The Nature Of The Monarchy

[poliphilo]

The exclusion of Blair and Brown (former prime ministers and- Ed Miliband aside-  the most senior representatives of the British Left ) from the guest list for the royal wedding makes explicit what has always been implicit- that the monarchy is a conservative institution- and gives the lie to those who see it as a focus of unity in the nation.

Comments

[solar-diablo.livejournal.com]

I'd read somewhere that President Obama didn't receive an invitation to William and Kate's wedding because it was not a state affair. President Reagan was invited to Charles and Diana's wedding for that reason, but couldn't attend because he was recovering from an assassination attempt.

Unfortunately, the source didn't explain what made one a state affair and the other not. But would that explain why Blair and Brown were not invited?

[jfs.livejournal.com]

That's the stated reason - Blair and Brown weren't invited because it wasn't a state affair - Thatcher and Major were invited because they're both Knights of the Garter.

However, if it wasn't a state affair, why the frack are some of my taxes going towards the £20 million for security for the day?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

What exactly constitutes a State affair? I think they're making this stuff up on the hoof.

I read this morning that Blair and Brown were black-balled by Charles and Camilla. I guess they haven't forgiven Blair for his line about the "people's princess", but I can't think what Brown ever did to displease them.