The invite list for the royal wedding is out.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be inviting more than 2,500 members of the public (“commoners” to the British) to the grounds of Windsor Castle to witness their nuptials on May 19.
The invitees — who will be chosen “from every corner of the United Kingdom” and receive a ticket — will get to watch the arrival of Markle and Harry, along with their other guests, and then the carriage procession as it leaves post-ceremony. They won’t be allowed to attend the ceremony and reception inside St. George’s Chapel or the castle.
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A statement from Kensington Palace read: “The couple has asked that the people chosen are from a broad range of backgrounds and ages, including young people who have shown strong leadership, and those who have served their communities.”
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Markle and Harry said they want members of the public to “feel part of the celebrations too.”
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Of the “commoners,” 1,200 will be nominated by nine regional lord lieutenant offices. (Lord lieutenants are the Queen’s personal representatives in each U.K. county.)
The other guests will include:
- 610 Windsor Castle community members, including members of the St. George’s Chapel community.
- 530 members of the royal households and Crown estate.
- 200 people from Harry and Markle’s charities and organizations (i.e. — the Invictus Games, WellChild).
- 100 students from schools close to the castle: St George’s and the Royal School (The former is an independent prep school, while the latter is a religious school for four-to-nine-year-olds).
Each ticket will have named invitees on them, so it’s not possible to sell them for side profit.
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After the ceremony, there will be a carriage procession through Windsor, and the couple will then join their guests at the reception at St. George’s Hall.
Prince Charles, Harry’s father, will be hosting the private reception. This will be for close friends and family only. There’s no confirmation yet about the couple’s private guests, though Mel B. of the Spice Girls revealed to the media that each member of the girl group has been invited.
Queen Elizabeth’s grandson — fifth in line to the throne — and Markle announced their engagement in November. Markle attended a Catholic school as a child but identifies as Protestant, will be baptized and confirmed into the Church of England before the wedding.
She intends to become a British citizen, though she will retain her U.S. citizenship while she goes through the process.
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The Gothic St George’s Chapel is located on the grounds of Windsor Castle, which has been the family home of British kings and queens for almost 1,000 years.
Within the chapel are the tombs of 10 sovereigns, including Henry VIII and his third wife, Jane Seymour, and Charles I.
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