As neither Brown nor Blair found much favor with Buckingham Palace during their respective tenures, authorities have been forced to dismiss numerous reports that the exclusions were intended as an act of royal vengeance, although they could be a mere oversight. The official explanation, according to the New York Times, is that neither Blair nor Brown are a member of the Order of the Garter, a royal honor dating to the 14th century that is traditionally bestowed on distinguished individuals for their service to the nation or the crown. And given that the wedding is not a state occasion, "there is no protocol reason to invite former prime ministers," a spokesman for Prince William tells MSNBC.
Apparently this criteria did not apply in 1981, as two of the five prime ministers who attended Prince Charles' wedding to Princess Diana were reportedly not members of the order at the time. Nor does it explain the other noteworthy exclusions, including U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle, as well as two of Diana's close confidantes.
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/28/royal-wedding-guest-list-snubs_n_854640.html#s270285&title=Lily_Allen_British
Personally, I think both men should've been invited. They were Her Majesty's Prime Ministers.
ReplyDeleteElisabeth should've seen to it that both men attended, regardless of Garter status.
Charles & William will both in the future have to deal with the Labour Party, bad move, IMO.
Tony Blair was a great help after William's mother was killed. He, at least should have been invited.
ReplyDeletei would have like to see blair and brown there... instead we had to see the buffed up faces of cam and clegg... its a pity that people see cam and clegg as worthy guests when it was blair and brown who transformed this counrty and rejunvenated our small towns in wales. no as far as im concerned this was a typical upperclass affair
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