EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Invitation snub for Tony Blair and Gordon Brown at Prince William and Kate’s wedding was ‘establishment revenge’ on the former Labour PMs, Alastair Campbell claims
When it was revealed that Tony Blair and Gordon Brown had not been invited to Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding, it caused a political hoo-ha, particularly because Tory prime minister Sir John Major was among those welcomed to Westminster Abbey.
Now, it’s been claimed the then PM, David Cameron, was so concerned by the royal snub that Downing Street intervened with Buckingham Palace.
Writing in the newly published volume of his Diaries, Blair’s right-hand man, Alastair Campbell, describes the snub as ‘some kind of establishment revenge’ on the former Labour PMs.
When it was revealed that Tony Blair and Gordon Brown had not been invited to Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding, it caused a political hoo-ha
‘Lots of different theories,’ he writes in 2011. ‘Charles because of hunting ban, William because TB revealed details of private conversations in his book, Camilla because she doesn’t like us.’
The day before the wedding, Campbell discussed the snub with No 10’s Permanent Secretary, Sir Jeremy Heywood.
‘He said it was very much the royals. Cameron went ballistic..worried if people thought it was his decision they would see it as spiteful and petty. Jeremy had called the Palace and asked what was going on, but, once it was out there, they had decided and that was it.’
The Palace’s official explanation was that Major was invited because he was a member of the Order of the Garter, unlike Blair and Brown.
Writing in the newly published volume of his Diaries, Blair’s right-hand man, Alastair Campbell, describes the snub as ‘some kind of establishment revenge’ on the former Labour PMs. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are seen above at their 2011 wedding