Interesting crowd
Royal wedding guest list causes controversy (AFP)
24 April 2011, 5:38 PMGuest list for Britain’s royal wedding sparked controversy after monarchs from countries with poor rights records were invited but two former British prime ministers were not.
Rights groups criticised Prince William and Kate Middleton for inviting foreign royals from Bahrain, Swaziland and other nations where authorities have violently suppressed pro-democracy protests in recent weeks.
But there was surprise when royal officials announced that Crown Prince Salman of Bahrain would also attend.
Earlier reports said the Gulf state’s rulers would withdraw to avoid embarrassment after a bloody crackdown on protesters there left at least 24 people dead.
Anti-monarchy campaign group Republic hit out at inclusion of royals from not only Bahrain but also Saudi Arabia, Oman, Brunei, Qatar, Swaziland, Lesotho, Bhutan and Kuwait.
“This guest list reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ of tyrants, despots and their cronies,” Republic chief Graham Smith said.
“Whatever happened to William’s supposedly strong social conscience? He must take personal responsibility for this and rescind the invitations immediately.”
Leading gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said the invitations of “royal tyrants” from Bahrain, Swaziland and Saudi Arabia were a “massive misjudgement”.
The BBC's royal correspondent Peter Hunt said just 24 hours ago the prince was definitely coming, and added "who knows what sort of diplomatic pressure might have been applied behind the scenes?".
He said while Prince William's officials were saying nothing in public, they would be privately pleased that one "distraction" had gone away.
He said: "The invitations are a massive misjudgement by the monarch. They show the Queen is out of touch with the humanitarian values of modern, liberal Britain. She's putting royalty before human rights.
Clarence House said it was informed on Sunday morning that the prince would no long be attending, and the Bahraini royal family would not be sending a representative.
Well Crown Prince of Bahrain himself decided not to attend
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13181999
Uranus, you are welcome.
Hey they made the list! Thanks for posting no merci. It makes for interesting reading.
You already posted this once and its already being discussed..
http://www.qatarliving.com/node/1777130
Frenchieman: yes, the Emir and Sheikha Mozza will be attending..
Frenchieman, here you go........ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/royal-wedding/8469683/Royal-wedding-guest-list-who-will-be-attending-Prince-William-and-Kate-Middletons-big-day.html
Is the Qatari royal family on the guest list?