Prince Harry to be best man at UK royal wedding

[February 14, 2011]  LONDON (AP) -- Red-haired Prince Harry will be his brother's best man and Kate Middleton's stylish younger sister Pippa will be her maid of honor at Britain's April 29 royal wedding.

The announcement was made Monday by St. James' Palace, the office for Princes William and Harry, confirming expectations for the highly anticipated nuptials at London's Westminster Abbey.

The 26-year-old Harry has shed his partygoing image for that of a military man in recent years, and Philippa Middleton, 27, had long been the favorite for that position because of her extremely close relationship with her 29-year-old sister.

"It's completely natural," said royal historian Hugo Vickers. "Normally, a member of the royal family has his brothers as his supporters, or joint best men. As Prince William has only one brother, and he is very close to Harry, it's an obvious choice."

It is not known if Prince Harry, who loves to tease his older brother, will poke fun at William's receding hairline when he makes a toast to the newlyweds.

Vickers was, however, slightly surprised by the choice of Pippa Middleton, since it is not always customary in England for chief bridesmaids be in their 20s.

St. James' Palace also announced bridesmaids and page boys for the gala festivities.

The bridesmaids are Lady Louise Windsor, 7, the daughter of the Earl and Countess of Wessex; Margarita Armstrong-Jones, 8, the daughter of Viscount and Viscountess Linley; Eliza Lopes, the 3-year-old granddaughter of Prince Charles' wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall; and Grace van Cutsem, 3, a godchild of William's.

Page boys for the wedding will be William Lowther-Pinkerton, 10, the son of William's private secretary, and Tom Pettifer, 8, another one of William's godchildren.

"Most of the bridesmaids and pages are very much from William's side, although that's not surprising," said Vickers. "It was very much the same at Charles and Diana's wedding. It's just adorable having 3-year-olds involved. They'll look quite cute scampering around."

Officials said details about the bridesmaids' dresses and the page boys' uniforms will be made available on the wedding day.

[Associated Press; By GREGORY KATZ and TAMARA BALUJA]

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