Hasmukh Bhai and Chandrika attend Royal Wedding on 29th April

When Prince William and Kate Middleton walk down the aisle at Westminster Abbey, they will be in the company of the world's great and good.

But also sitting in the pews, in keeping with the couple's desire for a 'People's Wedding', will be a selection of characters from Miss Middleton's home village in Berkshire.Kate and William have invited a friendly postman, a trusted shopkeeper and his wife, the landlord of the Bucklebury village pub and their butcher to share their special day.

Mr Shingadia, who lives above their Peaches Stores shop, said: 'We're over the moon, absolutely thrilled. I have known Kate six years. 

'She comes in regularly. She has brought William in on about three or four occasions. The very first time it was mind-blowing to have a 

Prince in my store. He likes Viennetta ice cream – he buys that a lot.

'I've got to know him better each time. What's lovely about him is despite the fact that he meets a lot of people, he still remembers my daughter's name. 

Meera is only 11 but he also asks how she is getting on at school. It is incredible of him to do that and it shows he really cares and thinks about the people he meets.

'William came in a short while back when they were going to a friend's wedding in Gloucester. He asked how I was getting on and about my family, and I asked how his grandma was doing.'

There is some apprehension over the big day. Mrs Shingadia is agonising over what to wear. Her husband said: 'My wife checked with Mr Middleton whether it would be all right for her to wear her sari. She wanted to wear national dress and he said that's fine.

'We're going up to Wembley next weekend so she can choose a sari from the shops there. If there are none she likes, she is travelling to India next month and will buy one there.'

Another guest is postman Ryan Naylor, whose bag has been getting heavier by the day because of Kate's burgeoning fan mail.

Mr Shingadia said: 'Ryan came in at the beginning of the week, even though he is not our postman. He was so excited he wanted to tell us he had also been invited.'

The Shingadias are from the village of Bucklebury in Berkshire and would be seen at the Royal wedding among guests like Kings, Queens, Presidents, Prime ministers and other dignitaries. Hashmukh was born in Kenya but his parents are from India and he has known Kate, the Royal bride for the last six years. He and his wife Chandrika run the grocery shop and have been in the business for 12 years.