Wedding of Harry and Meghan: Guest Arrivals & Fashions

[jacqui24]

It's indeed strange that they couldn't make space for the Dyers. Harry had to accomodate too many family members who could not be moved down to the nave.

Your observation regarding Doria's seating is interesting as she still seemed to be very lonely in her little corner with no interaction with those around her.

The sheer size of BRF is an interesting issue when it comes to seating at St. Geroge's Chapel weddings. I don't remember how it was done at the Wessexes' wedding, but this certainly was an issue for this wedding as even some Spencers spilled over to Meghan's side after the choir (Charles Spencer and his wife). There were some debates about the third cousins not being invited, but honestly, if they aren't that close to Harry, I see why they were excluded. If they had been invited, they would've had to kick a lot more people from Meghan's side to the Nave, and that just doesn't seem fair. Otherwise, the third cousins would have to sit in the Nave, and that just makes for another type of uncomfortable discussion.

As for Doria, I think she was more isolated by press reporting than anything else. I did see her interact with Benita Litt at one point during the ceremony. Interesting to note that I think I saw more of the Mulroneys (particularly Ben) behind Meghan than Doria due to the camera angles. However, for the most part, everyone just seemed to engrossed in the ceremony rather than have much interaction with other people other than when the couple was signing their marriage registry. Even the husband and wife teams that we saw a lot (Mulroneys and Litts) didn't have much interaction other than when the Mulroneys held hands at some points. I know Ben said he was doing his best not to fidget or move at all because he's afraid that his brothers would just pile on after seeing it on TV.

 

[Rudolph]

I thinking the seating of Oprah and the Clooney reflects Meghan’s priorities. She wanted a celebrity wedding and that’s what we got.

 

[Pranter]

Poor Harry...and he had no say in his own wedding and how the guests were seated.

Be for real..this was not a celebrity wedding.

LaRae

 

[Rudolph]

I think it was. As one commentator put it “the awkward marriage between monarchy and global celebrity”.

 

[Somebody]

As for Doria, I think she was more isolated by press reporting than anything else. I did see her interact with Benita Litt at one point during the ceremony. Interesting to note that I think I saw more of the Mulroneys (particularly Ben) behind Meghan than Doria due to the camera angles. However, for the most part, everyone just seemed to engrossed in the ceremony rather than have much interaction with other people other than when the couple was signing their marriage registry. Even the husband and wife teams that we saw a lot (Mulroneys and Litts) didn't have much interaction other than when the Mulroneys held hands at some points. I know Ben said he was doing his best not to fidget or move at all because he's afraid that his brothers would just pile on after seeing it on TV.

I didn't read anything in the press about Doria being lonely. It was purely my personal observation. So, I am glad to read that she at least had some interaction with Benita (next to her eye contact with the couple and Charles who did what he could do to include her as the mother of the bride). I guess she is just a rather private person who was taking it all in. I assume others made an effort to include her during the rest of the day as her daughter was probably too busy with so many other guests and her groom.

 

[jacqui24]

I didn't read anything in the press about Doria being lonely. It was purely my personal observation. So, I am glad to read that she at least had some interaction with Benita (next to her eye contact with the couple and Charles who did what he could do to include her as the mother of the bride). I guess she is just a rather private person who was taking it all in. I assume others made an effort to include her during the rest of the day as her daughter was probably too busy with so many other guests and her groom.

She seemed quite emotional at some point and probably seemed quiet because of it. I seriously thought I'd see tears from her when Meghan got down to the alter. I saw some reporting that a guest at the evening reception asked her if she'll be staying in London for longer. She laughed and said no, she has to go back to her job and dogs. I'm sure Mama Doria was fine at the reception. I've previously seen that she's spent significant amount of time over the years with the Mulroneys whenever she was visiting Meghan in Toronto. I'd imagine she's pretty familiar with the Litts and Lindsay Jill Roth as well.

 

[Pranter]

I think it was. As one commentator put it “the awkward marriage between monarchy and global celebrity”.

Meghan was never a 'global' celebrity. Most of the U.S. barely knew her or had heard of her. It's not like Harry married Jennifer Aniston. There was nothing celebrity about that wedding..other than a few guests (mostly cast mates, most of which are not well known either) who are also actors or entertainers.

Don't make it into what it wasn't.


LaRae

 

[Rudolph]

That particular commentator wasn’t referring to Meghan as a global celebrity.

She was referring to the wedding in general. No foreign royals, no high ranking government officials, not even Harry’s royal cousins. Yet we had the likes of Oprah.

 

[wyevale]

I find the presence of Ms Winfrey in the Quire MOST strange, she is neither family, nor [by all accounts] a close friend of either the Bride or Groom..

Given that she was wanted there at all.. surely the body of the nave was the correct place for her to be seated?

 

[jacqui24]

It was clearly announced that no politician (not even PM, which is usually invited to public royal weddings such as this) and no foreign royal without personal connection to the couple would be invited. The way that guest list is made is pretty clear that no one automatically has a right to be invited because of who they are or what position they hold.

And quite frankly, we can find some things strange all we want, but there are a few surprises (other than Oprah) that pretty much told us we only know a portion of the couple's closest and dearest rather than most even if some of us felt like we knew a lot about Meghan's friendships. There are names on the list that I've never heard of until now, but are Meghan's friends from way back when.

I find the presence of Ms Winfrey in the Quire MOST strange, she is neither family, nor [by all accounts] a close friend of either the Bride or Groom..

Given that she was wanted there at all.. surely the body of the nave was the correct place for her to be seated?

The obvious answer is that she's seated correctly wherever the couple put her. But I get what you are saying. Part of the strangeness of this is that we really don't know the relationship here. If Oprah was invited because Doria knows her from church, and she has been kind and supportive towards her in dealing with this media madness because she understands the media scrutiny herself. If Meghan wanted to show her gratitude for kindness towards her mother, I think it's absolutely reasonable to put her in the Quire even if her and Harry don't know Oprah like their aunt.?

BTW, I wonder how much is this also due to culture? I know from personal experience that this type of thing differ from culture to culture. I was born into a culture where blood is always considered thicker than water and some are condemned for believing or acting otherwise. But I grew up in a different country where the culture is you can't help the family you are born into, but rather you have the choice of who you consider family and it's absolutely celebrated. I don't know much about regular British folks, but it does seem like there is some sense of extended family being included over non family in the BRF? I know many of us are surprised that the third cousins aren't invited (even if some of us agree with the decision) even if they aren't that close. I know Lady Frederick Windsor talked about just meeting Meghan at the Queen's 92nd birthday when the rest of the family met her at Christmas lunch. It doesn't seem like even Freddie Winsor and Harry sees that much of each other these days judging by that. But most of us still expected them to be invited.

 

[Curbside]

If I were that famous, I wouldn't be in a hurry to let the press know all of my personal relationships. This is even more the case for Doria, who does not have the benefit of a large, private property with lots of security.

 

[Missjersey]

Don’t know about the relationships etc., but was surprised to see Oprah there!

 

[O-H Anglophile]

I know Lady Frederick Windsor talked about just meeting Meghan at the Queen's 92nd birthday when the rest of the family met her at Christmas lunch. It doesn't seem like even Freddie Winsor and Harry sees that much of each other these days judging by that. But most of us still expected them to be invited.

I am still a bit surprised the Gloucester and Kent cousins were not invited. I don't really see the problem with them sitting in the Nave if the Royal side of the Quire was full.


Sophie had that horrible accident before the Christmas luncheon so she may not have been socializing much this winter and early spring.

The sheer size of BRF is an interesting issue when it comes to seating at St. Geroge's Chapel weddings. I don't remember how it was done at the Wessexes' wedding, but this certainly was an issue for this wedding as even some Spencers spilled over to Meghan's side after the choir (Charles Spencer and his wife).

Even at William and Kate's wedding at Westminster Abbey, the Spencers all sat on "Kate's side", opposite the Royal Family.

there were some pretty famous people that were put in the Nave when there are other people far less famous in the Quire.

Like Elton John and the Beckhams, for example.

 

[Osipi]

One thing I kept in mind is that the royal part of this wedding was only half of it. The way the wedding went, neither the bride's side or the groom's side overpowered the other. It was more of a wedding of two people and the people that were invited were there because either the bride or the groom wanted them to be.

I seriously believe that the time where when it comes to family and friends, the "royal" aspect no longer really takes precedence. A good example of this is with holidays and how William and Kate handle it. Neither Will's side of the family or Kate's side of the family are more "important" than the other familial wise.

 

[MARG]

If I were that famous, I wouldn't be in a hurry to let the press know all of my personal relationships. This is even more the case for Doria, who does not have the benefit of a large, private property with lots of security.

And there you have it. There were many "ordinary" people who, while dressing to the nines, would not have liked to be in the spotlight, but if your child is one of the flower girls or page boys, at least they will grow and change.

Preserving anonymity for some of their friends would have been a consideration just as inviting someone like the flamboyant (but considerably restrained) Elton John would be a must because the Wales family know him and he has leant his talent in their charity causes for over thirty years. He was also a friend of Diana's. By the same token, George Clooney appeared to be his wife's plus one, he even dressed down to let his lady shine (and shine she did) Not everyone could pull off a gown and hat such as Amal's and most people would not even think of wearing golden yellow, yet on her it looked divine.

The thing is that people, even some on this forum, keep overlooking that this was always going to be a private wedding featuring family and friends. Nobody expected the great and the good of European royalty to be invited, nor indeed were any politicians expected with the exception of Sir John Major, but he was also William and Harry's special guardian.

 

[MaiaMia_53]

Probaby Prince Harry is not particularly close to the Kent cousins (Frederick and Gabriella), nor to the Gloucesters either. I think some of the Kents were at the wedding. And the Gloucester elders were there. One of the younger Gloucesters (Lady Davina Lewis) lives in New Zealand with her husband and children, I believe.

 

[W.Y.CII]

It's the wedding of Prince Harry of Wales and Meghan Markle, so while Harry invited his family and friends, why couldn't Meghan invite her friends who are celebrities????? People just get mad on the attendance of celebrities but hey, Meghan, somehow IS a celebrity, so why can't she get some friends who are also celebrities? She considers them as her friends so they got invitation. Why is it wrong?

 

[Denville]

I doubt if they would complain, the RF but IMO there were too many celebs at the wedding... who didn't seem to have any real connextion to either Meg or harry...

 

[MaiaMia_53]

Actually, how would we know for certain the connection? It was reported by Omid Mio Scobie per info from an insider source that after Meghan moved to Britain, Amal Clooney and Victoria Beckham reached out to her. Since then, Meghan and Harry reportedly have visited the Clooneys' home often, and the foursome have hit it off. And of course, Meghan has worn some of Victoria's designs post the engagement announcement last November. We don't really know the actual relationships Harry and Meghan have individually or together with particular celebrities. My biggest complaint about the wedding was the camera darting away too often to seek out the faces of celebrities during the ceremony. That was completely distracting and unnecessary. But then, the camera work direction was particularly awful.

Below is a poignant and straightforward interview with one of Meghan's closest friends from her acting days, Janina Gavankar (the mysterious woman in orange). Gavankar sat in the Quire section as part of Meghan's family, and she also attended the 200-guest evening reception at Frogmore House. While being discreet, Gavankar shares some fascinating tidbits that shed additional light on Meghan's and Harry's delightful personalities:
https://www.townandcountrymag.com/s...a-gavankar-royal-wedding-reception-interview/

I would love to know more about Meghan's and Harry's evening reception speeches. However, I also understand Gavankar's wish for Meghan in her new life as a royal:

“I hope for [Meghan] as much privacy as possible. As much as the world will allow them, I hope for more. Truly.”

Harry's polo-player friend, Nacho Figueras, inadvertently revealed a copy of the evening reception invitation:
https://us.hellomagazine.com/royalt...y-meghan-evening-reception-invite-sneak-peek/

 

[Cocoasneeze]

I doubt if they would complain, the RF but IMO there were too many celebs at the wedding... who didn't seem to have any real connextion to either Meg or harry...

I'm curious to know how anyone would know who has a real connection with Harry and Meghan.

 

[W.Y.CII]

Why do they have to let us know their connections or prove their friendship? No one would announce to the world randomly that "I am friend with someone blahblahblah because of blahblahblah", not even you or me.

My biggest complaint about the wedding was the camera darting away too often to seek out the faces of celebrities during the ceremony. That was completely distracting and unnecessary. But then, the camera work direction was particularly awful.

......don’t even get me started on the camera angle......

 

[Somebody]

Interstingly, the invite has 'M & H', so Meghan coming first, at the top.

 

[O-H Anglophile]

Probaby Prince Harry is not particularly close to the Kent cousins (Frederick and Gabriella), nor to the Gloucesters either. I think some of the Kents were at the wedding. And the Gloucester elders were there. One of the younger Gloucesters (Lady Davina Lewis) lives in New Zealand with her husband and children, I believe.

The only Kents there were the Queen's three cousins and their spouses, same relationship as the Duke & Duchess of Gloucester.
Lady Davina's husband is from New Zealand but unless they've moved to NZ in the last year they live in England. She and her husband were at Trooping the Color last year and attended many other events over the years. They've even gone to the Gatcombe Horse Trials with Peter & Autumn.

Interstingly, the invite has 'M & H', so Meghan coming first, at the top.

Maybe even the Royal Family has to watch out for trademarked names so avoided H&M.

 

[wyevale]

All celebrities seem to have personal connection to either Harry or Meghan. Extended RF not so much.

NOT SO.. the best anyone can come up with is that Ms Winfrey MIGHT 'know' the Brides Mother 'from Church'...

#TenuousAtBest

 

[ACO]

The only celebrity that stood out to me was Oprah. The rest were hardly surprises, even Amal as that friendship has been leaked out weeks prior. I personally loved how many of the names the media tossed out like Millie wasn't anywhere to be seen yet people like Genevieve was in the Quire and the press had no idea who she was despite she has been one of Meghan closest and dearest friends for years. The press learned of the likes of Benita and Heather. I laughed at some of the reporters openly admitted they were clueless and proved how little they REALLY know. True that, very very true.

Also this notion that Doria was "by herself" was completely nonsense. She was surrounded by Meghan's loved ones. Genevieve was directly behind her. Benita was beside her. Jessica was in front of her. Lindsay, Janina, Heather and Misha were also very close. And Abigail was right beside Genevieve. Doria knows all these women and has for years. They are Meghan's true sisters. The media just had no idea cause they hardly do. Some broadcasts even claimed she had no close friends there. SMH.

 

[Cocoasneeze]

NOT SO.. the best anyone can come up with is that Ms Winfrey MIGHT 'know' the Brides Mother 'from Church'...

#TenuousAtBest

Yes. Doria doesn't owe anyone explanations of her friendships, and it actually speaks volumes, that people had no clue about Doria's connection to Oprah. So if Oprah's connection is to Doria from church, then good.

One thing that annoys me about the reporting about the wedding guests, us that with an absolute certainty some outlets report that no other family members or relatives of Meghan were invited, when no one has any clue. The full guest list hasn't been revealed, so the press has no clue who actually was invited.

 

[DuchessMia]

Yes. Doria doesn't owe anyone explanations of her friendships, and it actually speaks volumes, that people had no clue about Doria's connection to Oprah. So if Oprah's connection is to Doria from church, then good.

One thing that annoys me about the reporting about the wedding guests, us that with an absolute certainty some outlets report that no other family members or relatives of Meghan were invited, when no one has any clue. The full guest list hasn't been revealed, so the press has no clue who actually was invited.

I agree. Until Meghan’s relationship was revealed, no one knew about her mother or her relationships with members of her church. The absolute certainty people have regarding their possible connections is baffling when we know Meghan and Harry dated undercover for awhile. During that time, no one knows who was helping them to keep the relationship a secret. As for her family, members were there, but the press didn’t deem them important enough to highlight.

 

[jacqui24]

Interstingly, the invite has 'M & H', so Meghan coming first, at the top.

Most of the wedding, if not all, has the bride’s initial first and then the groom. But I imagine they’d also like to avoid the H&M comparisons is they can.

NOT SO.. the best anyone can come up with is that Ms Winfrey MIGHT 'know' the Brides Mother 'from Church'...

#TenuousAtBest

That’s ONE out of 600 person that people want to fixate on when in reality is that we simply don’t know everything that goes on in these people’s private lives. And somehow her presence means they choose celebrities over family. How about charity representatives? How about Manchester bombing victims? Because they were invited as well while third cousins weren’t. But of course, that doesn’t make fit the narrative.

 

[Somebody]

Did Meghan also befriend non-famous people in the last few years? As even if the invited are friends, the fact that so many are part of the rich and famous in itself is telling.

 

[Rudolph]

There’s a narrative all right... More than enough seats were available for cousins. Just a matter of priorities. Most of celebrities in attendance Weren’t Meghan’s life long friends or family. Chopra said she’s known her three years.

Also having charity representatives and other members of the community doesn’t mean family had to be excluded.