In the Mail: Prince William and Kate Middleton's Royal Wedding Invitation

By Christine Fenno Posted Feb 20th 2011 08:20AM

They're signed, sealed and delivered! The gilt-edged invitations to Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton's April 29 wedding ceremony went out to 1,900 guests on Wednesday and Thursday.

The palace revealed Will and Kate's 8-inch by 6-inch invitation to the press, says the U.K.'s Daily Mail, which reports that "more than half" the recipients will be friends of the couple. The conservatively designed white card is stamped with (grandmother-of-the-groom) Queen Elizabeth's golden insignia, and requests a dress code of military uniform, morning coat or lounge (business) suit.

But alert your social secretary: This invite to Westminster Abbey applies to the 11:00 a.m. marriage ceremony only. The full celebration is a three-part affair, with increasingly exclusive guest lists. And when it comes to who's making the cut, some surprising snubs and desperate wannabes are already making news.

The luckiest of royal insiders will receive an invitation to the Queen's reception for 600, to be held at the church immediatly after the ceremony (hey, 1,300 of you: don't let the Abbey door hit you on the way out!), and another invitation from Prince Charles, who's hosting a dinner for 300 that night at Buckingham Palace. Prince William's office has no plans to offer glimpses of these two coveted invitations.

The black sheep of the royal family, Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson, has already confirmed via her rep that she won't be a part of the wedding festivities (and "never expected to be invited").

And although French president Nicolas Sarkozy and wife Carla Bruni made the guest list -- as did the Kings of Bahrain, Jordan, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia -- the palace has reportedly decided not to invite President and Michelle Obama.

U.S. presidents were invited to the weddings of both Prince Charles (to Diana) and Prince Andrew (to Sarah) in the '80s, so this 21st-century snub of a Nobel-prize-winning president is conspicuous. The palace's explanation, according to the Daily Mail: Since William is not the sovereign, nor immediate heir, his marriage isn't "a formal state occasion." Tell that to the Emperor of Japan and Sultan of Brunei (also allegedly invited)!

At least one royal-watcher has taken drastic measures to secure an invitation. Rueters reports that Estibalis Chavez, a 19-year-old Mexican student in pigtails and glasses, is staging a hunger strike and sleeping in a tent outside the British Embassy in Mexico City, claiming she hasn't eaten since Feb. 10, and won't stop until she's invited to the nuptials. A flyer featuring a photo of William and Kate is plastered near the embassy gate and reads, "This is my only dream." If Chavez's stunt fails, perhaps the Queen could at least send her a slice of wedding cake?

Tags: Kate Middleton, Prince William, prince william engagement, royal wedding

Comments

(20)

Sunday 20 February

By christi

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hey, where is my invite?

By MissClarity

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Snubbing our President? Hmmmmmmmmm. And when the "royal couple" visit the USA, will they then, also, snub our President? Hmmmmmmmmmm. Whatsup wid dat?

It isn't like President Obama orchastrated 9/11 with Bush and Blair and Cheney. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Tuesday 22 March

By carolyn

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First When The President Obama and the First Lady came to visit the Queen. The First Lady BROKE all the rule's of meeting the Queen instead of shaking her hand the First Lady gave the Queen a hug that is a NO NO and the First Lady was told what to do when she meet the Queen. she did not wear a Elegant Outfit to meet the Queen. The First Lady need to learn how to Dress like a First Lady maybe First Lady Laura Bush can help her.

Sunday 01 May

By Betty

They weren't snubbing America's President, they were snubbing the Obamas.

By KR

If you and your sugar daddy play your cards right, maybe you'll get an invite from the 'B' list.

By Binky

Hurrah for leaving the Obama's off the list!

By Norma

They are not just snubbing the Obamas they are snubbing the United States. This is an insult to us.

By BS Mercenary

I returned my rsvp on Tuesday last. Next week I will jet to LA to see my stylist, Miss Joan Rivers, and peruse her selections of attire. Lately I have begun to suspect that she is actually attempting to trick me into buying her old clothes. So I'll probably just wind up picking something up at Big Lots. I haven't met Prince Wm nor his intended as of yet, but me and the Queen go way back.

By Mark

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Leaving the President and First Lady Michelle Obama off the list does not seem kind or at all globally politically correct. I wonder if it might have something to do with some bitterness over the BP Oil Spill fines.

By TERE

WELL I WONT VISIT ENGLAND THEN AND GIVE IT ANY OF MY MONEY EVER AGAIN. I AM CANCELLING MY SUBSCRIPTIONS TO BRIT MAGAZINES AND ANY OTHER POTENTIAL BUYS I MAKE IN THE USA.

By Mrs Hudson

Wills is not the sovereign...not a state occasion...no breach in protocol not issuing invitation to former colony prez.

By Ellen

No break in protacol here. Why are they oblicgated to invite the Obamas? This wedding is not about him! Besides, I heard a lot was due to secuity reasons. That they would not be able to protect him properly. Big deal, they will get over it.

Monday 21 February

By jennie

problem is that they're inviting a whole slew of heads of state from other countries, and not their biggest ally. that's a bit fishy even though william isn't the immediate heir. thing is when he is king, he will have to do business with the u.s. through the prime minister.

By HANDCOCK

LETS NOT SEND A GIFT PAID BY U. S. TAXPAYERS - AND THINK OF THE SAVINGS KEEPING AIR FORCE ONE AT HOME. OTHERWISE, MANY HAPPY RETURNS TO THE ROYAL SECONDS.

By Zee

Do you ever stop? We don't care about your stupid post showing up day after day.

He won't be king for another 40 years, & Obama will be long gone from the White House. If security is a problem, why take the risk?
There is no probelm with other heads of state invited, they may have a personal relationship as well. I'm sure all considerations were made before the invites went out. Obama said he did not expect to be invited. Get OVER IT.

By Chritina

It would be an honor for me to attend the royal wedding! I think that Prince William should invite a single mother as a special remembrance of his late mother Diana. I remember watching Diana's wedding on television as if it was only yesterday. I would be honored if I received a golden opportunity. I also have 2 children who are very special in my life. I would definitely invite someone less fortunate as a guest, just to remember her.

Thursday 24 February

By Princess Plutogirl

It's not a snub to not invite Obama. It's an honor. The US got rid of the UK and its medieval royalty in 1776 for a reason. All people are created equal. I would rather go to "Survivor's" Exile Island than go to this ostentatious waste, even though I have no clue on how to build a shelter. Abolish royalty, monarchy, and aristocracy from the face of this planet.

Thursday 10 March

By chuck

Maybe, they just didn't want him either...

Thursday 17 March

By Gary

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Obama would have to decline the invitation anyway. There's no teleprompters allowed at the reception.

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