Suzanne Plunkett / Reuters
What was that about the monarchy being out of touch?
Senior aides at Buckingham Palace say they have alerted select European royal families that they should save April 29 to watch Kate walk down the aisle. Royal protocol dictates that these sovereigns receive notice before foreign heads of state and non-VIPs. But rather than sending guests gold-embossed, handwritten invitations, staff transmitted them each a fax instead. “Faxes have been used before for large-scale events,” a courtier told the Daily Mail. “They are an efficient and polite way to inform people as quickly as possible.” That may be true. But they look terrible in a scrapbook.
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A number of guests have already confirmed that they’ll be attending. Prince Alexander and Princess Katharine of Serbia RSVP-ed by issuing a statement on their official website. “Their Royal Highnesses are delighted to attend the marriage and are very happy for the young couple,” it said. We also know that King Constantine, the former sovereign of Greece, his wife Queen Anne-Marie, and their son Crown Prince Pavlov will take up seats inside Westminster Abbey. (Seventy-year old Constantine is William’s godfather and Prince Charles’ second cousin). Romania’s royal family has also confirmed.
The guest list is still a work in progress, but pundits believe royal families from Belgium, Denmark, Holland, Norway and Spain will also receive faxes soon. Still no word on whether the Obamas will make the cut when invites are sent to heads of state in the coming weeks. (via People)
(More on TIME.com: Will Making Kate Middleton’s Wedding Ring Kill Baby Fish in Wales?)