One of the most difficult parts of wedding planning can be whittling down the guest list without offending Great Aunt Agnes or the lady who faithfully trimmed your bowl cut throughout your childhood until you finally rebelled against your mom and grew out your hair.
But if you're a member of a royal family the issue of the invitations becomes particularly delicate, when you risk offending a prime minister, a sheikh or a count from a tiny European country the name of which no one can pronounce.
But funnily enough, Prince William and Kate Middleton appear unworried about making each other jealous, since between them they have invited nine exes to their nuptials -- all seven of William's ex-girlfriends will be attending the April 29 ceremony, while two of Kate's former flames are on the guest list.
With 1,900 seats at Westminster Abbey, there is certainly room to fit in a dark horse or two. But most brides would surely bristle at the thought of a bevy of her betrothed's ex-girlfriends clad in their finest to remind the groom of what might have been.
Among William's exes to have received an invitation is 28-year-old blond beauty Olivia Hunt, who studied at Edinburgh and briefly dated Wills while he was at St. Andrews, where he and Kate met, as well as Rose Farquhar, the prince's first love who is now pursuing an acting career.
Not to be outdone, Kate has invited Rupert Finch, an ex-boyfriend with whom she is still friends, particularly since he, unlike other people from her past, has not sold his story to the media.
As well, Willem Marx, with whom Kate studied at Marlborough and the boy believed to be her first love, is expected to attend the wedding.
When asked about the presence of so many exes, royal biographer Christopher Warwick admitted it appears to be "an all-encompassing guest list."
"And it's a very diplomatic guest list, and I say that not simply because there's no reason of course why exes shouldn't be there, provided they're all on good terms," Warwick told CTV's Canada AM. "We've got 60 governors-general and Commonwealth prime ministers going. Government ministers are going to be there. Representatives of the armed services, including those injured in Afghanistan and Iraq. It really is a very democratic guest list really when you think about it, but in many ways not so unusual."
While the guest list had been kept tightly under wraps until its release this weekend, Clarence House had previously confirmed the "groups" of invited guests, including:
- members of the Royal Family, the Middleton family and friends of the couple (about 1,000 guests)
- members of foreign royal families (about 40 guests)
- representatives from Britain's Defence Services (about 30 guests, including members of William's Royal Air Force unit)
- officials with William's charities (about 80 guests)
- leaders from various churches and faiths
- members of government, Parliament and the diplomatic corps (about 200 guests)
- 60 governors general and prime ministers from the realms
- members of the Royal Household
Prime Minister Stephen Harper had previously confirmed that he and his wife, Laureen, would be attending the wedding. That changed, however, after the election call, and Harper and his wife will remain in Canada for what will be the last days of the campaign.
Gov. Gen. David Johnston and his wife will, however, be present at the wedding.
There will be some more Canadian content among the pews of the Abbey. Autumn Phillips (nee, Kelly), the Canadian wife of Queen Elizabeth's eldest grandchild, Peter Phillips, will likely have a fairly good seat.
And Galen and Hilary Weston, described in the official announcement as "friends of The Prince of Wales and his family," will also be there.
Because celebrities like attention, some had previously spilled the beans that they received the coveted white and gold invitation, including Elton John and his Scarborough, Ont.-born partner, David Furnish. And speaking of famous faces, David and Victoria Beckham will also be there. Second to getting a glimpse of Kate's wedding dress, celebrity watchers will be wondering what the pregnant Posh will be wearing to hide her baby bump.
Other celebs on the guest list are Mr. Bean himself, Rowan Atkinson, Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe, singer Joss Stone and director Guy Ritchie.
Rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous will be the less rich and considerably less famous butcher and pub owner from the village of Bucklebury, where the Middletons reside. A yoga instructor from the Middletons' favourite getaway spot, Mustique, is also rumoured to have been invited.
And there will, of course, be two notable no-shows on the big day who were left off the invite list for very different reasons.
Sarah Ferguson, ex-wife of Prince Andrew, was not invited, though her two daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie will be there.
Ferguson's office released a statement after the invites went out saying she "won't be attending and she was never expecting to attend." The statement also confirmed that she would not be available to any media outlets to provide commentary on the big day, perhaps at the request, or on orders, from the Royal Family.
Warwick said "there's really no reason" for Ferguson to have been invited.
"Quite frankly, she's behaved so badly that I think that she really has offended senior members of the Royal Family," he told Canada AM. "And she's done nothing to endear herself, has she?"
And while prime ministers from across the Commonwealth and various European royals will be in attendance, U.S. President Barack Obama did not receive a coveted invitation.
Royal experts say that because William is second in line to the throne, his wedding is not an official state occasion, so heads of state needn't be invited.
The Obamas, however, will be in England for an official state visit in May.
