Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Royal wedding invitations posted to 600 guests.
Following the service at Windsor Castle on 19 May, all 600 guests will attend a lunchtime reception at St George’s Hall, which is being given by the Queen.
The invitations, made using American ink on English card and printed by Barnard and Westwood, reveal the dress code for guests attending the ceremony is uniform, morning coat or lounge suit, or day dress with a hat.
Former soldier Prince Harry, who is now Captain General of Royal Marines, may therefore be in uniform for the ceremony.
The invitations follow many years of Royal tradition and have been made by @BarnardWestwood. They feature the Three-Feathered Badge of the Prince of Wales printed in gold ink. pic.twitter.com/cd7LBmRJxO
— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) March 22, 2018
Kensington Palace tweeted pictures and video of the printing process using a machine from the 1930s.
The invitations feature the three-feathered badge of the Harry’s father Prince Charles in gold ink, with the rest of the words printed in black.
“Invitations to the wedding of Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle have been issued in the name of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales,” the palace said.
Lottie Small, who recently completed her apprenticeship, printed all of the invitations in a process known as die stamping, on a machine from the 1930s that she affectionately nicknamed Maude. pic.twitter.com/kWs2RFx7nN
— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) March 22, 2018
The cards are “burnished to bring out the shine, and gilded around the edge”.
Barnard and Westwood’s managing director Austen Kopley said he was thrilled and honoured to be making them.
The opportunity to print the invites was given to Lottie Small, who had recently finished her apprenticeship with the printers.
She used the machine, which she nicknamed ‘Maude’, to print every invitation.
Using American ink on English card, the invitations are printed in gold and black, then burnished to bring out the shine, and gilded around the edge. pic.twitter.com/gQpC6tDot0
— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) March 22, 2018
A further 200 guests will join the Royal couple at an evening reception at Frogmore House, about half a mile south of Windsor Castle.
A royal residence since 1792, Frogmore House is where Harry and Meghan posed for their official engagement photos.
The invitations are similar to the ones sent out for the William and Kate’s wedding in 2011 – although these were in a different font and were issued with the Queen’s royal cipher.
Harry and Meghan’s invitations read: “His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales KG KT requests the pleasure of the company of ……. at the marriage of His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales with Ms Meghan Markle at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on Saturday 19th May, 2018 at 12 noon followed by a reception at Windsor Castle.”
