The wait for Prince Harry’s engagement to American actress Meghan Markle is finally over.
Now, let the guessing game begin on which Aussies will receive an invitation.
In keeping with royal protocol, Harry is likely to invite Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and wife Lucy as well as Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and his wife Lady Cosgrove to the wedding that’s being planned for early 2018.
But the 33-year-old prince also has plenty of Aussie mates to consider sending an invitation.
Harry has links with Australians from all walks of life, from celebrities to soldiers he trained alongside in Perth and Darwin during the final weeks of his 10-year stint as an officer in the British Army in 2015.
Juliet Rieden, The Australian Women’s Weekly editor and author of The Royals in Australia, says if Harry and Ms Markle choose a public wedding, Aussies likely to make the guest list include the governor-general, state governors and a mix of celebrities and friends the prince has made during his visits here.
“I imagine there will be a little bit of a contingent from the defence force because he was embedded with them for a month and I’m sure there were people he made friends with that he would like to invite to his wedding,” Ms Rieden told AAP on Tuesday.
The long-time royal watcher is also tipping pop princess Kylie, who has known Harry and his family for several years, as someone who might score an invitation along with Aussie author Kathy Lette and Kiwi comedian-turned-psychologist Lady Pamela Stevenson, both of whom are friends of Harry’s father Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwell.