St. James Palace has released an edited guest list for Prince William’s wedding to Catherine Middleton this Friday, 29th April, 2011. Many of the guests are family and friends of the couple, of course, but other guests are drawn from the worlds of sport, entertainment, the armed forces, charities and foreign royals and politicians.
Queen Elizabeth II and other royal family members will sit in the front row across the aisle from the Middleton family. The Royals will be closest to the abbey’s sanctuary, where William and Catherine will stand to take their vows. The Middletons and other members of Catherine’s family will sit with their friends and Princess Diana’s Spencer family.
To find out who some of the other guests are
Read more about the Royal Wedding Guests
Elton John tops the list of celebrity wedding guests. He was a close friend of Prince William’s late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, and famously sang a new version of his hit song, “Candle in the Wind” for her funeral in 1997. He is likely to be accompanied by his civil partner, David Furnish.
Soul singer Joss Stone, who performed at the Concert for Diana at Wembley in 2007, is also invited, as is photographer Mario Testino, who took the couple’s the official engagement portraits of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.
“Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” director Guy Ritchie, ex-husband of the pop star Madonna, is also invited. He is said to be a mutual friend of William and Kate.
Comedian Rowan Atkinson, perhaps most famous as Mr Bean, is to attend as a close friend of the Charles, Prince of Wales.
From the world of sport, soccer star David Beckham, has got an invitation. He worked with Prince William on England’s failed bid to host the 2018 World Cup and the two were said to have become friends through it. David is likely to be accompanied by his wife, the ex-pop star turned fashion designer, Victoria Beckham.
Prince William’s deep love of sport is also shown in guests such as the Australian Olympic swimmer Ian “Thorpedo” Thorpe, Welsh rugby player Gareth Thomas, former England footballer Trevor Brooking, and another friend of the Prince, jockey Sam Waley-Cohen.
Another definite inclusion on the wedding list is England rugby star Mike Tindall who is engaged to be married to the prince’s cousin, Zara Phillips. Their wedding date is set for July.
Aristocratic socialite and reality TV star Tara Palmer-Tomkinson has been invited, as has the journalist Tom Bradby, who conducted the first interview with Prince William and Catherine Middleton as a couple, and television presenter Ben Fogle, a friend of the Prince.
The celebrities will sit side by side with veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Among the more surprising invited guests is 70 year old Canadian billionaire Galen Weston and his wife, the former lieutenant governor of Ontario, Hilary Weston. They are close friends of Prince Charles.
Attending members of foreign Royal families (many of which are related to the British Royal family) include Prince Albert of Monaco. He will soon be attending his own July 1 wedding to South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock.
Several heads of state will also attend, which has sparked controversy. Leaders of countries such as Bahrain and Swaziland with questionable human rights records will be there.
Former Conservative Prime Ministers John Major and Margaret Thatcher were invited, yet former Labour Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were not. The explanation has nothing to do with politics. It is simply that Thatcher and Major are members of the Order of the Garter, Britain’s highest honour.
So, there are a few of the guests who will be attending the Royal wedding on Friday. What do you think and should you have a got an invite?
Congratulations and best wishes. The wedding was very elegant and Kate was stunning! God Bless.