Kate Middleton and Prince William Had to Turn Down a Wedding Invitation—See Their Etiquette-Approved Response

As working members of the royal family, Kate Middleton and Prince William have full schedules, often representing the United Kingdom overseas or supporting local charitable endeavors. That’s why the Prince and Princess of Wales had to turn down a wedding invitation in April of 2023. When Katie Baddock, a fan of the British royals, was getting married, she sent a special invitation to William and Kate. Since the royal pair weren’t able to attend the special celebration, they asked Head of Royal Correspondence Thomas Claridge to deliver a reply on their behalf. 

The bride-to-be shared the response on Twitter with her followers. “Dear Miss Baddock, the Prince and Princess of Wales have asked me to thank you for your letter in which you invited Their Royal Highnesses to your wedding on 7th April 2023,” the letter read. "I sincerely apologise for the delay in response, but I trust that you understand. The Prince and Princess were extremely grateful for your kind invitation. Although they were regretfully unable to attend, Their Royal Highnesses would have me send their hopes that your wedding day was a happy and memorable occasion. The Prince and Princess of Wales send you their best wishes for your future together, and thank you once again for taking the time to write." Thomas signed the message.

Upon reading the message, Baddock’s followers were so excited that she received a thoughtful response. “How sweet and kind of them!” one Twitter user wrote. “Congratulations on your wedding, dear. Wishing you your very own fairy tale and a strong partnership for life." Another follower commented, “So sweet,” before asking, “What would you have done if they actually showed up?” Baddock replied that she would have most likely "fainted."

Even though the prince and princess weren’t able to attend Baddock’s wedding in April, they did make an appearance at Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan’s nuptials to Rajwa Al Saif on June 1, 2023. For the occasion, Kate donned a floor-length pink gown with a high neck and long sleeves that was covered in pleating and embroidery and designed by Elie Saab. She wore her hair down in old Hollywood-style waves and paired the ensemble with statement earrings. William showed up for the festivities in a navy suit and a blue tie. According to the livestream of the Jordanian royal wedding, Kate dipped into a curtsy when she was greeted by King Abdullah II and Queen Rania, Hussein’s parents. William and Kate chatted with the king and queen before heading to their seats. 

The day after the wedding, the prince and princess recounted their experience on Instagram. “Celebrating the wedding of Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah and Princess Rajwa Al Hussein in Jordan yesterday 🇯🇴,” their joint Instagram account said. Along with the caption, Kate and William uploaded two photos: The first was a snap of the duo walking through the gardens of Zahran Palace, the location of the wedding, in their wedding guest attire, while the second was a picture of the bride and groom sitting at the altar and gazing into each others eyes.