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Royal wedding snubbed former prime ministers says Observer editorial

DARA KELLY,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Monday, May 2, 2011, 7:32 AM

Updated Monday, May 2, 2011, 7:32 AM

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Former Prime Minister Tony Blair photographed with the Prince Charles, the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh in 1997 at the Opening of the Commonwealth Summit.

Photo by Google Images

PHOTOS - The Royal Wedding photo gallery

Read more: Kate Middleton and Prince William take on links to Ireland after Royal Wedding - PHOTOS

The royal wedding non-invite was a cruel snub to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, says an editorial in The Observer.

The rebuff, says the editorial , "was no accident."

If the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton had been a proper state function then all former prime ministers would have been invited. But William is only second in line to the throne and was instead considered a 'family affair.' The status of the occasion had to be clarified, says the editorial because of the former Labour party prime ministers' non-attendance.

However, the editorial noted that the guest list included many people who were not intimate with the couple. The nearly 2,000 guests included sports and pop stars, foreign dignitaries, middle-ranking members of the cabinet, an old foreign secretary, the mayor of London, and the speaker of the House of Commons. And the state had to host this 'family affair.' The streets of the capital and broadcasting schedules had to be cleared and security measures had to be paid for.

For that reason the two former Prime MInisiters should have been invited.

PHOTOS - The Royal Wedding photo gallery

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Kilsally | May 03, 2011, 12:56 PM EDT

Perhaps she was sounded out and like Ireland rugby star who was invited , declined! Surely one Prime Minister, a Deputy Prime Minister and Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland`s First Ministers were more than enough let alone ex ones?

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DanOLoingsigh | May 02, 2011, 06:55 PM EDT

Please no more Royal Wedding stories...are we that interested?

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GeorgeDillon | May 02, 2011, 03:46 PM EDT

Surprised more people have not noticed that Ireland's Chief Windbag, McAleese, was also not on the A list. Nor B list nor C list. She couldn't even scrape in to sweep the floor in Westminster Abbey. What a farce that woman is. But she'll be prancing around Ireland when Mrs Windsor Sr. arrives.

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Towngate | May 02, 2011, 12:51 PM EDT

I pitied the poor guests who were used only as 'set dressing' for the 17 strong Wedding Party and stuffed into commercial minibusus with the company name on the side. Cheap deal. Product placement? I have never seen such a miserable bunch! About Blair and Brown, both sons of the Manse, to be 'dis-invited'. It is known the Queen disliked some things they 'asked her to approve' ~ and she, and 'The Firm' have long memories. It is a pity they have forgotten what a wonderful Champion Tony Blair was for Diana when her popularity was at a very low ebb. But~ Did he offend them by restoring her just when they thought they had beaten her down and almost got rid of her?!! ~ Brown,if invited, would have had the decency to 'Absent' himself, and I predict the Blair Family may move to the land of the free taking their millions with them - if it's not already there!

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antoman | May 02, 2011, 10:40 AM EDT

Who cares?Besides, at their age its a long time to be sat holding one's pee.

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