LONDON: News that Britain's royal wedding invites are in the post has touched off lively press speculation, with former England soccer captain David Beckham and the King of Bahrain tipped to be attending but not Barack Obama or Sarah Ferguson. Royal watchers say Beckham, who worked with William on England's failed bid to host the World Cup in 2018, and his ex-Spice Girl wife Victoria will be among the 1,900 guests at London's Westminster Abbey on April 29. Other lucky recipients of invites include William's ex-girlfriends Jecca Craig and Olivia Hunt and Middleton's ex-boyfriend Rupert Finch, newspapers said. Pop star Elton John is also expected to be going, papers said. He told Reuters last month he did not think he would get an invite. Among the members of 40 foreign invited royals is the King of Bahrain, a decision criticised by British media as the island kingdom witnesses protests and bloodshed during its worst unrest for years. However, US President Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy miss out as the wedding is not classed as a full state occasion. About 600 people have been invited to a lunchtime reception after the wedding service at Buckingham Palace and 300 to an evening event hosted by Prince Charles.
