The guest list of the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton was approximately 1,900 people long and included both friends and family members of the couple and official dignitaries in various capacities. The list, which was sent out 16 and 17 February in the name of the Queen, was divded into three sections: the first, consisting of about 1,900 people, attended the ceremony in Westminster Abbey; the second of approximately 600 people were invited to the luncheon reception at Buckingham Palace, hosted by the Queen; and the final 300 names for the evening dinner hosted by the Prince of Wales.[1]
More than half of wedding guests itself were family and friends of the couple, though there were a significant number of Commonwealth leaders (including the governors-general who represent the Queen in Commonwealth realms other than the UK, prime ministers of the Commonwealth realms, and heads of government of other Commonwealth countries), members of religious organisations, the diplomatic corps, several military officials, members of the British Royal Household, members of foreign royal families, and representatives of William's charities and others with whom William has worked on official business. Although St James's Palace declined to publish the names of those invited, a breakdown of guests was published by category; the list made no mention of foreign heads of state.[1]