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13 celebrities you didn't know were great friends with the Royal Family
We'd all love to have a cup of tea with the Queen, or watch a game of rugby with Prince Harry, or go shopping with Kate Middleton. And it turns out if you're a celeb, you've got a genuine chance of doing just that! Here are the perhaps surprising stars who regularly rub shoulders with the royals...
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1. Rod Stewart and Prince Charles are best buds
Rod Stewart and Prince Charles are close friends and have been for years. Rod was the ambassador for The Prince's Trust, and in 2008, he performed at Charles’s 60th birthday party.
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2. The Beckhams are close to the Royal Family
David and Victoria Beckham are known to be quite close with members of the royal family. They scored an invitation to William and Kate's wedding in 2011, and have met with the Queen at Buckingham Palace. "It's a very normal relationship," David Beckham said. "They're very easy to get along with. They love their sport."
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3. James Blunt is good friends with Prince Harry
Singer James and Prince Harry have been friends for quite a while. They served in the British Army together, and James performed at the 2016 Invictus Games after Harry invited him via text.
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4. Ellie Goulding is close to both William and Harry
Singer Ellie Goulding performed at the reception of William and Kate’s wedding, and even sang for the couple’s first dance. At one point, Ellie was also romantically linked with Harry, but this was never confirmed.
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5. Usain Bolt knows Prince Harry very well
The Olympian and Prince Harry have been good friends for years. In 2017, he joked that he planned to throw Harry three bachelor parties, ahead of his wedding to Meghan Markle. "I’m thinking about having three. My idea is to have one in Kingston, one in Vegas, and one in London," he said. "I know it’s a lot to ask but these are his last nights of freedom. I will personally call Meghan and take responsibility for getting him home safely after each."
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6. Tom Hanks and Princess Diana were good friends
Princess Diana met Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson on several occasions. They and fellow actor Tom Cruise and director Steven Spielberg attended her funeral in 1997.
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7. Prince William and Eddie Redmayne go way back
Prince William and Oscar-winning actor Eddie went to Eton College together, and even played on the same rugby team.
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8. Reese Witherspoon and Kate Middleton are friendly
Kate Middleton met Reese Witherspoon during her royal tour of Canada and North America back in 2011. The two became close and Kate is thought to have sent Reese a gift when her son, Tennessee, was born a year later.
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9. Prince Harry and Geri Horner are old friends
The Spice Girls star has known Prince Harry for over 20 years. "I met Prince Harry when he was about 10," she said in 2014. "I've seen him grow up and it's brilliant what he's done with his life—it's all for a great cause. He's shown people he cares and he's got a great heart and spirit."
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10. Rihanna is friendly with Prince Harry
Rihanna and Prince Harry met during his tour of the Caribbean in 2016. They spoke at length during their photo op, and also took HIV tests live on camera with each other, and later attended a concert together.
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11. Serena Williams and Meghan Markle are very good friends
Tennis star Serena is very close to Meghan. The pair have known each other for years and Meghan describes the tennis legend as one of her "closest friends."
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12. Roger Federer is friends with Pippa Middleton
That still counts as royal, right? Roger and his wife Mirka are so close to Kate's sister Pippa, that they were invited to her wedding!
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13. Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis are good pals with Princess Beatrice
Hollywood couple Ashton and Mila are good mates with Princess Eugenie. The royal reportedly met the pair through her ex-boyfriend Dave Clark who worked for Uber, the taxi tech company which has made Ashton millions thanks to his investments. The trio have also been photographed holidaying in St Tropez.
