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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that Thatcher and Major should not have been invited to the royal wedding....

100 replies

magicmummy1 · 24/04/2011 11:54

...if they weren't also going to invite Blair and Brown? Surely it should be all former PMs or none?

Yes, it's their wedding, and of course, there's an argument that they should be able to invite whoever they like. But in my view, if they choose to accept the trappings of royalty, along with the wealth and status that royalty confers, then they need to accept that this is not "just" their wedding, it is a state occasion.

Personally, I don't think they should be allowed to make such blatant political statements, and I'm amazed that this has been allowed to happen! AIBU?

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 24/04/2011 20:24

Cherie refused to bow down to the queen (well within her rights) and I don't think it went down well or the press tryed to make a fuss about it at the time - but the press never liked Cherie either and always published unkind photo rather than picking the better photos, form what I remember

clam · 24/04/2011 20:38

It's got nothing to do with political bias.
As has been said here already, it's because they (Thatcher and Major) are Knights of the Garter, whereas Blair and Brown are not. And Margaret Thatcher is not attending due to ill-health (Alzheimers???)

HalfPastWine · 24/04/2011 20:41

It's not a state occasion that's why they haven't been invited. Hence Obama not being invited either. I've heard it described as semi-state.
Something to do with William not being next in line to the throne. Don't quote me on that!

nottysnose · 24/04/2011 20:46

Why was John Major made guardian to William? Does anyone know what he did in that role?

werdator · 25/04/2011 00:00

John Major and Margaret Thatcher have positions related to the royal family but Brown and Blair don't so they don't get invited. Milibands going isn't he so its not an anti-Labour bias.

FreudianSlipper · 25/04/2011 00:13

not sure why anyone is shocked by this the royals are always better looked after under a tory party

she may have no personally liked thatcher and loved wilson, but they royals will always be better looked after under a tory government (yes i know we are meant to have a coalition but i personally can not see much evidence of the lib dems input)

paddypoopants · 27/04/2011 10:24

I was a bit shocked at this- all their excuses about knights of the this that and the other isn't going to wash really. The establishment are Tory - that's not a shock but they would be wise to attempt to feign some sort of apolitical stance. I am no fan of Tony Blair but didn't he do some sort of turn at Diana's funeral.
As for the private wedding thing - it's not going to be an abbey full of their chums - unless their chums with all those foreign diplomats and ambassadors.
I think they may have turned me totally Republican if they can cock a snook at those of us who don't vote Tory.

paddypoopants · 27/04/2011 10:25

they're not their obviously.

GloriaSmut · 27/04/2011 10:26

Up against the wall. All of them!

expatinscotland · 27/04/2011 10:36

I can't understand why anyone's surprised. I mean, they are 'royals' or whatever the hell so of course they are Tories.

They invited a Mugabe representative, though. Angry

That speaks volumes about the type of people they are, which is unsurprising to me at all.

TaudrieTattoo · 27/04/2011 10:47

Teehee, you lot sound like a set of mothers in law grumping about the seating plan/invite list!

"Ooh, we have to invite Auntie Beryl, our Norman went to their wedding in 1976 and bought them a lovely teaset. Don't sit Madge next to Christine, they had words over Christine's leylandii. Fancy them inviting Julie, she's only ever been round to deliver the Betterware."

Do you think William and Kate will have had any say in who comes? If they're anything like me, they'll have only wanted about 5% of their guests there and will spend most of the day avoiding boring old farts.

TaudrieTattoo · 27/04/2011 10:48

God, who'd want Cherie Blair at their wedding?

I bet Tony wasn't best pleased that she turned up at his.

grovel · 27/04/2011 10:51

They followed protocol (members of the Garter, not ex-PMs). It's why they have written protocol. To spare them having to make tricky decisions. Blair and Brown will doubtless become members of the Garter when someone pops their clogs.

expatinscotland · 27/04/2011 10:52

Isn't Thatcher totally doolally now?

BrandyAlexander · 27/04/2011 10:52

Nothing better than an ill informed rant! As has already been said, William isn't next in line to the throne so it is not actually a state occasion. Thatcher and Major have not been invited in a political capacity.

While we, the public, are footing the security bill, the royals are footing the bill themselves for the day. In that sense its a private occasion and therefore quite frankly they could invite all the corgis to sit in the front pew and its none of our business.

OP, you have no more right to complain about who they have invited to their wedding than they would have a right to complain about who you would invite to your wedding. It amazes me that people can't see this.

Before anyone bleasts on about the £20m security cost of the wedding I should point out that a report issued today calcuated the net economic benefit of the wedding to the UK as £107m.

expatinscotland · 27/04/2011 10:54

'OP, you have no more right to complain about who they have invited to their wedding than they would have a right to complain about who you would invite to your wedding. It amazes me that people can't see this.'

People have every right to say whatever the hell they want about this stupid shindig as long as it doesn't breech the law.

I think they're a bunch of pompous twats. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

GloriaSmut · 27/04/2011 10:55

I expect Kate has been given the classic advice: "It's UR day, hun! You invite as many Running Dogs of the Imperialist Lackey and Representatives of Unacceptable Totalitarian Regimes as you want. Huggzzz!!".

expatinscotland · 27/04/2011 10:56

:o @ gloria!

BrandyAlexander · 27/04/2011 11:04

@expat Grin thanks for picking up my poor phrasing. of course everyone has the right to complain that's the beauty of free speech in the UK. Hopefully understood the underlying subtext of my post. Yours was perfectly clear! Grin

paddypoopants · 27/04/2011 12:34

It may not be protocol but you'd think someone in charge of PR would have a look at the guest list and think- ok a bit Tory pm heavy, quick somebody invite Gordon Brown so we don't look so obviously rightwing. It's not protocol to invite Elton John. But then that's supposing they care what the general public think of them.

thebestisyettocome · 27/04/2011 12:37

I cannot believe that they haven't invited Obama, Blair and Brown. How fucking ridiculous!

SardineQueen · 27/04/2011 12:49

Sorry have skimmed.

Understand the official explanation is the tories are knights of the garter whatever the fuck that means

my question is why are the ex tory PMs turned into kingts of garter and not labour ones?

manfromCUK · 27/04/2011 12:56

@ Sardine Queen

Probably only a matter of time before B and B get bumped up to House of Lords they are both busy with actually doing stuff at present unlike the other two who are suitably old buffers to be there.

In terms who who is the most loathsome, it's not easy, Thatcher probably, but none of them are exactly fine examples are they?

mollymole · 27/04/2011 12:57

i do not know about Thatcher but John Major is either/both William and Harrys legal guardian from when their mum died

Want2bSupermum · 27/04/2011 13:00

Could the lack of invite for Blair be due to Iraq? Prince William is in the forces and will have seen first hand the casulties of war. Blair should be pleased that Prince William hasn't invited him to the Tower of London to spend time at his majestys pleasure.

Brown probably wasn't invited because he is of the same ilk as Blair. He is just as bad as he was in the cabinet and could have stood up to Blair.