To wonder why Blair and Brown weren't invited to the wedding

[springydaffs]

Seems a bit of an obvious snub

Former heads of the armed services are not PMs; what a weird comparrison. I'm not suggesting anything about TB: I wouldn't dream of it as I can't read his mind. What I am saying is that I think his not being invited is wrong. What he thinks proves nothing either way.

Also, again in terms of your missing the point, it doesn't matter if anyone else was invited ex-officio or not. I don't think anyone is arguing that the non invitation was technically ok. What we are saying, or at least I am, is that it was a poor decision which reflects their political views.

It was simply intended as an illustration of senior public figures where the current incumbent was invited, but previous office holders weren't. Maybe I should have limited it just to CDSes.

Jenny, you're absolutely right.

It was not a full state affair so they did not have to be invited

No, they didn't have to be invited. Of course tthey didn't. But only a family of either supreme stupidity or supreme arrogance would assume that they could get away with not inviting them.

Meditrina - why were George Osborne, William Hague, Theresa May and Kenneth Clarke there, all serving MPs (all tories)?

Do you have a full list of invitees? What they obviously have in common is that they are current Secretaries of State (but that list doesn't include all the major Depts, as it doesn't include Fox - or is there a pecking order of departments?). Are you trying to say that all living former chancellors, SoSFAs and Home Secretaries should have been invited too?

All living former Prime Ministers certainly should have been.

Why, out of interest, were Tara Parker Tomthing and the Beckhams there?

Beckham good friend of William since they worked together on the olympic bid... Or maybe it was the world cup bid. Tara P-T old family friend of the royals I think.

TPT is related I think, not just a friend. Meditrina, you've blinded me with science

Thanks Winky

Springy: sitting senior cabinet ministers seems fair I think, or at least not objectionable. It is our government after all, like it or not. But only one LD, Clegg, might have been a bit mean as it is a coalition.

Why was Douglas Hurd invited?

Because they are Knights of the Garter OP. (and John Major was the boys legal guardian after Diana died.)

such a load of nonsense about Royals being Tories and this was the reason. I just can't see William saying " no we won't invite that Blair chap, he's not a Tory". this was obviously some protocol driven stuff. a posibilility is that Blair (and Brown too perhaps?) have already been offered a K and refused - after all, Blair refused to take a peerage when he retired from the House of Commons. Rigid protocol is by far the most likely option.

PS Douglas Hurd did attend, yes.

"Rigid protocol is by far the most likely option."

Rigid protocol does not decree that they must be asked, as Thatcher and Major had to be.

But rigid protocol did not say they mustn"t be invited - that was a choice made by somebody - presumably the royal family.