Harry and Meghan: Wedding Suggestions and Musings

[Moonmaiden23]

Stefan, I think there were a few reigning monarchs at Andrew's wedding. Nancy Reagan represented her husband. I remember it clearly.

I don't think Harry and Meghan have to invite Trump or Melania to the wedding if they invite the Obamas as it won't be a state event and all invitations are extended on a personal basis only. However, knowing Trump's personality, I think he might take it badly if that happens, especially if the American media make a big deal out of it.

Which HE will and THEY will. Bet on it!

Do you really think the British Govt wants that kind of controversy around this wedding?

That was the point I was trying to make.

 

[Osipi]

Maybe it is wrong. I don't remember the wedding ceremony myself and I didn't check if the infornation is accurate. It is Wikipedia after all, so it's not always reliable. For Charles and Diana, a longer list of guests is mentioned (including the Queen of Denmark, the King of the Belgians, etc.), so the two lists are not the same.

For Charles and Diana, it was a full blown state wedding. Only a monarch and the heir to the monarch get a full blown state wedding. All heads of states and crowned heads get invited.

I believe that Andrew's was a semi-state wedding similar to what William's was. It had all the pomp and circumstance and there were diplomatic invites but it wasn't like Charles' that the full monty was involved.

 

[Gaudete]

I'm aware that the circumstances were slightly different when the Prince of Wales married in 2005 at St George's because Pope St John Paul had just died which prevented certain invited guests from attending once the dates were changed. However, we did see a few royal guests and so maybe this will be used as a precedent for this wedding?

I would expect a handful of junior European royals but not much more.

 

[Osipi]

I think that most likely, the Queen will do with Harry as she did with William. I distinctly remember William not being overly happy with the proposed guest list that was presented to him by the courtiers and mentioned it to his Granny. It has been reported that the conversation went as follows:

"I went to her [the Queen] and said: 'Listen, I've got this list, not one person I know. What do I do?' and she went: 'Get rid of it. Start from your friends and then we'll add those we need to in due course. It's your day.'"

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/may/22/prince-william-wedding-guest-list

 

[Molly2101]

I am so pleased it is happening at St George’s Chapel.

I imagine the guest list will be like the other weddings apart from Charles and Williams. Those weddings were not state events so they essentially invite “friends”. Edward had foreign royals at his who were his friends. Did Andrew have any? I imagine the Greek royals were at Andrews and it wouldn’t surprise me if they weren’t at Harry’s. I also think the king and queen of Spain would be invited due to harry spending some summers with the Spanish royals as a child. The Spanish royals (and any others if they are invited) could easily stay at Bagshot Park with the Wessex’s as well; they have plenty of room and they know each other. I believe peter also stayed with Edward the night before his wedding due the close proximity to Windsor Castle.

I look forward to finding out more details in the future. I’m very intrigued as to who will be in the wedding party.

I think the most frustrating part for me is that the entrance with the stairs isn't out in the open really - it's almost in a courtyard, so not many folks can get back there.

Also - is the public even allowed in that part? Right outside of the staircase? It doesn't feel like with previous weddings that those people were the regular public. First of all, half appeared to be the press and the other half golf clapped for everything, lol.

At Edward and Sophie’s wedding they had sent out invites to the public as a ballot I believe and some people got to be in the cloister (which I’m sure is what that area is called. It’s something like that.)

Charles and Camilla had a small number of people in there too.

 

[LadyGlendower]

I remember Edward and/or Sophie at the Swedish weddings of Madeliene and Carl Phillip. Is it too much to hope that we get a Princess Madeliene sighting at this wedding, given that she and her husband are very familiar with London? Please? But then, there is is the baby on the way thing.

And oh yes.......hooray for St. Georges! I love love love the steps!

 

[Mbruno]

I remember Edward and/or Sophie at the Swedish weddings of Madeliene and Carl Phillip. Is it too much to hope that we get a Princess Madeliene sighting at this wedding, given that she and her husband are very familiar with London? Please? But then, there is is the baby on the way thing.

And oh yes.......hooray for St. Georges! I love love love the steps!

I doubt it. She is not a friend of the couple and, as far as I know, Madeleine never met Harry (or so she said in a recent TV interview).

If the Wikipedia is right, the King and Queen of Sweden were present at Andrew's wedding. If the British court extends an invitation to the Swedish royal court, I think Victoria and Daniel might attend as they did at William's wedding, but I am not counting on official court-to-court invitations this time.

 

[tihkon2]

Moonmaiden23

I highly doubt Donald Trump will be invited anywhere near this wedding, as he's on record, and recorded on live radio as saying about the groom's mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, "I could have nailed her" And then joking he'd "make her take an AIDS test first!"

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/45468...n-radio-interview-just-months-after-she-died/

 

[jacqui24]

We have to remember that at a lot of weddings (especially big weddings, and I don't see this wedding with less than 650 guests), there will still be a lot of people invited that aren't personal friends of the couple. More like friends and acquaintances of parents and grandparents likely in this case. So while Harry might not be friends with foreign royals, the BRF might still extend an invitation as courtesy and the foreign royal will send a representative. There is reason why Sophie and Edward are present during foreign royal weddings, not necessarily because they are always so close to the bride and groom although I'm sure they've become acclimated with each other throughout the years of attending weddings on behalf of her HMQ.

I am not saying they should invite the Trumps, just saying it's unlikely to go down the way they prefer simply due to protocol.

The Obamas wouldn't be invited to the wedding as head of state or former head of state. It will strictly be as personal friends. Unless one of the Trumps is a personal friend of Harry or Meghan or even Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall or HMQ and Prince Phillip, I don't see the problem. If he doesn't like it, too bad.

 

[Mbruno]

We have to remember that at a lot of weddings (especially big weddings, and I don't see this wedding with less than 650 guests), there will still be a lot of people invited that aren't personal friends of the couple. More like friends and acquaintances of parents and grandparents likely in this case. So while Harry might not be friends with foreign royals, the BRF might still extend an invitation as courtesy and the foreign royal will send a representative. There is reason why Sophie and Edward are present during foreign royal weddings, not necessarily because they are always so close to the bride and groom although I'm sure they've become acclimated with each other throughout the years of attending weddings on behalf of her HMQ.

I get your point, Jacqui, but, at this point, Harry is only a grandson of the British monarch and, unlike William, he is not in direct line to the throne.. His situation therefore is not comparable even to Andrew's, or Madeleine's, or Carl Philip's, who were all sons or daughter of a reigning monarch when they got married. That is why I don't expect official court-to-court invitations.

 

[Moonmaiden23]

Moonmaiden23

I highly doubt Donald Trump will be invited anywhere near this wedding, as he's on record, and recorded on live radio as saying about the groom's mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, "I could have nailed her" And then joking he'd "make her take an AIDS test first!"

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/45468...n-radio-interview-just-months-after-she-died/

Oh God. tihkon2 I had almost successfully managed to forget that those were the words that once came out of the mouth of the duly elected Pres. of the US.

Thanks for the jolt.

 

[Dman]

ITV News Video:
A Windsor Royal Wedding-
St George's Chapel in Windsor to be venue for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's May 2018 wedding - ITV News

 

[Pranter]

ITV News Video:
A Windsor Royal Wedding-
St George's Chapel in Windsor to be venue for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's May 2018 wedding - ITV News

My goodness the front of St George's is just stunning....the pics you can get there!


LaRae

 

[LadyGlendower]

Well, this whole protocol thing really sucks the wind right out of my Madeliene/Chris sails Here I was thinking HM knows Carl Gustaf and Silvia and she sent Sophie, so Silvia would send Maddy to London and she could stay at BP and everything would work out for MEEE!

Aren't they all related, after all----it's a FAMILY wedding, not a court wedding. that's the ticket! ?

 

[jacqui24]

I get your point, Jacqui, but, at this point, Harry is only a grandson of the British monarch and, unlike William, he is not in direct line to the throne.. His situation therefore is not comparable even to Andrew's, or Madeleine's, or Carl Philip's, who were all sons or daughter of a reigning monarch when they got married. That is why I don't expect official court-to-court invitations.

I realize from a technical standpoint that he's not the son of a monarch, however an argument is to be made that the situation with BRF is rather unique in itself and unprecedented. I do think there is still that courtesy element to it and their society has its own way of function and consider what is polite and not.

 

[loonytick]

I get your point, Jacqui, but, at this point, Harry is only a grandson of the British monarch and, unlike William, he is not in direct line to the throne.. His situation therefore is not comparable even to Andrew's, or Madeleine's, or Carl Philip's, who were all sons or daughter of a reigning monarch when they got married. That is why I don't expect official court-to-court invitations.

That's a good point. However, they are starting to send Harry out on visits to other monarchs (he was just in Denmark doing photocalls with Margarethe and Joachim) and all signs point to having him do more of that. So while his position in the line of precedence doesn't call for the BRF to extend court-to-court invitations, his role may make them seem like a good move.

Part of it may be how they feel like this wedding plays into the Brexit charm offensive, too. Do they invite European royals as a show of friendliness to European neighbors, or do they avoid it because the Brexit supporters at home might not like it?

It's not a state wedding or even a semi-state wedding, but it's not exactly a purely family wedding, either. There will always be some wrinkle of diplomacy involved when the couple in question are working for the Crown.

 

[Muhler]

That's a good point. However, they are starting to send Harry out on visits to other monarchs (he was just in Denmark doing photocalls with Margarethe and Joachim) and all signs point to having him do more of that. So while his position in the line of precedence doesn't call for the BRF to extend court-to-court invitations, his role may make them seem like a good move.

Part of it may be how they feel like this wedding plays into the Brexit charm offensive, too. Do they invite European royals as a show of friendliness to European neighbors, or do they avoid it because the Brexit supporters at home might not like it?

It's not a state wedding or even a semi-state wedding, but it's not exactly a purely family wedding, either. There will always be some wrinkle of diplomacy involved when the couple in question are working for the Crown.

Harry visited Denmark in an official capacity, that on top of that also involved Danish citizens, so he was an official representative for his head of state, i.e. QEII and as such he was bound by courtesy and protocol to say hello to the Danish head of state, QMII. - He was after all on her turf. ?

 

[AdmirerUS]

I love the choice of Windsor. It means the event can be all inclusive and, yes folks, it will be fun!

 

[Dman]

My goodness the front of St George's is just stunning....the pics you can get there!


LaRae

I love everything about Windsor. I want to live at the castle and go to church every Sunday at St. George’s,

 

[loonytick]

Harry visited Denmark in an official capacity, that on top of that also involved Danish citizens, so he was an official representative for his head of state, i.e. QEII and as such he was bound by courtesy and protocol to say hello to the Danish head of state, QMII. - He was after all on her turf. ?

Not all working royals do that. For quite some time now Andrew's international work for the family, for example, has seemed to primarily consist representing the UK at trade meetings without making courtesy visits to heads of state along the way. It was actually somewhat remarkable to see him at the Thai funeral because it seemed so strange to see him in that kind of a role anymore. I don't think Anne is making those sorts of visits very often when her work travels take her out of the UK. But Harry has a role that increasingly include representing QEII to the highest ranking people in the countries that he visits, and as such I'm theorizing that his role may be reason to invite other royals to his wedding.

 

[jacqui24]

Not all working royals do that. For quite some time now Andrew's international work for the family, for example, has seemed to primarily consist representing the UK at trade meetings without making courtesy visits to heads of state along the way. It was actually somewhat remarkable to see him at the Thai funeral because it seemed so strange to see him in that kind of a role anymore. I don't think Anne is making those sorts of visits very often when her work travels take her out of the UK. But Harry has a role that increasingly include representing QEII to the highest ranking people in the countries that he visits, and as such I'm theorizing that his role may be reason to invite other royals to his wedding.

That goes back to the point I made that while he's not a child of monarch at this point in time, we all see the writing on the wall. The Queen is 91, and the transition to Charles has begun as she ages and can no longer take on some of the duties. And of course, William and Harry, as Charles' sons, are expected to take on more of those than Princess Anne or Prince Edward or Prince Andrew.

 

[CyrilVladisla]

Harry's best man could be his older godson Frederick Pettifer (he will be 17 next year).
And one of the page boys - the younger one, Jasper Dyer (6 next year).

Would not Prince William, Duke of Cambridge be the best man?

 

[Lisele]

Well, this whole protocol thing really sucks the wind right out of my Madeliene/Chris sails Here I was thinking HM knows Carl Gustaf and Silvia and she sent Sophie, so Silvia would send Maddy to London and she could stay at BP and everything would work out for MEEE!

Aren't they all related, after all----it's a FAMILY wedding, not a court wedding. that's the ticket! ?

Good point - it is a family wedding. You know, Chris and Madeleine live in London.... so maybe... just maybe, they could represent Sweden ..... just wishful thinking...

 

[Pranter]

I love everything about Windsor. I want to live at the castle and go to church every Sunday at St. George’s,

Maybe they'll take lodgers!


LaRae

 

[Osipi]

Maybe they'll take lodgers!

Oh to be able to shapeshift into a corgi!

 

[O-H Anglophile]

Since Harry and Meghan aren't paying for the wedding, I would guess that those who are paying also get to invite some guests.?

 

[Pranter]

That would be rather useful!


LaRae

 

[CyrilVladisla]

From which royal residence or location will Meghan as the bride leave to travel to St. George's Chapel?

 

[Lady Nimue]

From which royal residence or location will Meghan as the bride leave to travel to St. George's Chapel?

Highgrove?

 

[tommy100]

Its a 1.5 hour drive from Highgrove to Windsor. My bet would be either London (but even that is really rather far and would potentially require a large police escort etc) or more likely the Castle itself. Prince Andrew is Harry's godfather so Harry may stay with him and Royal Lodge and Meghan could stay at the Castle, or she could stay at Bagshot or Royal Lodge and drive over.