At the end of last year, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their wedding date and venue – 19 May, at Windsor Castle – so they are probably having a right panic about who to book to play the reception at such short notice. Prince William and Kate Middleton had Ellie Goulding perform at theirs (giving her first album a huge boost, and Ellie something to talk about in interviews other than jogging), so there’s a lot to live up to. Inevitably, Ed Sheeran has already volunteered, but surely that would be too obvious?
Meghan Markle might look like your cousin’s nice girlfriend who says she’s into “alternative stuff you probably don’t know” then names Maroon 5’s Songs About Jane album as an example, but she actually has good taste. A playlist on her now-defunct lifestyle blog The Tig last year featured Janelle Monáe, Dragonette and Crystal Fighters and she introduced it by writing: “When the air is filled with positive vibes, there’s no winter cold that can block out the warmth of happy hearts.” Something she might want to remember for the future. Of course, it’s not all blog-friendly pop: last month, Sophie Ellis-Bextor claimed she’d met Markle several times and she “loved” her 2001 ode to club-based crime, Murder on the Dancefloor.
Harry’s musical proclivities are slightly more eclectic. In 2010, producer Artwork claimed that Hazza was a huge dubstep fan. “He was well excited when he was introduced to Skream; he put his hand out and said: ‘Hello Skream, nice one!’,” said Artwork. Which is unexpected. But when actor Dominic West joined Harry on a charity walk, he reckoned he was more into Power Trip: “Harry has a terrible selection on his iPod: hardcore thrash metal.” Could Municipal Waste finally get that royal wedding invite they’ve so clearly been angling for all this time? To be fair, Harry is posh, white and in his early 30s, so is genetically predisposed to being the type to put his tie round his head and fist pump to the Killers’ Mr Brightside; plus he went on that very well-publicised trip to Vegas, so definitely has Pitbull on his “big tunes 4 the lads” Spotify playlist.
But let’s get real: it’s going to be Adele, isn’t it? She mirrors that perfect mix of internationally famous and down-to-earth the royals are getting with Meghan. Plus, her back catalogue won’t scare the Queen and, because she’s mates with Beyoncé, she’s used to mixing with royalty. Adele: if you thought the Glasto crowd made you nervous, wait until you have to get Prince Philip on the dancefloor.
The royal wedding is on 19 May. None of you are invited
