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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Jennifer Newton

Biggest Coronation 'snubs' - Fergie rejected, cousin apology and ignored dukes

The Coronation of King Charles is set to be a historic spectacle full of pomp and pageantry.

So it's no wonder that many are desperate to be inside Westminster Abbey on May 6 to see Charles crowned with their own eyes.

But with space inside the Abbey limited to just 2,000 people, the guest list for Charles and Queen Camilla's big day has had to be carefully controlled.

And naturally, this means, some people will have been disappointed to learn that invitations for the spectacle would not be arriving for them. So who appears to have been snubbed so far? Here we take a look...

Sarah Ferguson

When Charles and Camilla are crowned in just under two weeks' time, they will be surrounded by their nearest and dearest family members.

However, one that won't be there at Westminster Abbey for the service will be the King's former sister-in-law Sarah Ferguson.

The King has decided against inviting Fergie, despite her still sharing a home with his brother Prince Andrew and seemingly being welcomed back into the royal fold.

It now means that she will not be alongside her daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, who are both nieces of the King, in Westminster Abbey for the historic event on May 6.

Last week Fergie was asked about her non-attendance at the Coronation during an appearance on Good Morning Britain to promote her latest novel.

When asked if she would be attending, the Duchess of York replied: "No I'm not because it's a state occasion and being divorced you can't have it both ways.

"I'm enjoying being divorced to my husband not from my husband."

Fergie has not been invited to the ceremony (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Meanwhile, during an appearance on ITV's Loose Women last month, she was asked about her plans for the big day after saying she may not be invited to the ceremony because she has now split from the Duke of York.

Fergie said: “I will be having a little tea room and putting out the bunting. I love to watch it on the telly because the commentators are always good."

She also revealed her plans to take the late Queen's corgis with her to a nearby nursing home and celebrate with them.

Lady Pamela Hicks

Another family member seemingly not invited is one of the late Queen's two surviving bridesmaids.

Lady Pamela Hicks – whose father, the 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma was Prince Philip's uncle – attended the Queen's wedding in 1947 and her funeral in a wheelchair last September.

However, she has not received a coveted invitation to the official crowning ceremony of King Charles and Queen Camilla.

Lady Pamela Hicks - a bridesmaid for the late Queen (Getty Images)
Lady Pamela with her daughter India (Instagram/indiahicksstyle)

Her daughter, India Hicks, said her mother had hoped she would be invited to the ceremony - making her one of the few people to have attended two coronations - but received a call to say she would not be invited.

Writing on Instagram, she said: "One of the King's personal secretaries was passing on a message from the King.

"The King was sending his great love and apologies, he was offending many family and friends with the reduced [guest] list.

"My mother was not offended at all. 'How very, very sensible' she said. Invitations based on meritocracy, not aristocracy. 'I am going to follow with great interest the events of this new reign.'"

Non-royal dukes

Meanwhile, the slimmed-down means some non-royal dukes culled from the guest list, it has been reported.

The palace have yet to confirm the official guestlist for the King's coronation, but some of the non-royal dukes who reportedly haven't been given an invitation include the Duke of Rutland and the Duke of Somerset.

The last Coronation took place in June 1953 (PA)

David Manners, the current Duke of Rutland, reportedly does "not really understand" why he's not been invited either, reports say.

He told Richard Eden of the Daily Mail: "It has been families like mine that have supported the Royal Family over 1,000 years or thereabouts."

Mr Eden also says John Seymour, the Duke of Somerset was "sprucing up the family state coach" in anticipation of an invite after assuming one would be extended.

Politicians

It is likely that some politicians and peers have landed invitations to the Coronation - but not all.

With space in the Abbey at a premium, not all will be able to attend - with The Telegraph reporting just 20 MPs and 20 peers are expected to be invited along with members of the Cabinet.

King Charles with Rishi Sunak at Buckingham Palace (PA)

Also there will be current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and former living PMs - Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, Theresa May, David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and John Major.

Politicians from devolved parliaments and assemblies are also expected there, including new Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf and Mark Drakeford, First Minister of Wales.

Foreign royals

Although members from foreign royal houses from around the world appear to have been invited to the Coronation, they appear to be limited.

It seems as though just two seats have been allocated per family, meaning some royal houses have had to pick carefully who would attend.

In the case of the Swedish royals, the monarch King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden but rather than bring his wife Queen Silvia, he will be accompanied by his daughter Crown Princess Victoria.

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene will attend without their children Jacques and Gabriella (Getty Images)

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark are attending with Queen Margrethe missing out - although this could be down to the fact she's recently undergone back surgery.

Meanwhile, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands will be coming to London for the Coronation with wife Queen Maxima, daughter Princess Catharina-Amalia and mother Princess Beatrix.

However, when it comes to the ceremony itself, only Willem-Alexander and Maxima will be there.

Other foreign royals set to attend include King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco - although not their twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella - Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, as well as Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko of Japan.

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