THE WEDDING OF HRH PRINCE HENRY OF WALES AND MS. MEGHAN MARKLE
AN UPDATE
Members of the Public Invited to Windsor Castle
Members of the public from around the United Kingdom have this week learned that they will be amongst the 2,640 people in the grounds of Windsor Castle on May 19th.
Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle have said they wanted their wedding day to be shaped to allow members of the public to feel part of the celebrations. As previously announced, the couple asked Lord Lieutenants to invite 1,200 people to join the celebrations, including young people who have shown strong leadership, and those who have served their communities.
This group includes:
Northern Ireland
Philip Gillespie, 30, from Ballymena. Philip, who lost his right leg in an IED incident in Afghanistan, raises funds and awareness for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and has just taken part in Invictus Games UK Team Trials for rowing, swimming and archery.
Catherine Cooke, 53, and Julie-Ann Coll, 35, from Londonderry. Catherine and Julie-Ann are a mother and daughter who have been nominated for their charity work. Catherine is a co-ordinator at the Foyle’s Women’s Information Network and Julie-Ann runs a support group that helps parents cope with child bereavement.
West Midlands
Rashid Bhayat, 38, from Coventry. Rashid is CEO of Positive Youth Foundation, a charity set up in 2011 to support young people in challenging circumstances.
Rosie Ginday, 34, from Birmingham. Rosie is the founder of Miss Macaroon, a social enterprise that provides culinary training and employment opportunities for disadvantaged young people.
Tessa Hince, 32, and Hayley Ash, 32, from Banbury and Shipston-on-Stour. Tessa and Hayley founded the Shipston Christmas Community Lunch, which caters for people who are lonely or on their own over Christmas.
East Midlands and East England
Jorja Furze, 12, from Ely. Jorja is an amputee from birth and ambassador for the Steel Bones charity. She has also set up an Anxiety Group for Year Sevens to help new students adjust to life at high school.
Reuben Litherland, 14, from Derby. Reuben was born deaf and has started lunchtime lessons to teach sign language at school. He also works to raise the awareness of the Deaf community’s needs to access to public services.
South West
Kai Fletcher, 18, from Bath. Kai received support from the Southside Family Project and now works with the charity to help other children and young people through similar challenges.
Grant White, 52, from Dorset. Grant was a Royal Marine for 22 years and continued to serve after losing his leg. He now volunteers to help other wounded or sick military men and women by running the off-road rally, adventure and training team Race2Recovery.
South East
Laurelle Henry, 14, from Lewisham. Laurelle was the Young Mayor of Lewisham 2017. She aims to develop more activities and safe social spaces for young people.
Pamela Anomneze, 52, from Haringey. Pamela is the Manager of Studio 306 Collective CIC, a social enterprise that helps those recovering from mental health issues through the creative arts.
North East and Yorkshire
David Gregory, 28, from Blyth. David is a primary school teacher who aims to strengthen and celebrate his local community in Blyth through practical projects with his pupils.
Amelia Thompson, 12, from Dronfield Woodhouse. Amelia was caught up in the Manchester Arena attack in May 2017.
North West
Saeed Atcha, 21, from Bolton. Saeed founded a youth-led charity called Xplode that teaches young people employable skills and gives them experience in the field of journalism.
Shaneil Hodges, 15, from Manchester. Shaneil was the 2017 winner of Manchester’s ‘Be Proud’ award for bringing communities together. A member of the organisation ‘Reclaim’, Shaneil works to break down barriers and give young working class people a voice.
Scotland
Amy Wright, 26, from Annan. Amy is Chair of Board of Directors for the Usual Place café in Dumfries, which provides employment training and support for young people aged 16-25 with special needs.
Wales
Zoe Arundell, 20, from Penycraig. Zoe has been volunteering with Valley Kids since the age of 13, and attended as a young person herself from age six. She met Prince Harry and Ms. Markle on their recent visit to Cardiff.
They will join 200 guests from organisations which Prince Harry and Ms. Markle have a close association with, 100 pupils from two local schools and 500 members of The Royal Household. They will watch the arrivals of the Bride and Groom and their wedding guests at the Chapel and will see the Carriage Procession as it departs from the Castle.
For everything you need to know about the Royal Event of the year, our Royal Wedding Exclusive Collectors’ Edition Part 1 is now available!