An Indian-origin chef and social entrepreneur in the United Kingdom will be one of the guests at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding. Rosie Ginday will be among the 1,200 members of the public who have been selected for their leadership and community service to watch the royal wedding, which will be held on May 19 at St George’s chapel.
Ginday, the 34 -year-old founder of Miss Macaroon, was born in the United Kingdom to Punjabi parents. She said that she met the couple at an event in Birmingham in March this year. “It’s really exciting news. I just got a letter out of the blue. It was a complete surprise,” said Ginday, adding that she was “over the moon,” Reuters reported.
Miss Macaroon, Ginday’s enterprise, provides training and job opportunities to disadvantaged young people. It announced on the social media about Ginday being invited for the much-awaited royal event.
We're really excited that our founder @RosieGinday has been invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Royal Wedding in May! We're looking forward to be part of this joyous occasion. https://t.co/hUTzI9nnB7#HarryAndMeghan #RoyalWedding
— Miss Macaroon (@iammissmacaroon) April 10, 2018
“It’s fantastic that they are using the occasion to shine a light on organizations working to improve their communities,” Ginday was quoted as saying by the news agency.
Among the other members of the public who have been invited to watch the wedding from outside the chapel are 12-year-old Amelia Thompson who was caught in Manchester terror attack in 2017, and Zoe Ardunell, a volunteer at Valley Kids charity, which helps disadvantaged families.
“Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle have said they want their wedding day to be shaped so as to allow members of the public to feel part of the celebrations too,” Kensington Palace said in a statement last month, according to the Independent.
The wedding will, however, not include any political leaders from United Kingdom and abroad. So UK Prime Minister Theresa May will not be one of the guests, according to Dailymail.com. Since Prince Harry is not a direct heir to the throne, a formal guest list is not required, reports said. “Only 600 guests are going to be invited and if the couple had to invite a long list of VIPs and dignitaries, it would take up a huge chunk of the available seats,” said a source quoted in the report.
The Kensington Palace announced on April 9 that the couple has chosen a Mumbai-based organization among the charities that would receive donations on the occasion of the royal wedding. Myna Mahila Foundation, which works to support women in India, is among the charities that well-wishers of the couple can make donations to, instead of sending wedding gifts, the statement said.