For members of the royal family, their presence at weddings can be both a blessing and a curse. Their attendance inevitably brings a level of media and photographer interest that can prove intrusive and their high profiles can mean all eyes are drawn to them and not the bride and groom, leaving friends and relations in two minds as to invite them at all. For those that do send out invitations by way of Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace or Clarence House, few have included the extra request that the youngest members of the royal family take part in the bridal party as bridesmaids or page boys.
Over the past four decades, some of the royal family's most popular members have taken part in the marriage processions of relations or close family members. As wedding season begins, looks at five times the royals have served as page boys and bridesmaids at society and royal weddings. In 1988, and 's eldest son, , was asked to be a senior page boy at the wedding of his father's friend, Sir Rupert Soames (a grandson of Winston Churchill).
For the society event held at Hereford Cathedral in the county of Herefordshire, western England, 6-year-old William was photographed wearing a pair of white silk trousers and white shirt, fastened with a pair of pale pink suspenders to match the bridesmaids' dresses. In 1989, 5-year-old served as a page boy at the wedding of , who married his first wife Victoria Lockwood at the Spencer family seat in Althorp, Northamptonshire. Harry was dressed for .
