Invitations
Invitations to the wedding of Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton were issued in the name of Her Majesty The Queen, following normal convention.
The following groups of people were invited to the wedding:
- Members of The Royal Family and their friends
- Members of the Middleton Family and their friends
- Friends of Prince William and Miss Middleton
- Members of Foreign Royal Families
- Representatives from the Defence Services
- Representatives from Prince William's patronages
- Representatives from the Church and other faiths
- Members of the Government, Parliament and Devolved Administrations
- Members of the Diplomatic Corps
- Governors-General and Prime Ministers from the Realms
- Members of the Royal Household
In total, some 1,900 people were invited to the service at Westminster Abbey.
About 650 people were invited to the lunchtime reception at Buckingham Palace given by The Queen.
About 300 people were invited to the dinner at Buckingham Palace given by The Prince of Wales.
The invitations were despatched in February.
Decisions on invitations were made by the couple jointly. They worked with Members of their own Household, and The Queen's and The Prince of Wales's Households to draw up the final list.
A rough breakdown of numbers of guests is as follows (this includes spouses):
- The vast majority of guests are drawn from Prince William and Miss Middleton's Family and Friends - over 1,000
- Over 50 Members of The Royal Family
- Over 40 Members of Foreign Royal Families
- Over 200 Members of Government, Parliament and Diplomatic Corps
- Approximately 80 guests drawn from Prince William's charities, including some individuals who are not in senior positions, whom the Prince has known for some time
- 60 Governors-General and Realm Prime Ministers
- 30 Members of the Defence Services
The only Heads of State invited are Members of Foreign Royal Families in accordance with the standard protocol for this sort of event. No other Head of State has been invited.
Lords Lieutenants were invited as well as all Ambassadors and High Commissioners accredited to the Court of St. James.
