Why these random celebrities scored invites to royal wedding

MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry’s wedding was the event of the year, attended by some of the world’s most famous faces.

But while it was expected that Meghan’s Suits co-stars would be invited, the arrival of some celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey left royal watchers scratching their heads.

Drawing even more interest was the inclusion of some of the big names who scored VIP seating in the Quire — the section of the church closest to the royal couple — while others were relegated to the main seating area during the nuptials.

A close look at the chapel’s seating chart shows how guests were divided between the bride and groom’s side, and which celebs got a look-in.

MEGHAN’S FRIENDS

Genevieve Hillis (1), Brian Kocinski (2), Abigail Leigh Spencer (3), Serena Williams (4), Alexis Ohanian (5), Jill Smoller (6), Janina Gavankar (7), Markus Anderson (8), Celine Khavarani (9), Oprah Winfrey (10), Abraham Levy (11), Silver Tree (12), Amal Clooney (13), George Clooney (14), Benita Litt (20), Lindsay Jordan (21), Nicholas Walton Collins (22), Isabel May (23), Lucy Meadmore (24), Misha Nonoo (25), Michael Hess (26), Jessica Mulroney (27), Heather Dorak (31) and Matt Cohen (32).

MEGHAN’S FAMILY

Doria Ragland (19).

HARRY’S FAMILY

Prince William (1), Prince Charles (2), Duchess of Cornwall (3), Kate Middleton (4), Prince Andrew (5), Princess Beatrice (6), Princess Eugenie (7), Jack Brooksbank (8), Queen Elizabeth (11), Prince Phillip (12), Prince Edward (13), Countess of Wessex (14), Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor (15), Viscount Severn (16), Princess Anne (17), Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence (18), Peter Phillips (19), Autumn Phillips (20), Zara Tindall (22), Mike Tindall (23), Duke of Gloucester (24), Duchess of Gloucester (25), Lady Sarah Chatto (26), Daniel Chatto (27), Samuel Chatto (28), Princess Alexandra (29), Earl of Snowden (30) and the Countess of Snowdon (31).

HARRY’S FRIENDS

Emile van Cutsem (9), Amanda Ward (10), Jessie Webb (21), Lady Carolyn Warren (15), John Warren (16), Arthur Landon (17), Alessandra Balazs (18), Charlie Van Straubenzee (28), Thomas Van Straubenzee (29), Carolyn Bartholomew (30), and Ed Lane Fox (33).

The royal family clearly dominated the prime seating, but there were some notable public figures from the new Duchess of Sussex’s Hollywood circles as well.

Here’s how some of the VIPs, both at the pointy end of the church and in the back, scored an invite.

AMAL AND GEORGE CLOONEY

George Clooney scored his invite to the royal wedding and exclusive evening reception party as the plus one of his wife Amal, who is friends with Meghan.

The couple were given prime seating in the Quire of St George’s Chapel alongside the royal family, unlike other celebrities such as Elton John.

A source told People that Meghan and Amal were introduced by a mutual pal and have formed a friendship since the Suits actor moved to the United Kingdom last year.

The two stylish women also reportedly share the same hairstylist, Miguel Perez.

JAMES CORDEN

James Corden and Prince Harry have been friends for years, with the Daily Mail reporting the pair have spent many “boozy” nights out together in London.

Corden is also widely rumoured to have acted as MC at Harry and Meghan’s evening reception at Frogmore House.

DAVID AND VICTORIA BECKHAM

David and Victoria Beckham’s invite to the royal wedding was less of a surprise, with the power couple attending the nuptials of Kate Middleton and Prince William in 2011.

While there isn’t much of a personal connection, Harry has worked with David on several charity campaigns over the years.

The Daily Mail also reports that Meghan has frequently visited exclusive private club the Soho Farmhouse in the past, which is near where Victoria is setting up a country home.

OPRAH WINFREY

Talk show queen Oprah Winfrey scored a coveted seat in the Quire, although it’s unclear what her relationship with Harry and Meghan is.

Instead it’s likely Oprah was invited because of her philanthropy work and relationship with Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland.

According to The Sun, Oprah was at the wedding as part of her plan to do a sit-down interview with Doria about the racial abuse she has experienced.

“Both Doria and Meghan felt it was critical for Oprah to be at the wedding to really understand,” a source told the publication.

In March Doria spent six hours at Oprah’s mansion discussing the interview.

SERENA WILLIAMS

Serena Williams and Meghan have been friends since they met at a charity football game in 2014.

The tennis star and her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, also scored a coveted spot in the Quire behind Meghan.

Meghan previously wrote on her blog The Tig that Williams was a close confidante and they “hit it off immediately”.

TOM HARDY

Actor Tom Hardy attended the royal wedding with his wife Charlotte Riley, sporting a shaved head for his role playing Al Capone in forthcoming film Fonzo.

According to Town and Country, Hardy has been friends with Harry for years and is an ambassador for Prince Charles’ main charity, The Prince’s Trust.

IDRIS ELBA

While actor Idris Elba and his fiancee Sabrina Dhowre are not personal friends with Harry and Meghan, Elba does have a strong connection to the royal family’s charities.

Like Hardy, Elba is an ambassador for The Prince’s Trust and was in fact a one-time recipient of the organisation.

“I left school at 16 with dreams of attending the National Youth Music Theatre but was disheartened when I realised how much it would cost,” he wrote for The Mirror in 2013.

“It was The Prince’s Trust who made it possible. They gave me a £1500 grant and set me on the path that would eventually change my life.”

JOSS STONE

According to The Mirror, singer Joss Stone and Harry have been friends since meeting at an event for The Prince’s Trust in 2005.

She is also an ambassador for Harry’s Sentebale charity, created to help AIDS affected orphans in Lesotho.

CAREY MULLIGAN AND MARCUS MUMFORD

Carey Mulligan and husband Marcus Mumford were two other surprise additions to the royal wedding guest list.

Harry hit it off with Mumford backstage following a Mumford and Sons concert in 2013, Elle reported.

Mulligan and Mumford are also big charity supporters, working with War Child charity and the One Campaign.

JAMES BLUNT

Singer James Blunt attended the wedding alongside his wife Sofia Wellesley.

According to The Sun, Blunt has been longtime friends with Harry thanks to their shared interests.

Both served in the army and are interested in veteran’s affairs, with Harry personally inviting Blunt to the Invictus Games last year.

The You’re Beautiful singer hit back on Twitter after one fan questioned how he had scored an invite.

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