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| No thank you: King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia has turned down his invitation to the Royal Wedding in favour of another 'important' engagement |
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| Snubbed: Prince William and Kate Middleton have invited dozens of royals from around the world to their nuptials but the King of Cambodia will not be there |
22nd April 2011
By Daily Mail Reporter (UK)
It may be one of history's most sought after invitations but the King of Cambodia will not attend the Royal Wedding because he has something more 'important' to do.
In an apparent snub to Prince William and his fiancée Kate Middleton, King Norodom Sihamoni turned down his invitation from the Palace for another engagement.
The Cambodian embassy was today unable to expand on the reason for the 57-year-old's refusal but sources said the King was 'sad' he could not attend the celebrations.
'The King can not come to the Royal Wedding because he has a very tight schedule,' a spokesman said.
'He has another important engagement.'
The shaven-headed former ballet dancer and instructor has been described in the past as 'very much an unknown quantity' but he is not the first Cambodian king to snub a British royal wedding.
His father Sihanouk refused to attend Princess Alexandra's wedding in 1963 after being told he would not get a guard of honour and could not stay at Windsor Castle.
King Sihamoni, who was best known for his work as a cultural ambassador in Europe before ascending the throne in 2004, was among dozens of royals worldwide to have been invited to the historic event.
He is understood to be spending April 29 in his home country.
The news came as it emerged Prince William's future bride would follow in the footsteps of Princess Diana by omitting the word 'obey' from her wedding vows.
She will instead promise to 'love, comfort, honour and keep' Prince William.
Diana pledged herself to Prince Charles in a similar way during their wedding ceremony in 1981.
The couple now have exactly one week left before their marriage.
Second-in-line to the throne William, 28, has already had his last shift as an RAF Search and Rescue pilot before the ceremony. He is expected to spend the latter part of next week in London, taking part in wedding rehearsals.
Meanwhile, Miss Middleton, 29, has been spotted doing some pre-wedding shopping in the capital, amid speculation that she has been stocking up on summer outfits for her honeymoon.
Though the official wedding guest list has been kept tightly under wraps, a palace spokesman today suggested it would release the list of invitees at some point this weekend.
The couple are said to have invited 388 close friends and associates to join them next Friday, while 254 relatives and friends of the Middleton family will also be present.
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