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Found this invitation while clearing out late grandparents house, is there a chance it is real?

Posted by HarrBathtub@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 294 comments

Found this invitation while clearing out late grandparents house, is there a chance it is real?
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294 Comments

GreyStagg@reddit

What's a draw?
View on Reddit #52420178

MixDue5775@reddit

It does seem genuine. You must know who your Grandparents were and have some idea if they were likely to have received such an invite. Does other members of your family know ? If you dont know then join something like Ancestry to learn about your family.
View on Reddit #50566126

North_Ad_5372@reddit

If you Google it's easy enough to see a genuine one and that this is a poor copy [For example](https://www.paulfrasercollectibles.com/products/princess-diana)
View on Reddit #50518880

FrancE-78400@reddit

I’ve just goggled (C&D’s wedding invitations) and they are identical to yours and worth £1,500 👍🏼
View on Reddit #50504324

tmstms@reddit

Just write to them and ask!
View on Reddit #50144859

IsItSnowing_@reddit

“Yo Charlie! You sent me this?”
View on Reddit #50147686

evthrowawayverysad@reddit

*left on read*
View on Reddit #50151560

Why_Lord_Just_Why@reddit

He only answers if you address him as Chuck.
View on Reddit #50346715

djentlemanly-gent@reddit

King Chuck… good job he was a king and not a Nun…
View on Reddit #50499081

SheptonCupCake@reddit

If we’re hanging out then he prefers Chuzzle.
View on Reddit #50420409

TwinkletheStar@reddit

King Chuck has a nice ring to it.
View on Reddit #50373963

pvaa@reddit

Hahaha, on read
View on Reddit #50154120

Danelius90@reddit

Problem?
View on Reddit #50156510

Dejoykat@reddit

Think they were making a joke on "honored"
View on Reddit #50161969

bitterlemon80@reddit

It should be unread,
View on Reddit #50171573

superhoops@reddit

On read and unread are different things
View on Reddit #50173217

bitterlemon80@reddit

Then could you explain to an old lady what on read means? I always thought it was a typo!
View on Reddit #50206567

meglingbubble@reddit

Unread is when someone hasn't seen the message. Being left on read is when someone HAS seen the message, but hasn't responded.
View on Reddit #50208794

bitterlemon80@reddit

Thank you!
View on Reddit #50234291

Danelius90@reddit

On read is correct
View on Reddit #50175367

Gadnitt@reddit

My "Representative of the Next Generation" talks of things "left On Delivered" for items which haven't been read. It took me *so long* to realise I didn't have a clue what she was on about!
View on Reddit #50175979

Total_Aerie_3778@reddit

Haha and ask him for an invitation. Who knows you could be a Lord or a Baron of some lands that you don’t know about and have a castle of your own.
View on Reddit #50275753

Shep_vas_Normandy@reddit

Good ole’ Chuck always takes my calls, I’ll just give him a ring and ask. 
View on Reddit #50184651

passengerprincess232@reddit

I was thinking you meant OPs dead grandparents and I was thinking HOW
View on Reddit #50175633

dmmeyourfloof@reddit

Ouija board.
View on Reddit #50182027

MisterrTickle@reddit

Betty White can show you how. >People have told me 'Betty, Facebook is a great way to keep in touch with old friends...' .. At my age, if I wanted to keep in touch with old friends, I'd need a Ouija board
View on Reddit #50221144

AngryBootneckFan@reddit

But you’d need the Ouija board to contact her in the first place….
View on Reddit #50494885

Gem6446@reddit

I read that as “Barry white” for a second 🤣
View on Reddit #50386065

Bottled_Void@reddit

Pen and paper would be traditional. But a lot of people print their letters these days.
View on Reddit #50176157

magaduccio@reddit

I have previously found The Queen to be a diligent and punctual correspondent.
View on Reddit #50178570

dmmeyourfloof@reddit

I imagine she's less responsive these days, however.
View on Reddit #50182054

plasmaexchange@reddit

Too busy working on her cryptology.
View on Reddit #50430996

Choice-Standard-6350@reddit

We still have a queen
View on Reddit #50187467

joshii87@reddit

She ain’t *my* queen.
View on Reddit #50246047

dmmeyourfloof@reddit

Not really. She's a Queen Consort.
View on Reddit #50188373

Choice-Standard-6350@reddit

She is the queen. She was crowned.
View on Reddit #50188518

dmmeyourfloof@reddit

Constitutionally she has zero power, no exercise of the royal prerogative without her husband's say so. Queen Consort is effectively a courtesy title.
View on Reddit #50188581

cherales@reddit

Last I heard she had gone off writing music too.
View on Reddit #50204548

MisterrTickle@reddit

Shes a decomposing composer.
View on Reddit #50221266

cherales@reddit

Thank you, finally! (that is assuming you WERE responding to my feeble first joke🤣)
View on Reddit #50221736

dmmeyourfloof@reddit

God bless her majesty for appreciating Fat Bottomed Girls.
View on Reddit #50204851

cherales@reddit

Did she (ahem) ‘compose’ that one?
View on Reddit #50205048

dmmeyourfloof@reddit

I don't know, but it was right up her alley, so to speak.
View on Reddit #50205240

cherales@reddit

Nooooo, how dare you ! (🤣) . (I’m also now not sure if my attempt at a ‘decomposing’ joke has fallen flat or whether it offered you a sheer heart attack after all…oh no, I’m under pressure)
View on Reddit #50205607

Shoddy-Computer2377@reddit

The secret ingredient is having staff to do it for her.
View on Reddit #50227655

wedgewedgewedge@reddit

But she doesn’t have a lot to say...
View on Reddit #50225617

kudincha@reddit

Duke of Edinburgh also always keen to share some views.
View on Reddit #50179685

magaduccio@reddit

Seriously - she wrote back to my daughter, and quickly too! And to me when I asked for her permission to metal detect on the intertidal range.
View on Reddit #50181441

GuyOnTheInterweb@reddit

My child also got back a prompt reply from the king when writing to ask about why they were still using bear skin in the beefeater uniforms.
View on Reddit #50183611

icklepeach@reddit

What was the response? I think I’ve heard this before but I could have imagined it
View on Reddit #50183937

orange_lighthouse@reddit

I don't think they've found an alternative that works as well yet
View on Reddit #50212411

LowAspect542@reddit

Would she be inclined to respond regarding her husbands previous marriage though, seems a slightly uncomfortable topic.
View on Reddit #50181975

magaduccio@reddit

Fair. We’re well into the hypothetical, but I feel she’d have a pithy retort, a form of words to devastate without breaking decorum.
View on Reddit #50182657

HarrBathtub@reddit (OP)

Good idea, thanks - you never know!
View on Reddit #50151495

TheNinjaPixie@reddit

Surely someone in the family would know if they \*went\*? It would be quite a family story.
View on Reddit #50206669

khughes14@reddit

Well just because they were invited, didn’t mean they would go
View on Reddit #50266861

odmirthecrow@reddit

So true, my dad is fairly anti-royalty so he'd likely decline an invite.
View on Reddit #50416186

tmstms@reddit

Even if they do not have it recorded, they will surely have some way of advising you.
View on Reddit #50152434

Prince_John@reddit

Definitely this! You've nothing to lose and it's the kind of 'feel good' story they'll enjoy helping out with if they still have the records.
View on Reddit #50146601

moonkiosk@reddit

Try to contact VE at St Paul's Cathedral, they are very helpful and they can confirm if it's legit or no.
View on Reddit #50328882

Careful_Cup_9652@reddit

My late uncle - bless him - was born with a severe oxygen deficiency, shipped off to a Montessori school up in Scotland, and then dragged back to a life being used as a pawn between two awful parents. One of his unusual passions was the Royal family, and he took it upon himself to attempt, rather rigorously, to call Buckingham Palace so he could "have a chat" with the Queen. If memory serves, and family members aren't lying to me, he frequently bothered various staff all across the palace. I'd love to hear some of the hilarious stories. This was the man who also called monasteries, hoping to "speak to God". Definitely a character.
View on Reddit #50309548

GoonerwithPIED@reddit

They won't keep records of invitations from over 40 years ago
View on Reddit #50145963

Additional-Novel1766@reddit

They probably would keep records for this specific royal wedding — at the time, Charles III was the heir to the English throne as the Prince of Wales and his wedding to Diana, Princess of Wales was broadcast live to a global audience.
View on Reddit #50146671

Gravitasnotincluded@reddit

"English throne" eh?
View on Reddit #50149558

you-want-nodal@reddit

As a Scot, I’m quite happy with this phrasing yes.
View on Reddit #50151335

LowAspect542@reddit

Well hed have been the heir to the scotts throne too. Whether you consider them separate or a single brittish throne is irrelevant whilst the same person is sitting on them. Also, don't forget it was a scot that joined them.
View on Reddit #50182450

you-want-nodal@reddit

I’m not denying he was also heir to be (and now is) our monarch, but the comment I replied to is also factually correct, although slightly misleading, in specify English throne and omitting the rest of the UK. It’s not _not_ the English throne, it’s just that being crowned on it with oor big rock underneath makes him the king of us as well. Light-hearted passing comment on an anonymous internet post, nothing deeper!
View on Reddit #50193552

LowAspect542@reddit

Not really, its obviously debated by nationalists but scotland, unlike canada or australia which hold the same monarch but have seperate crowns/thrones, scotland's only remained seperate for ankther 100years after james' corronation to the english crown. With the union in 1707 the crowns were officially one. Whilst the countrys exist as distinct political entitys with scotland having own parliment and legislature, there is no kingdom of scotland nor a kingdom of england, only the united kingdom.
View on Reddit #50198197

you-want-nodal@reddit

> Light-hearted passing comment on an anonymous internet post, nothing deeper!
View on Reddit #50213855

GoonerwithPIED@reddit

But who would ever be interested in who was in the congregation in St Paul's?
View on Reddit #50146818

Additional-Novel1766@reddit

Royal historians. There were 3,000 people present at the wedding of Prince Charles & Princess Diana — the guest list had its own Wikipedia page but it’s incomplete. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wedding_guests_of_Prince_Charles_and_Lady_Diana_Spencer
View on Reddit #50146947

GoonerwithPIED@reddit

This is one of the ridiculous things about Wikipedia -- there is no use for that list!
View on Reddit #50147122

homelaberator@reddit

I admire your commitment to the bit. The downvotes are most unbritish
View on Reddit #50175193

GoonerwithPIED@reddit

Thank you!
View on Reddit #50187622

Maxusam@reddit

It’s literally being used here, now, and n this thread.
View on Reddit #50152294

evthrowawayverysad@reddit

He says, in a thread where op is quite literally providing a use for this list.
View on Reddit #50151650

CameraLizardVlogs@reddit

There's no use for that list for you. There's a lot of people on the planet and I think at least one of them needs that list.
View on Reddit #50148310

NoPiccolo5349@reddit

I don't think you understand how much records are kept about significant figures
View on Reddit #50162767

TawnyTeaTowel@reddit

It was the wedding of the decade and 3000 or so people were selected from the 60 million-odd population. *Someone* will want to know who they were and why *they* were invited.
View on Reddit #50151488

SheketBevakaSTFU@reddit

Really? The guest list for the heir’s wedding seems like the kind of thing they’d keep for history.
View on Reddit #50146119

GoonerwithPIED@reddit

Historians won't be interested in that.
View on Reddit #50146173

jamesckelsall@reddit

>it would also probably breach data protection laws! If the records are held by (or on behalf of) the crown, they can't be against the law - the law doesn't generally apply to the crown. It also wouldn't breach data protection legislation to keep the list - keeping a list of your wedding guests is a perfectly reasonable household purpose. Disclosing that list might be an issue in some circumstances, but none of those apply in the OP's case - dead people don't have data rights.
View on Reddit #50186886

GoonerwithPIED@reddit

Good points
View on Reddit #50187551

peterhala@reddit

Of course they would - it's primary source, innit.  I know a guy who wrote good paper describing social change based on grocery bills of a Cambridge college over 200 years.
View on Reddit #50146512

TweakUnwanted@reddit

Not complete, I assume: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wedding_guests_of_Prince_Charles_and_Lady_Diana_Spencer?wprov=sfla1
View on Reddit #50146741

jamesckelsall@reddit

>Not complete, I assume >>The guest list for the wedding, which took place at St Paul's Cathedral in London, included 3,500 people. There's definitely not 3500 purple listed on that page, so you've presumed correctly.
View on Reddit #50186972

maksigm@reddit

Hahaha nice
View on Reddit #50183896

Twacey84@reddit

We still have records of random shopping lists that Henry VIII made. I’m sure they would keep the guest list to the wedding of the heir to the throne.
View on Reddit #50181425

Fragrant_Durian8517@reddit

Why would the attendees at a public event breach data protection laws?
View on Reddit #50147771

GoonerwithPIED@reddit

The *list* of attendees, not the attendees themselves!
View on Reddit #50148742

Myownprivategleeclub@reddit

You do know it was broadcast on TV?
View on Reddit #50150324

GoonerwithPIED@reddit

That's not the same as keeping their names and addresses indefinitely
View on Reddit #50154321

SolidWrap6315@reddit

We’re talking about the British royal family in the fairly recent past, not your old Hotmail account
View on Reddit #50174954

FrugalBastard187@reddit

This man likes scat porn
View on Reddit #50152032

LochNessMother@reddit

Now now, there no call to yuck someone’s yum….
View on Reddit #50154348

Bunister@reddit

Historians are famously never interested in Kings and Queens.
View on Reddit #50172440

throwaway_ArBe@reddit

Historians love that stuff what are you in about
View on Reddit #50154208

OneMonk@reddit

This is literally exactly what historians care about.
View on Reddit #50149607

EarlofAnkhNobbyNobs@reddit

There are records of what queen Victoria had fir breakfast, and those are considered recent records.
View on Reddit #50185220

HalfAgony-HalfHope@reddit

I bet they will! I'd imagine everything gets listed and stored for the historical record.
View on Reddit #50176127

Investigator516@reddit

If they have records of Lady Diana’s pedigree as early as 400 AD, then they have records of who they invited.
View on Reddit #50163691

Coffchill@reddit

Here you go… quick bit of https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wedding_guests_of_Prince_Charles_and_Lady_Diana_Spencer
View on Reddit #50158579

Coffchill@reddit

I’ll take that back; it seems the full guest list was 3,500 people.
View on Reddit #50158737

cloud__19@reddit

Lol you would be absolutely amazed at what we keep records of.
View on Reddit #50148860

Fluffybudgierearend@reddit

Hold a seance to ask Diana
View on Reddit #50181134

Auntie_Cagul@reddit

Is it a possibility that it is a photocopy of the original that they kept as a souvenir? They may have been required to bring the original with them to the wedding.
View on Reddit #50147418

ChronographConsoeur@reddit

It’s not required to bring the invite, the one my family received included a set of instructions specifically mentioning not to bring the invite
View on Reddit #50493806

Auntie_Cagul@reddit

Did your family receive an invite to the Royal Wedding of Charles and Diana?
View on Reddit #50493942

Crococrocroc@reddit

It's real. I've had two.
View on Reddit #50473023

SinclairResearch1982@reddit

Doubt it, the calligraphy doesn't look right.
View on Reddit #50464680

PleasantAd7961@reddit

That could be worth a lot to the right collector
View on Reddit #50463341

According_Judge781@reddit

Fake. I'm guessing someone got a copy, tippexed out the real names (photocopied that), then wrote their names over it in Sharpie and gave it to them as a joke present.
View on Reddit #50454873

simplygen@reddit

To me, it looks like a photocopy of a real one (hence the loss of the gold embossed EIIR), with the original name removed and the new (fake) one written in by someone. The name is written in what looks to be some sort of thick marker, rather than an ink pen, which I think is the tell.
View on Reddit #50146736

batikfins@reddit

Yeah the calligraphy is the giveaway, it’s amateur.
View on Reddit #50453730

kamikiku@reddit

None of the Royal invites I've seen use an ampersand either. It's always the word "and".
View on Reddit #50453021

TheScottishMoscow@reddit

Yeah way too cheap looking.
View on Reddit #50147308

Heardabouttown@reddit

This has become "my grandparents tried to wing it into the Royal Wedding"
View on Reddit #50329659

AlanBennet29@reddit

It’s been 40 years so it’s obviously a bit worn
View on Reddit #50147491

TheScottishMoscow@reddit

It's just really plain though and doesn't appear to be on a high enough gsm for such an important occasion + no gold ER which admittedly could have worn off The marker pen rather than fine calligraphy you see on the originals is probably the clearest tell though.
View on Reddit #50147876

Cougie_UK@reddit

The one up for sale had very oridinary writing. Nothing fancy from what I remember ?
View on Reddit #50283163

TakimaDeraighdin@reddit

That and the extra space below the RSVP address and dresscode compared to the originals. These kinds of things are a custom print job - the cardstock is a consistent size, and the text placement within the paper is also consistent. Photocopy or replica, and not one intended to be taken as real.
View on Reddit #50162516

substantialtaplvl2@reddit

Don’t forget the loss of the Queen’s seal on the card
View on Reddit #50153854

jimicus@reddit

I'll tell you exactly what that writing is. Berol Italic Marker. [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Berol-Papermate-Italic-Markers-Assorted/dp/B009HX6NXY](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Berol-Papermate-Italic-Markers-Assorted/dp/B009HX6NXY) They were all the rage in those days. Basically a felt-tip pen with a chisel nib. There is absolutely no Earthly way the Royal household was writing anything with a Berol Italic Marker.
View on Reddit #50180535

Gothmom85@reddit

This looks exactly like the fancy marker writing on my kid's "knighting certificate" from the ren faire.
View on Reddit #50313667

Minimum-War-266@reddit

They have also used incorrect punctuation and an ampersand (&).
View on Reddit #50242545

bopeepsheep@reddit

I have a real BP invitation (not to a wedding) and it's on good (thick) white card stock, with the gold EIIR embossed, as you say. The name is in ink.
View on Reddit #50147832

notouttolunch@reddit

You got an invite to an oil rig?
View on Reddit #50174055

joffff@reddit

Which would be equally impressive!
View on Reddit #50174792

notouttolunch@reddit

I’ve been. It’s overrated.
View on Reddit #50175485

joffff@reddit

Not a fan of corgis?
View on Reddit #50221226

BuxtonB@reddit

Don't be daft, he meant the petrol station on the side of the M6.
View on Reddit #50174837

contrarybookgal@reddit

Aside from that the *quality* and "font," as one might say, of the calligraphy is suspect. I'm afraid it looks rather amateur. 🫤 Still rooting for you that it's real, though!! Maybe the calligraphy interns weren't being checked that day.
View on Reddit #50188821

FerretSupremacist@reddit

https://preview.redd.it/ztwkmhpsrnme1.jpeg?width=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d6a42327c8ee495966a0fbb29d9401db65cc9436 Google gives me this pic and similar, but there also seems to be some variation?
View on Reddit #50185081

simplygen@reddit

Presumably a staffer of Lord Chamberlin would have written the names, and it could have varied with the staffer, but it doesn't seem likely they'd have used a pen like in OP's one. Slim chance there was a real invitation, but this is the photocopy that the family showed people, as they had the real one somewhere safe, I suppose. I still don't like the writing though.
View on Reddit #50185736

MissingBothCufflinks@reddit

That's 40 years of ink bleed
View on Reddit #50177497

HarrBathtub@reddit (OP)

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense, now properly look at the other ones on Google, the gold leave is a big giveaway. Still going to contact someone cause the paper is of such a high quality when you feel it - no harm. Thanks!
View on Reddit #50151595

Adventurous-berry564@reddit

Yeah and the line to write the name isn’t there but maybe they were a last minute invite? Please update us!
View on Reddit #50173160

kynuna@reddit

Yeah, the “calligraphy” looks way off.
View on Reddit #50152956

Bunister@reddit

It might have been towards the end of the 1800-ish invitations that had to be written. Perhaps Calligrapher's Cramp was beginning to set in.
View on Reddit #50172569

dorsetlife@reddit

The red strip looks a bit fake too
View on Reddit #50153237

Nicknamewastoolong@reddit

Updateme
View on Reddit #50453156

Renaissancewoman0333@reddit

Not a chance! The caligraphy is horrible- something the “palace would never abide. Probs invite to a watch party
View on Reddit #50441147

rinirise@reddit

In my opinion, if your grandparents were invited to this wedding, someone in your family would know. They would've talked about it all the time! It would've been a huge deal.
View on Reddit #50428803

xxspookshowbabyxx@reddit

There's a good chance that it's real, especially given that one of your grandparents was head of a parish. There's a certain level of employment connected to the Crown that gets invites for things like this, and I'd think a high level church position would be one of them. My grandma went to a few garden party type things at Holyrood because she worked for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society on Melville Street in Edinburgh. I have no idea if any heads of state actually went to them or if it was a "you work for a thing we head so here's an invite to a party" but she always found it funny how the wife of an ex biker turned welder for Scottish Power was given an excuse to buy a new fancy hat.
View on Reddit #50423174

VillagerEleven@reddit

It seems odd to me that it isn't signed but I don't know enough to judge.
View on Reddit #50422401

mrs_adhd@reddit

Based on nothing but vibes, I feel like the calligraphy/ink isn't fancy enough for it to be authentic.
View on Reddit #50158121

ilovesharks101@reddit

It looks like it’s drawn over the top of the original names, so probably a photocopy or something.
View on Reddit #50413452

BeeBeeW19@reddit

I've kept my garden party invite in a frame on the wall
View on Reddit #50412676

Mickleborough@reddit

This was sold as genuine - looks similar. https://preview.redd.it/qcm4gx78i4ne1.png?width=1201&format=png&auto=webp&s=1ae052c6970e2f3261e497f175e57267d8fc5a90
View on Reddit #50409799

davidht1@reddit

It could well be. There were 3500 guests.
View on Reddit #50407045

WastedSapience@reddit

It looked awfully plain to be a royal wedding invite, so I googled to see if anyone was selling one and found [this auction site](https://www.paulfrasercollectibles.com/products/princess-diana). I think a real one would have the fancy gold leaf on it, maybe? I don't know if there's such thing as second class tickets or something, though.
View on Reddit #50144896

Any_Cauliflower_6337@reddit

You can buy them with the gold lettering on etsy if you want. Why anyone would want to buy a reproduction invite to a wedding over 40 years ago is beyond me but people must buy them for there to be an industry making them.
View on Reddit #50146693

dorsetlife@reddit

Could be a photostat perhaps
View on Reddit #50153338

Particular_Stage_913@reddit

Haven’t heard that word in a decade or three.
View on Reddit #50180321

dorsetlife@reddit

It’s like a xerox.
View on Reddit #50233663

Particular_Stage_913@reddit

I bet they couldn’t even make a copy on a Banda machine. lol
View on Reddit #50237572

BouncyCatMama@reddit

Or type on an amstrad 😂
View on Reddit #50398927

Particular_Stage_913@reddit

Amstrad pah. Fancy new technology. Type on a golfball typewriter lol
View on Reddit #50405773

BouncyCatMama@reddit

A quill and ink, too, while we're at it 🤣
View on Reddit #50406410

bacon_cake@reddit

People still buy Princess Diana commemorative crockery.
View on Reddit #50174827

contrarybookgal@reddit

"Ar Di!"
View on Reddit #50188960

Souseisekigun@reddit

Dianabrain is a powerful force
View on Reddit #50179290

DryBop@reddit

It could have been an invite to a themed wedding viewing party or something!
View on Reddit #50240227

Gauntlets28@reddit

That said, it doesn't mean that it couldn't be a photocopy of a real one!
View on Reddit #50178280

fairkatrina@reddit

Yeah my mum got a garden party invite and the EIIR lettering was gold.
View on Reddit #50150799

Myownprivategleeclub@reddit

Looks like a photocopy of an original. Even the font is the same.
View on Reddit #50150511

IrrelevantPiglet@reddit

Could be a photocopy perhaps.
View on Reddit #50146209

Tournelignum@reddit

Partners parents had one as well, they had it framed above the stairs.
View on Reddit #50387629

GreyStagg@reddit

What's a draw?
View on Reddit #50383540

Scared-Mine1506@reddit

I mean, from the dents and creases, no, it looks like a bit of paper. I'm pretty sure they send those out on pressed swan feathers or corgi leather.
View on Reddit #50381970

potsandpans01@reddit

As a former Parliamentary staffer who handled correspondence like this on behalf of the MP fairly frequently I am pretty certain this is real
View on Reddit #50372035

Zealousideal-Zone115@reddit

Here are some being sold at auction. Note the gold "ER" and gilt edging [https://www.paulfrasercollectibles.com/products/princess-diana?srsltid=AfmBOoozAP-fdkY7dr3O2r3Zc0ar8I6CIJRi0fJYNbQpOo\_hoicXnIzp](https://www.paulfrasercollectibles.com/products/princess-diana?srsltid=AfmBOoozAP-fdkY7dr3O2r3Zc0ar8I6CIJRi0fJYNbQpOo_hoicXnIzp) [https://bid.juliensauctions.com/lot-details/index/catalog/521/lot/237047/Princess-Diana-29-July-1981-Royal-Wedding-Invitation](https://bid.juliensauctions.com/lot-details/index/catalog/521/lot/237047/Princess-Diana-29-July-1981-Royal-Wedding-Invitation) There would also have been other stuff worth keeping [https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/original-princess-diana-prince-928605047](https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/original-princess-diana-prince-928605047)
View on Reddit #50364787

snake__doctor@reddit

Google tells me 3k people attended thew wedding, of whom around 2000 were members of the public. So its entirely possible.
View on Reddit #50357333

Grendahl2018@reddit

Sorry but this is faked. Source: my ex-wife and I had an invite to a Royal Garden Party. The EIIR was gold-embossed, names were in fine calligraphy, not marker pen. Lovely day, btw
View on Reddit #50356865

P11CXN@reddit

There are lots of examples of the genuine invitations online. They don’t look like yours. https://preview.redd.it/u8ddvq1vh0ne1.jpeg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=89b1023e0e4d9e9756b5488fb5d464218c139387
View on Reddit #50355688

Silver_Thunder5@reddit

American here based on the fact you have id say there a half chance it is.
View on Reddit #50343029

justtiptoeingthru2@reddit

Found this... https://www.etsy.com/listing/96118560/charles-diana-royal-wedding-invitation
View on Reddit #50341706

Darkhadou@reddit

I had an invite to a royal birthday party about 10 years ago and it looked exactly like this. Still have a photo laying around somewhere. Very likely it’s real
View on Reddit #50324616

theanon2021@reddit

I’d say it’s real. Looks like the one that was sold in this set https://www.paulfrasercollectibles.com/products/princess-diana
View on Reddit #50321335

ReadyAd2286@reddit

No idea why you're questioning whether it's real or not. It is.
View on Reddit #50313509

Luckypowell12@reddit

Looks to me like a tourist souvenir from the early 80’s. Hope I’m wrong though
View on Reddit #50294876

Sudden_Direction_383@reddit

Sorry, not a chance. Cute but no.
View on Reddit #50278382

Alfredthegiraffe20@reddit

All the ones I can find on Google have the 'and' written, they don't have an ampersand. Whether that means anything I have no idea.
View on Reddit #50277111

Eastern-Animator-595@reddit

It looks real. I’ve seen quite a few invites to the Palace, etc in my time and it’s possible this is real.
View on Reddit #50275751

uwabu@reddit

Well he is getting 33 million of your money as salary,the least he can do is answer an enquiry. Write and ask
View on Reddit #50274762

khughes14@reddit

If they served in the military then it’s entirely possible it’s a real invitation
View on Reddit #50266884

OkPerformance2221@reddit

No. That " calligraphy" is what every eleven year old girl who had received a very popular pen set for Christmas 1980 was doing then. Source: I was an eleven year old girl in 1981. That's the first "font" in the little booklet.
View on Reddit #50242742

OkPerformance2221@reddit

Google the real invitations. They were vertical, with raised gold.
View on Reddit #50242923

SnoredCosBored@reddit

Its definitely possible. My grandparents were invited to many events by the Palace due to my grandfather's job. There was many pictures on display at their house of them with the queen and other members of the royal family.
View on Reddit #50239579

Goldensunshine7@reddit

I doubt it. The calligraphy is really, really awful. Not measured, blocky, blotty, letters are too thick, too much ink. The “s” on Mrs. is barely legible.
View on Reddit #50235982

FoodExternal@reddit

Almost certainly kosher.
View on Reddit #50232094

Mobile_Froyo_487@reddit

The original would be a very thick card with gold embossing. The printing company the Palace use is called Barnard and Westwood. There is an original set that was sold here. https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/princess-diana-prince-charles-wedding-invitation You could cross reference the names against the official guest list which can be found online too.
View on Reddit #50229956

x60pilot@reddit

https://preview.redd.it/wcltqtlzeqme1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8115aa9fae6f34cf2dcbfeadb4af0385434973f9 Here is an example of a legitimate invitation.
View on Reddit #50228208

radbradradbradrad@reddit

What’s a lounge suit? Sounds comfy
View on Reddit #50169756

Lammtarra95@reddit

A lounge suit is just an ordinary suit.
View on Reddit #50224385

LongjumpingLab3092@reddit

Posh speak for "normal suit"
View on Reddit #50176232

Normal_Boot_1673@reddit

A onesie.
View on Reddit #50173377

Conscious-Donut-679@reddit

Crest and paper is wrong
View on Reddit #50222234

drymangamer101@reddit

Reminds me of the time my grandpa casually told me that he went to a party at Buckingham Palace. I didn’t believe him until he showed the the pictures
View on Reddit #50219558

Apidium@reddit

Tbh they send out a LOT of invitations. My gran was invited to William and Kates, we are not famous she just was retired and worked her entire life in the NHS so hit the criteria for extremely long service and got sent one by default. By then she was a bit too frail for a trip down to London.
View on Reddit #50159447

dream_life7@reddit

Oh man! That's incredible! Shame she couldn't attend.
View on Reddit #50215980

Chris0979@reddit

Looks legit I have an invite for a garden party for my grandad and that’s about the same
View on Reddit #50213291

Joporean@reddit

This is definitely a souvenir replica, my grandparents also had one, they could be bought around the time of the wedding. The EIIR at the top was gold in the real invitations and there was a gold border around the edge of the card. The invitee’s names were written in fine calligraphy, that’s way too thick.
View on Reddit #50208277

dazedan_confused@reddit

Possibly, worth writing to them and asking. However, I think it might be too late to attend.
View on Reddit #50203327

The_Real_Macnabbs@reddit

So a few obvious things. Check the 'weight' of the paper, is this something that would be printed officially rather than churned off a printer in an office. Secondly, if your grandparents did attend, I imagine they would have mentioned it. That said, there may have been a reason they could not attend and kept it from the family, for good reasons ('we were invited to this wedding but it clashed with a significant family event'). The 'Dress' instructions seem credible. If real, a lovely little memento of a moment in history. If fake, why keep it?
View on Reddit #50202344

animalwitch@reddit

I don't think it's real, as the ER isn't in gold [Authentic Royal Invite etc ](https://www.rrauction.com/auctions/lot-detail/34422920606124-princess-diana-and-prince-charles/)
View on Reddit #50198730

adyslexicgnome@reddit

[https://www.paulfrasercollectibles.com/products/princess-diana](https://www.paulfrasercollectibles.com/products/princess-diana) looks the same, although the one from the above is Gold embossed. Know that during events, common people are invited to these things. My brother was invited to a garden party for some royal event, so could be ligit?
View on Reddit #50198630

parkylondon@reddit

Sadly, I doubt this is real. The script isn't well done and the EiiR isn't gold. Here's an original [https://www.paulfrasercollectibles.com/products/princess-diana](https://www.paulfrasercollectibles.com/products/princess-diana)
View on Reddit #50197767

Westreacher@reddit

https://preview.redd.it/r15kubd4oome1.jpeg?width=2752&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=824e7d5e1f026a2c3de35f08fb33c0d0dfbbd927 I thought there’s no way, but then I did a little research. Nice keepsake
View on Reddit #50197055

No_Rutabaga_1630@reddit

I think they are sold as reproduction souvenirs but a real one goes for around £1.5k so good luck!!
View on Reddit #50196836

SubtractAd@reddit

Write to the palace and ask them?
View on Reddit #50196426

sunday_cumquat@reddit

Probably not. Source: my partner used to print the Royal family's stationery (including wedding invites).
View on Reddit #50150224

contrarybookgal@reddit

Tell us more!!
View on Reddit #50188996

sunday_cumquat@reddit

Fun fact: the print factory has armed police when they would print this stuff. Ostensibly because of security around the Royal itinerary, but mainly for the press who would rummage through the bins looking for copies thrown away. They would in fact store every copy securely until they could be destroyed, but it didn't stop journalists trying.
View on Reddit #50195296

Azarna@reddit

I have a real one. The EIIR is a deeply embossed gold. The paper is thick and high quality. The names are beautifully written in a thin fountain pen. The writing in the OPs invite looks much more "amateur" and as if it is written in a marker pen. It is standard practice for the Palace to refer to couples as "Mr and Mrs", not "Mr & Mrs". Debretts also considers an "and" rather than an ampersand to be good form. There are quite a few places selling reproductions, which, presumably, someone must buy. Unless you can either find a relative who knows about it or evidence they actually attended, I suspect this invite is a reproduction. Sorry.
View on Reddit #50193948

radiantxdreamy@reddit

Could be a hidden gem of local history in there! It's fascinating to uncover such intriguing pieces of the past, something so unique might hold more significance than expected. A delightful mystery to solve!
View on Reddit #50193373

BouncyBlueYoshi@reddit

My granddad has a similar one framed.
View on Reddit #50192943

ImaginaryAcadia4474@reddit

You should be able to get a guest list somewhere but a quick search suggests 3500 guests. It’s not unlikely. Community leaders/local worthies get invites to the royal garden party so it’s not beyond the realms of possibility 👍🏻
View on Reddit #50191116

Lebsum118@reddit

Poberbly not most invites are sent out on white card .
View on Reddit #50190991

ImaginaryAcadia4474@reddit

DRAWER for the love of god
View on Reddit #50190940

FlyingInside2@reddit

I have an invite to two garden parties and they're very ornate. That seems very plain for the wedding of the century
View on Reddit #50188464

Icy_Attention3413@reddit

If it’s on paper it’s almost certainly not genuine. Posh card is the usual way.
View on Reddit #50187913

Lessarocks@reddit

The name of the invitees does not look real. There is no way they would have used such a thick font. It’s not classy at all.
View on Reddit #50187221

Helicreature@reddit

It’s not Die stamped, it’s not on quality card stock and the crest isn’t in gold - so no, not real.
View on Reddit #50187011

jonkolbe@reddit

Maybe…? I’m leaning toward no though because of the calligraphy. [https://www.paulfrasercollectibles.com/products/princess-diana](https://www.paulfrasercollectibles.com/products/princess-diana)
View on Reddit #50186581

skybluepink77@reddit

Yes, ask, what have you got to lose? One thing I do notice - though maybe it's just the way the photo's taken - the invite seems to be on ordinary, thinnish paper: but most invitations of this calibre wouldn't be on ordinary notepaper, they'd be on very stiff and expensive card.
View on Reddit #50185957

Enough-Variety-8468@reddit

Very possibly as a recognition for good work. Pretty sure one of my relatives went to a garden party at Buckingham Palace
View on Reddit #50184545

KinManana@reddit

My parents have a royal invite. The paper is high quality card, slightly textured. The format of yours looks the same
View on Reddit #50183487

Cheezel62@reddit

Yes, it is possible. There were some invitees from the general population
View on Reddit #50182656

Eisenhorn_UK@reddit

Ugh. How very common. I mean, what sort of person gets married on a Wednesday...? Honestly.
View on Reddit #50151361

SuspiciouslyMoist@reddit

Even worse, she got married on my 10th birthday. *My* birthday, and everyone was watching some shitty wedding on TV.
View on Reddit #50182495

GingerWindsorSoup@reddit

Somebody who does not work and have to get married with the hoi polloi on a Saturday, but then she may have needed a fast tracked wedding if William was already on the way.
View on Reddit #50171594

surruss@reddit

My grandpa had one just like this!
View on Reddit #50181995

Kahleniel@reddit

Contact a historical society that specialises in Royal history. They should be able to help.
View on Reddit #50181965

Better_Daikon4997@reddit

I’m not convinced… what type of paper is it? Royal invitations are always on a sturdy card and not paper. As well as the EIIR not being embossed gold. However… it’s always worth an ask. Probably could reach out to the royal archives who can do some digging into the guest list of that particular wedding.
View on Reddit #50181244

wantsomebreakfast@reddit

I think this is genuine. I was eight years old when they married, and two things occur to me: nobody had printers or Xerox-type photocopiers, so if it’s fake it would have been made at a printing company. The culture at the time would view making counterfeit wedding invitations as morally wrong and a bit pointless. The crumpling we can see does not mean it’s not real.
View on Reddit #50181025

itsYaBoiga@reddit

In the Chester draws, eh?
View on Reddit #50181005

DavitoDaCosta@reddit

Definitely not real, sorry. The handwriting gives it away. If it were real the writing would be flawless, absolutely meticulous, it's not. Sorry
View on Reddit #50180816

JMawds87@reddit

My grandparents were invited to two garden parties in the 70s/80s and I think the calligraphy may be the same. Will see if I can locate them and will drop you a direct message if I do.
View on Reddit #50180329

znidz@reddit

"draw"
View on Reddit #50180113

Queen_of_London@reddit

Might have been for a local celebration for the wedding that was mocked up to be like real invites.
View on Reddit #50148214

SilverstoneMonzaSpa@reddit

This is incredibly likely, the invites would have been "published" in national papers to show people and many would have copied for local events. Lovely piece of their history, but unless they were known they're not going to the wedding of Charles and Diana
View on Reddit #50179911

DizzyEllie@reddit

This is what I'm thinking. There were a ton of parties celebrating the marriage, this could have been a party favour.
View on Reddit #50174641

Sivear@reddit

I think you’re spot on. Especially if OPs grandparents were prominent in the community, they’d have been invited to something like this at a village hall. I’m confident it’s not real and you’ve given a great explanation.
View on Reddit #50174062

pcwizme@reddit

So I wonder is there was a bit of fun had and some friends had a party to watch the wedding on someone's big 32 inch TV, and sent out real looking invites to let them know.
View on Reddit #50179858

real_Mini_geek@reddit

I believe the queen used a big fat marker pen to hand write the names herself
View on Reddit #50179657

Rebel-Without-A-Clu3@reddit

The card looks too low quality to me to come from the palace and agree that the gold embossing is missing. Also if you look at the lettering it seems very patchy, just like a photo copy. There wouldn't have been any "second tier" invitations in terms of quality of paper etc for people who aren't royalty because it wouldn't have been a great look to treat them less well and also why go out of your way to change the paper and quality.
View on Reddit #50179565

General_Weather_5158@reddit

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wedding_guests_of_Prince_Charles_and_Lady_Diana_Spencer May be of some use x
View on Reddit #50179446

9182747463828@reddit

It’s missing the dotted line where the guests names are written, the names would never have been written in such thick pen and the stylised Ampersand would not be used on an official invitation, it would be a simple ‘and’ sorry.
View on Reddit #50178461

opopkl@reddit

Your grandparents would surely have mentioned something like that if it was real.
View on Reddit #50177581

Feline-Sloth@reddit

It looks like it's printed on paper and not the stiff gold edged card with embossed print that Royal invitations have.
View on Reddit #50177559

Titifoo98@reddit

My grandparents were invited to tea with the queen as part of their work for the National Trust. They absolutely loved it and said Lizzie was lovely☺️
View on Reddit #50176159

Relevant_Bite_1302@reddit

I think if it was a real invite it would be accompanied with photos of them attending 😂 It’s not exactly an invite that any sane person would have turned down at the time
View on Reddit #50176025

ohnobobbins@reddit

It doesn’t look like the real royal invitations I’ve seen. I don’t think it’s legit, sorry! The real ones are on thick card, with a gold edge and embossed crest and writing, and a very specific ink pen and style is used to write the names.
View on Reddit #50175137

Relative-Local4311@reddit

It’s not original. The authentic invitations had gold embossing on the royal seal, there was a double dotted line where the names where written, a fine nibbed fountain pen was used to write the names and there is too much dead space compared to the original.
View on Reddit #50174923

blackcurrantcat@reddit

That the names appear to have been written in sharpie is throwing it off for me. Also, an invite to Charles & Diana’s wedding would be something you’d frame rather than put in a drawer, I would imagine.
View on Reddit #50174719

lyta_hall@reddit

No chance. They would not write the names with a marker if it was real
View on Reddit #50174548

InfertilityCasualty@reddit

Gut instinct is no, because the names aren't written between lines. https://www.paulfrasercollectibles.com/products/princess-diana?srsltid=AfmBOorwxEeiVUaV1o4BBtZsMalj0HV7rPUO5SUtF2lobKo9Hlkui57W There's a genuine one 
View on Reddit #50173731

Famous-Eye-4812@reddit

Looks similar to an invitation i had from Buckingham Palace, speech, font, etc. I'd say it's real as others said write to the Charles aide and ask.
View on Reddit #50172884

TheTerribleTailypo@reddit

The clerks of the Lord Chamberlain's office would not have used a 'lazy ampersand' (or "secretary form") when addressing invitations to a royal wedding. The word 'and' would have been fully written out. Also, as others have pointed out, this was written with a hobby marker, not pen and ink.
View on Reddit #50154984

Bunister@reddit

You've clearly got a sharp eye for a Sharpie.
View on Reddit #50172644

clementynemurphy@reddit

I know that a lot of the public are actually cherry picked for invitations to formal affairs. Members of the public hope they are chosen to join in on the big day. So it very well could be real. It doesn't mean they were associated with them. I think I remember them saying a number were invited to WaK and HaMs weddings too. 
View on Reddit #50172514

angelindisguise@reddit

[Here's one on ebay for sale](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fitm%2F266798145538&psig=AOvVaw28nw-aG2M8_IBZVW2-Buoz&ust=1741153828889000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBQQ3YkBahcKEwjgucfP3e-LAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQBA)
View on Reddit #50171247

LordRuby@reddit

It kind of looks like something people would make as a novelty back when home computers and printers were a new thing
View on Reddit #50169507

Zealousideal-Cow2480@reddit

Spam wanted. Please spam me at asherwolfe39@gmail.com.
View on Reddit #50165003

alkaidkoolaid@reddit

I would upload it to ChatGPT and I bet it will tell you.
View on Reddit #50164609

Ellen6723@reddit

Unlikely - thats no where near the calligraphy skills of royal household. I’d say it’s probably sone type tourist thing
View on Reddit #50164386

Clear-Counter1286@reddit

Based on the calligraphy Mr. & Mrs. No
View on Reddit #50164329

wandering_salad@reddit

As someone else said, it's possible this is a copy. I found what seems to be a more luxurious one for sale here: [https://bid.juliensauctions.com/lot-details/index/catalog/521/lot/237047/Princess-Diana-29-July-1981-Royal-Wedding-Invitation](https://bid.juliensauctions.com/lot-details/index/catalog/521/lot/237047/Princess-Diana-29-July-1981-Royal-Wedding-Invitation)
View on Reddit #50162765

Cranky70something@reddit

Wow. I Googled C and D's wedding invitation...and it looks authentic. Great find!
View on Reddit #50162058

ninjacrow7@reddit

I'm sure if it was real, it would have their names in fancy writing with an ink pen and not written with a thick permanent marker.
View on Reddit #50156464

Whisky_Woman@reddit

The quality of the calligraphy leaves me rather somewhat in doubt.
View on Reddit #50146423

bedbuffaloes@reddit

Exactly what I was thinking. I could do better than that.
View on Reddit #50156239

Technical-Treacle-89@reddit

https://preview.redd.it/3t3n8pcqkkme1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ce07a54a55155a8318d2e25ab3df378e834d563f A real one looks like this
View on Reddit #50154815

younevershouldnt@reddit

I mean, they would have mentioned it if they'd actually been invited, eh?
View on Reddit #50152855

trippapotamus@reddit

I wonder if they photocopied the original to save it if it’s not real as is? I’d do that just in case I lost the original lol
View on Reddit #50152408

Jezbod@reddit

The formatting is wrong, there should be some lines across the document, above and below the names, also the penmanship is... agricultural. It would also be "Mr and Mrs", not the abbreviation they use.
View on Reddit #50152068

Kent_Doggy_Geezer@reddit

If it’s thick, stiff and gilded then yes! What was his job… that was would help too.
View on Reddit #50151669

Abquine@reddit

I'd guess you'd Googles but are they on this list? [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List\_of\_wedding\_guests\_of\_Prince\_Charles\_and\_Lady\_Diana\_Spencer#Courtiers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wedding_guests_of_Prince_Charles_and_Lady_Diana_Spencer#Courtiers) #
View on Reddit #50146387

HarrBathtub@reddit (OP)

I saw that list, but it says at the top there was 3500 people, and there isn’t that many on the list - thanks though
View on Reddit #50151481

PM-me-your-cuppa-tea@reddit

That list is only a small percentage though 
View on Reddit #50148456

NipplesAndNeedlework@reddit

What’s the weight of the paper? I used to work at a paper mill where they made the paper for the invites - niche I know. Basically we’re talking thick, quality, handmade paper here. Not a basic a4 printer sheet.
View on Reddit #50151137

Silent-Detail4419@reddit

My dad's parents were at Liz's wedding (we found the invitation when we cleared out their house after Grandpa died). Grandpa wasn't anyone 'special' in the sense that he was a dignitary, but he did have an important position with the War Office (I forget what it was now, he didn't really talk much about what he did during the war (you can do your own Uncle Albert impression)), so it was probably due to that. I don't see why it wouldn't be authentic.
View on Reddit #50150919

Tricky_Routine_7952@reddit

Looks like a photocopy. https://www.paulfrasercollectibles.com/products/princess-diana
View on Reddit #50150842

Chiquita4eyes@reddit

I'd would have thought that being invited to a royal wedding- the future king no less, would be brought up at every opportunity
View on Reddit #50150578

Forsaken-Aeria1ist@reddit

Only thing that looks off is the calligraphy. That could have to do with the age of the document but the penmanship there feels chunky? But I am NOT an authority.
View on Reddit #50149569

mhoulden@reddit

At least it didn't ask for a contribution to their wedding list.
View on Reddit #50149421

shantayyoustayyy@reddit

My grandparents were invited to the 21st birthday party of the now Duke of Devonshire and the invitation was much more formal/nicely done than this. I would be sceptical but also I'd be very happy to be wrong!
View on Reddit #50148812

thewanderingway@reddit

Anyone else immediately think of Lee Mack and WILTY?
View on Reddit #50148140

reditcyclist@reddit

Most likely not real or a photocopy. My wife had an invite to one of the annual garden parties, so less flash, and that was on very nice card.
View on Reddit #50147964

Bicolore@reddit

That’s a novelty/joke invite I’d guess.
View on Reddit #50147734

hettie1@reddit

Did they live near to somewhere linked to the royals?
View on Reddit #50146873

scotianheimer@reddit

*drawer
View on Reddit #50146286

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View on Reddit #50143367