- Lizzy Wilson, who will marry royal insider Guy Pelly tomorrow, was decked out in ruffles and flourishes when she was named Queen of Carnival Memphis in 2003
- Princes William and Harry will be ushers at the wedding, to be held at the exclusive Memphis Hunt and Polo Club
- The 'royal proclamation' naming Lizzy Queen Elizabeth, described her as 'truly a team player, a creative thinker, and a problem solver. She is charming, poised and kind'
- Lizzy is the granddaughter of hotel magnate Kemmons Wilson Sr, who founded the Holiday Inn chain
- Both William and Harry, and their cousins Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie were on hand for the pre-wedding festivities
She comes from American royalty as her multi-millionaire grandfather Kemmons Wilson Sr. founded the Holiday Inn chain of hotels.
So
it should come as no surprise that Lizzy Wilson, who tomorrow will wed
Guy Pelly - the best friend of Princes William and Harry who are
expected to be ushers - was once bestowed with the title of Queen
Elizabeth.
While
that title did not quite endow her Buckingham Palace - Lizzy, now 31,
was in fact, the much heralded Queen of Carnival Memphis in 2003.
And
a glimpse at the young, beaming Lizzy - who last night enjoyed her
rehearsal dinner in Memphis with not just Wills and Harry but also their
cousins Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie on hand - shows her wearing a
glittering tiara and equally sparkly dress.
All hail! In 2003 Lizzy Wilson, who will marry
the best mate of princes William and Harry tomorrow, reigned as Queen
Elizabeth - Queen of Carnival in Memphis, Tennessee, that is. 'Queen
Elizabeth's family heritage is one of the greatest entrepreneurial
success stories of not only Memphis but of the world," read the royal
proclamation declaring her queen. Lizzy is the granddaughter of the
founder of the Holiday Inn hotel chain
Rowdy: Holiday Inn heiress Lizzy Wilson let her
hair down at her bachelorette party in Memphis. She wore her heart on
her, well, chest!
In the 'royal proclamation' naming her Queen, Lizzy was described as 'truly a team player, a creative thinker, and a problem solver. She is charming, poised and kind. We are happy to be her subjects'.
Carnival Memphis is an annual event and Lizzy, the daughter of Kemmons Wilson Jr, and Norma Wilson, followed in the footsteps of her father who was Kind of Carnival in 1985. Not only that, her two sisters were both queens - Carey was Queen of Carnival in 1994 and Katherine was Queen of Carnival in 1999.
And
before her reign, Lizzy was Carnival Princess in 2001, while her
brothers Kem and McLean nad participated as royal pages, escorts and
scarabs.
The family business, The Kemmons Wilson Companies, was launched by her
grandfather, Kemmons Wilson, Sr., founder of Holiday Inn. Her father,
known as Kern, continues to serve as a principal of the company.
Lizzy went to the University of Virginia where she made the Dean's List and was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority.
The
Carnival website boasts that she volunteered as a 'Big Sibling' to a
local fourth grader and studied abroad in Avignon, France, which allowed
her to explore France and Europe, calling it 'one of the most
learning, growing, amazing experiences in my life'.
While
a pupil at The Hutchison School in Memphis, Tennessee, Lizzy took part
in Odyssey of the Mind, a creative thinking competition, and was clearly
delighted by her reign over the Carnival.
She said: 'It is
truly an honor to represent Carnival this year as its Queen. My two
older sisters have been terrific role models for me. I am most excited
to be a part of the wonderful support Carnival provides to these worthy
Children's charities. I consider it a blessing to give back to give back to my community in this small way. Join us this year as we celebrate Carnival 2003.'
Wild about Harry: The handsome prince arrived at
Rendezvous restaurant for a rehearsal dinner after flying into town
from Miami, where he hung our in South Beach
Shirt sleeves: The prince dressed down for the dinner in a blue and white checkered shirt
Mad for plaid: Prince William arrived joined his
brother and thir mates to honor the bride and groom two nights before
the big event. Kate stayed at home in London with Prince George
Wearing a country-style checkered shirt, William arrives for dinner on Thursday night with his entourage
Lizzy is now living in London, however her hometown is gearing up for its own version of the Royal Wedding tomorrow.
She will marry nightclub owner Guy Pelly, 32, at an outdoor ceremony at the exclusive Memphis Hunt and Polo Club.
Following a rather rowdy-looking bachelorette party, Lizzy and Guy enjoyed a rehearsal dinner with their royal chums last night.
Indeed, Lizzy was seen looking extremely close to Princess Beatrice as they left the popular BBQ restaurant Rendezvous on Thursday evening.
Friends in high places: Holiday Inn heiress Lizzy chats with Princess Beatrice at her rehearsal dinner Thursday night
Yukking it up: Lizzy and Princess Beatrice share a laugh - and enjoy some drinks - as they leave Rendezvous restaurant
here comes the bride...And groom: Lizzy and
fiance Guy Pelly leave their rehearsal dinner ahead of their royal-style
wedding at the Memphis Hunt and Polo club on Saturday
Princes William and Harry are both expected to be ushers at the wedding. The Duchess of Cambridge has remained in the UK with baby son Prince George.
The three-day celebrations will continue tonight with a visit to the former home of Elvis Presley, Graceland.
The royals, who are expected to stay for two days, will have the chance to have a tour of Graceland, wandering the Jungle Room, with its green shaggy carpets, the Trophy Building which houses all The King’s awards, as well as the luxury living room – all decorated with furnishings from the time Elvis lived in the property.
William, Harry and the Pelly wedding party are also expected to head to Beale Street in downtown Memphis to dine and have drinks.
Long time loves: Princess Beatrice and her boyfriend Dave Clark are both in Memphis for the wedding
Royal connections: Lizzy, Princess Eugenie and Dave Clark are thick as thieves as they get ready for the main event
Guy Pelly has remained a close friend of both William and Harry despite being caught up in a drug furor surrounding Harry in January 2002.
He was forced to deny introducing the then 17-year-old Harry to cannabis, insisting he had never dealt in drugs or taken them with the prince.
According to reports, Prince Harry was introduced to the drug during a private party in Tetbury, Gloucester, by Pelly, then an agricultural student at college in Cirencester.
However, Pelly - who quit his college course as a result of the media meltdown - said: 'I have never dealt in drugs at Highgrove, at the Rattlebone Inn or anywhere else.
'I have never taken drugs with Prince Harry or supplied any drugs to him.
'I have never used drugs at Highgrove or the Rattlebone Inn. I would like this categoric statement to put an end to the matter.'
Since then, he has set up a string of fashionable nightclubs in London, including Mahiki.
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