The Queen Secretly Encouraged Will and Kate to Break This Royal Protocol for Their Wedding
When Prince William and Kate Middleton were planning their wedding, there wasn't going to be room for their friends on the gust list. Queen Elizabeth told them to tear up the formal list and start with their own friends.


Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to Marie Claire. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Queen Elizabeth is usually known for being the stickler for royal protocol and etiquette, but she actually encouraged Prince William and Kate Middleton to ignore that protocol when it came to planning their wedding in 2011.
In her 2013 book Kate: A Biography, royal author Marcia Moody, explains how the Queen gave Will and Kate permission to be loose with the rules on their special day. According to Express, Moody wrote:
That might not have been the best public figurehead move, but it was definitely the best loving grandma move.
For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for theMarie Claire newsletter.
RELATED STORY
What Will Happen When Queen Elizabeth II Dies?
RELATED STORY
Prince William and Kate Middleton's Royal Wedding
Marie Claire Newsletter
Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

Kayleigh Roberts is a freelance writer and editor with more than 10 years of professional experience. Her byline has appeared in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, The Atlantic, Allure, Entertainment Weekly, MTV, Bustle, Refinery29, Girls’ Life Magazine, Just Jared, and Tiger Beat, among other publications. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
-
Jennifer Hudson Crashing a Couple’s Wedding and Performing for Them is the Moment of Joy You Need Today
“The moment left them speechless.”
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Even Jennifer Lopez Has Felt “Insecure and Uncertain” About Her Body—and She Shares How She Got Past It
A pivotal connection helped Lopez “realize that I could be stronger than I ever had before.”
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Prince William and Princess Kate Are in Wales Celebrating Black History Month in the U.K.
They're meeting with several groups.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
George, Charlotte and Louis Will Be Laden With Gifts as Prince William Returns From New York
He was handed so many souvenirs for the little ones.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Prince William Makes Sure to "Treat George and Charlotte as Equals," Body Language Expert Says
I should hope so!
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Prince William Isn't "A Workaholic Like His Father," Royal Expert Claims
He's got more of a work-life balance.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Princess Kate's New "Signature" Gesture? The Stealthy "Bum Pat" to Prince William
Love this for her.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Prince Harry Says His "Spirit Is Renewed" as He Attends the Warrior Games for Wounded Service Members in San Diego
The Games inspired his Invictus concept.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Prince William Not Expected to Invite Prince Harry to His Coronation, Friend Claims
That doesn't sound good.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
We Finally Know Where the Earthshot Prize 2023 Will Take Place
Let's go!
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Princess Kate Is Seen Skipping Happily With Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte in Behind-the-Scenes Footage
This is too cute.
By Iris Goldsztajn