Britain’s Prince Harry and his fiancée Meghan Markle have asked that anyone who wants to send them a present to mark their wedding next month to make a donation to charity instead.
In a statement, Prince Harry’s office said the couple were incredibly grateful for the goodwill they had been shown and “are keen that as many people as possible benefit from this generosity of spirit.”
“The couple have therefore asked that anyone who might wish to mark the occasion considers making a donation to charity, rather than sending a wedding gift,” the statement said.
Harry and Markle have selected seven charities, none of which they have direct links to, which they want people to support. These include the Children’s HIV Association, the Myna Mahila Foundation which helps women in Mumbai’s slums.
Harry and US actress Markle, who will marry at Windsor Castle on May 19, have drawn large cheering crowds whenever they have appeared in public since their engagement was announced last November.
The couple have invited 2,640 members to the castle, including 1,200 members of the general public from every region in the kingdom, who will be selected by nine of the Queen’s personal representatives in different counties.
The Queen has 98 representatives from all counties. Their main mission is focused on decrees and the organization of royal visits.
