royals who have supported the Queen for decades and will support Harry and Meghan in the years to come? Also, it makes for familiar watching and a family feel. The wedding is being televised for a reason. The BRF is not as fractured as the Markles.

I hope Meghan's father ends up well enough to participate.

When are the bridal attendants due to be announced?
I'm missing some fun, historical and interesting factual information.
There is too much focus on what could be fake news in the media.

Meghan and Harry, at this point, can only try their best with the Markles and then plough all their energy into their big day and having a meaningful wedding.
(With hindsight, it was crazy to entertain a family wedding when the groom had not met the bride's family.)

The bridal attendants, based on the Cambridge wedding, are well over due. The Cambridges announced their bridal party at Valentine's day before the wedding. The speculation is that it is being held back because of Meghan's side for now. Her side are private citizens, and they don't want the kids to be targets for the paps possibly, any sooner then needed. Its not likely they are in the UK yet.

 

[XeniaCasaraghi]

I can't believe I half to specify this but here goes: Saying Phillip should walk her down the aisle was a joke!

 

[RoyalHighness 2002]

The bridal attendants, based on the Cambridge wedding, are well over due. The Cambridges announced their bridal party at Valentine's day before the wedding. The speculation is that it is being held back because of Meghan's side for now. Her side are private citizens, and they don't want the kids to be targets for the paps possibly, any sooner then needed. Its not likely they are in the UK yet.

Several people keep on mentioning private citizens, but a few of William and Kate's attendants were private citizens as well, such as William "Billy" Lowther-Pinkerton and Tom Pettifer.

 

[Countessmeout]

Several people keep on mentioning private citizens, but a few of William and Kate's attendants were private citizens as well, such as William "Billy" Lowther-Pinkerton and Tom Pettifer.

Having worked for the royal family, Jamie and Tiggy would have been used to the press. And they perhaps didn't protest their children having such exposure. It is possible that Meghan's friends didn't want to risk their children being followed by the paps. The Litt girls if involved live in LA, and we know what the American paps have been like to those associated with Meghan and this wedding.

 

[jacqui24]

Wait, who was talking about Freddie be Gabriella? The report is about Amelia. Like I said, at the third cousin point, invite those you are close to. Others really aren’t obligated. I can’t imagine Harry crosses path much with Amelia Windsor.

 

[King of the Jungle]

Does Meghan have a nephew or a grandfather who could step in and offer her support walking down the aisle?
Does she have a close uncle or work mate?
I predict Doria over any of the BRF - just for familiarity.
She might feel confident to walk alone.

 

[jacqui24]

Several people keep on mentioning private citizens, but a few of William and Kate's attendants were private citizens as well, such as William "Billy" Lowther-Pinkerton and Tom Pettifer.

American paparazzi do have more relaxed rules I believe. And the BRF does not have the clout here than they do in UK.

 

[Countessmeout]

Wait, who was talking about Freddie be Gabriella? The report is about Amelia. Like I said, at the third cousin point, invite those you are close to. Others really aren’t obligated. I can’t imagine Harry crosses path much with Amelia Windsor.

The report is that ALL of the younger generation have not been invited. All of the children and grandchildren of the Kents and Gloucesters. That would of course include Ella and Freddie.

The young royals not invited to Harry and Meghan's royal wedding | Daily Mail Online

Does Meghan have a nephew or a grandfather who could step in and offer her support walking down the aisle?
Does she have a close uncle or work mate?
I predict Doria over any of the BRF - just for familiarity.
She might feel confident to walk alone.

She has no living grandparents, other then a step-grandmother I believe.

There are Samantha's kids, Ashleigh and Christopher. Neither have spoken to the press, and Meghan is said to be close to both. She also has a half uncle on her mother's side who is close to her in age. But we don't know if any of them are attending the wedding.

She does have close friends. Like Markus who is speculated to have introduced her to Harry.

 

[jacqui24]

She does have close friends. Like Markus who is speculated to have introduced her to Harry.

Yea, the Markus rumor says were shot during the engagement interview.

 

[Countessmeout]

I guess I didn't memorize the interview to memory enough, I missed the 'she'

The point being that she does have close male friends, including Markus. He is friends with both the couple. Not that I expect him to walk Meghan, but answering the question of the other poster, if she had close male friends.

I'd rather she choose a family member of her own, or close friend, then Charles. Charles is there for his son, she is entering into his family. Meghan should have someone she has a strong bond with, ushering her into her new life.

 

[FashionMaven]

I'm still reeling from this Tom Sr business and my heart still goes out to Meghan and Harry. I'm embarrassed that I ever tried to find ways to empathize with Tom Sr and look for other reasons why he might have posed for the pics with the paps. I am unable to wrap my head around his current behavior. I think he's being a terrible father and now a lot of things about his relationship with Meghan makes a lot of sense. Right now, I view him as manipulative emotionally and toxic. I don't want him to come to the UK. I wish him well in his surgery.

As for who walks Meghan down the aisle - I really don't want to see her walk alone. That's just too much to ask and I think it would just raise way too many questions. I'd rather see Doria do it (because she's been ROCK SOLID in her discretion), or Prince Charles do it (because it would illustrate how the BRF has accepted her as family).

I am very curious to see if we will be seeing any family from Doria's side. As a whole, they've been very discreet. I think a stepmom or something may have said something in the beginning (perhaps she hadn't been warned yet), but nothing since. And there was some estranged half-brother-in-law-or-something who sold some pics, but since then radio silence. As a whole, the Raglands and Johnsons have been the epitome of discretion and class. If any family members deserved invites - it was them. I hope we see some people from that side, if for nothing else to contrast with the absolute sh!tshow the paternal Markle side has displayed.

But that's more a selfish desire on my part to see more from Doria's side of the family. Maybe Meghan isn't close with them either.

I pray that Meghan is able to divert her focus to all that she has to be thankful for, and focus on the family she's joining and her husband to be and how happy he makes her. I hope she focuses on the beautiful dress she has to wear. I hope she focuses on the gorgeous setting she's marrying her Prince Charming (literally). I hope she focuses on all of the good she and Harry will be able to accomplish together. I hope she focuses on their future.

God bless her and Harry, Doria and the BRF.

 

[CyrilVladisla]

What if it turned out to be that both Doria and Charles walk Meghan down the aisle? It would be a wonderful message of how everything is connected with her mother there for the love and support that Meghan has always had and with marrying Harry, also has the love and support of Harry's family in everything.

Wishful thinking I know.

Osipi, This is not wishful thinking. It is a splendid idea. However, if Doria is the only one to walk the bride down the aisle, then may Doria do it with pride!

 

[Zaira]

IMO, Doria or no one. It is ridiculous to have Charles when her mother, who birthed her, raised her, has loved and supported her, AND will be escorting her from the hotel, is perfectly capable of walking down a church aisle.

 

[CyrilVladisla]

Personally I NEVER want to feel sympathy for a Bride, on what SHOULD be the most joyous day of her life..

Wyevale, I agree. People should not have to feel sorry for the bride. The bride and the wedding day are HAPPINESS.

 

[MARG]

Personally I NEVER want to feel sympathy for a Bride, on what SHOULD be the most joyous day of her life..

You are not wrong. This is just so incredibly painful just following the "breaking news", I cannot imagine how heartsore Meghan must feel and the sheer awfulness of waiting for the other shoe to drop. How must Harry feel with each new "revelation" leaving him desperately helpless to protect Meghan? Harry must feel gutted that he is utterly powerless to stop the Markle juggernaut.

 

[Somebody]

And then nothing. Not commenting on personal matters is nothing new for the Palace.

Are you saying that the Palace is releasing statements on behalf of Harry and Meghan on personal matters without input from them? It amazes me how far some will stretch to make it seem that Meghan doesn’t care for her father as much as official records, whether previously from Meghan herself or now Palace, says.

Nobody has stated that Meghan doesn't care about her father. Of course she does; I am sure she is worried (next to many other feelings she might have had in recent days/weeks/months) and might even feel some guilt for all the stress she brought upon him by marrying Harry. However, as I explained in my previous post: caring about someone is very different from being 'close'. And yes, I do think that we need to take 'PR' into account when interpreting statements made about relationships - and compare that to the action that in this case unfortunately don't point to a very close relationship but do point to a relationship in which Meghan cares enough about her father to want him present at her wedding (it must be really bad for a child not to want a parent at your wedding) and worried about him because of his strange behavior (which she might either recognize as a pattern or it might come as a completely unexpected turn of events) and possible health issues.

Regarding this specific statement, the palace was very much doing 'damage control'; that was the main purpose of the statement. And clearly, the couple knows more than we do and they along with their staff took that into account when crafting a statement that didn't tell us anything about whether mr Markle will attend the wedding (as they most likely weren't sure themselves) but did try to get the media to back off (they surely didn't want him subjected to even more media scrutiny but most likely didn't expect him to run to TMZ again in response). I'd say Meghan is behaving impeccable in this very difficult situation and loves her father no matter what (but sometimes love at a distance might be more healthy than letting him interfere too much with her life).

All in all, I don't think we will ever agree on the issue of 'closeness' as your definition of close is extremely wide (at least that's what it seems to me and you did not contradict that) and mine and others who don't buy the 'they are so close' story is a little narrower - and that's fine (we might even agree more than it looks like)

 

[Westfield Bakery]

This whole thing reeks of nonsense.

Thomas Markle is an embarrassment to men around the world in this predicament.

Princes William, Charles or even Edward should walk Meghan down the aisle on Saturday morning. What a shame.

 

[Countessmeout]

This whole thing reeks of nonsense.

Thomas Markle is an embarrassment to men around the world in this predicament.

Princes William, Charles or even Edward should walk Meghan down the aisle on Saturday morning. What a shame.

Marie-Christine may get the last laugh indeed.

Why [...] would William and or Edward walk her down the aisle? What are their connection to her??? She is marrying into their family. Charles is the only one which makes remote sense.

 

[Westfield Bakery]

Why [...] would William and or Edward walk her down the aisle? What are their connection to her??? She is marrying into their family. Charles is the only one which makes remote sense.

A male member of the Royal Family should escort her down the aisle.

 

[Countessmeout]

A male member of the Royal Family should escort her down the aisle.

How about Prince Michael then? Nicholas Windsor? Maybe Viscount Severn? If any member of the BRF will do. I mean its far more important that a member of the BRF walks her down the aisle, then someone she has any connection to.