Who’s Going To The Royal Wedding?

It’s always a surprise when you discover two of your friends, who you had no idea had connections to each other, have been hanging out together for years. Made much easier since facebook and other social networking sites popped up, checking out who knows each other has become something of a pastime.

So what about Wills and Kate, the couple that thanks to months of media digging there seems to be nothing we don’t know about?

Prince William is tipped to use facebook but until you are trusted with his highly secretive alias you’ll have no chance of checking out who your mutual friends may be.

Which is why the guest list that Buckingham Palace released on Saturday makes compelling reading.  Yes we sort of guessed that more of the world’s royalty and dignitaries would be in attendance. Prince Albert of Monaco, The Sultan of Brunei, The Prime Minister of the UK David Cameron, no surprises there. But Victoria Beckham? Guy Ritchie? And most surprising of all, the bumbling slightly loony Mr Bean, AKA Rowan Atkinson, should he chose not to attend in character.

And why were the Obama’s shunned when the King Of Swaziland and Prince Mohamed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia as well as royals from Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar —countries with questionable human rights records—were invited? It’s all very intriguing.

Haute Living looks at the royal guest list to find out just who the royal couple are really friends with.

Sir Elton John Performed a moving rendition of “Candle in the Wind” at Diana, Princess of Wales’s funeral in 1997. No surprises here and to be honest what party is even woth talking about without Elton there?

The Beckhams The heads of Beckingham Palace are oddly making their way to Buckingham Palace. Prince William is President of the Football Association and has Golden Balls on a number of occasions. They recently worked together as Ambassadors of England’s 2018 World Cup Bid.

Rowan Atkinson Mr Bean himself. Actor Rowan Atkinson is a close friend of The Prince of Wales. Make of that what you will.

Guy Ritchie Filmmaker and director of movies including Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, and Revolver. More famously he was married to the Queen of Pop herself, Madonna, and is a friend of Prince William and Miss Middleton. No idea how.

Tara Palmer-Tomkinson A friend of The Prince of Wales and his family. The socialite has been quoted as hoping to have her nose reconstructed before the wedding day after years of hard partying left her with a collapsed septum.

Sir John Major Remember him? Following the death of Diana, in 1997, Sir John Major was appointed a Guardian to Prince William and Prince Harry with responsibility for legal and administrative matters.

Seyi Obakin Chief Executive of Centrepoint. Centrepoint became Prince William’s first Patronage in 2005. His mother, Diana, Princess of Wales was also Patron of the Charity. Seyi slept rough with Prince William in London to highlight the issue of homelessness.

Joss Stone An English soul singer and songwriter. She performed at the Concert for Diana at Wembley in 2007 and at City Salute in 2008.

Sir Trevor Brooking Sir Trevor is the Football Association’s Director of Football Development and is responsible for youth-coaching standards in England. Prince William has been President of the FA since 2006 and has met Sir Trevor on several occasions at FA events.

Ian Thorpe Prince William met the Australian Olympic swimmer, Ian Thorpe, on a visit to Australia in 2010. The Prince has since supported Mr. Thorpe’s charitable organization Ian Thorpe’s Fountain for Youth, which focuses on improving health and education for children.

Not going: Lady Thatcher declined on health grounds

Not invited: The Obamas, Prince Andrew’s former wife, Sarah Ferguson – the Duchess of York– although her two daughters are; Tony Blair which current speculation is pointing to the moment his wife, Cherie, refused to curtsy to members of the Royal Family in 2002; Gordon Brown, Lily Allen who tweeted: ‘Why does bloody Joss Stone get an invite and not moi? I sang at the Diana concert too.’, French Prime Minister Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni, Charlie Sheen.

You may want to note that this is just the edited list that has been disclosed. Keep your eyes out for a few more surprise faces.

Tomorrow we look at the dos and don’t of royal wedding etiquette.