More than 1,000 members of the public have been invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding service at Windsor Castle in May.

In total 2,640 will be given access to the grounds for the celebrations and they will be able to watch the arrival and departure of the bride and groom at the chapel as well as the carriage procession through Windsor afterwards.

Charity representatives, pupils from local schools, royal household staff and Windsor residents are among the guests as well as 1,200 people from all around the UK.

'The couple has asked that the people chosen are from a broad range of backgrounds and ages, including young people who have shown strong leadership and those who have served their communities,' a statement from Kensington Palace said.

It said that Harry and Meghan wanted 'members of the public to feel part of the celebrations too'.

'This wedding, like all weddings, will be a moment of fun and joy that will reflect the characters and values of the bride and groom,' it added.

After the service at midday, the couple will tour through Windsor in a carriage, greeting well-wishers who are expected to come from all over the world to line the streets.

'They hope this short journey will provide an opportunity for more people to come together around Windsor and to enjoy the atmosphere of this special day,' a Kensington Palace spokesman previously said.

They will return for a reception with guests of the service before a second reception for friends and family later in the evening.

'Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle are hugely grateful for the many good wishes they have received since announcing their engagement,' a spokesman said.

'They are very much looking forward to the day and to being able to share their celebrations with the public.'

St George's Chapel, Windsor, is where Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall's marriage was blessed by Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury. It is a more intimate setting than alternatives such as St Paul's Cathedral or Westminster Abbey, where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge married. It holds 800 people and is the favoured location of Harry and Meghan, who are organising the day themselves.

The Archbishop of Canterbury will officiate at the wedding and David Conner, dean of Windsor, will conduct the service at St George's Chapel. It has not yet been announced who will give the address.

Justin Welby said their decision to marry 'before God' in a church was based on a 'seriousness both about faith and about their lives together'.