英语文摘:David Beckham, Elton John Among Royal Wedding Guests

Britain's monarchy has released a list of confirmed guests for Prince William's wedding to Kate Middleton next Friday, with singer Elton John and soccer star David Beckham among those planning to attend.

The monarchy unveiled Saturday only some of the wedding's 1,900 invitees. A number of foreign officials and more than 40 members of other royal families also made the guest list, including Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, and Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia.

Royals from countries such as Denmark, Norway, Spain, Thailand and Morocco are also slated to attend.

Other celebrities to appear at the April 29 wedding include Australian Olympic swimmer Ian Thorpe, British filmmaker Guy Ritchie and actor Rowan Atkinson, known for his character "Mr. Bean."

Members of the military will also be at the service, as well as the heads of several charities.

The British monarchy also released the seating plan for the ceremony at Westminster Abbey. Queen Elizabeth and other members of the British royal family will sit in the front row across the aisle from the Middleton family.

The monarchy says Prince William serves as president of the English Football Association and worked with David Beckham on Britain's failed bid to host the 2018 World Cup. Beckham will attend the wedding with his wife, Victoria, a former member of British pop music group the Spice Girls.

Elton John sang the song "Candle in the Wind" at the funeral for Prince William's mother Princess Diana, who was killed in a car crash in Paris in 1997.