Kiwi polo player gets personal invitation

John-Paul Clarkin. Photo / Paul Estcourt

John-Paul Clarkin Prince William and Kate Middleton have invited a top New Zealand polo player and his wife to their wedding next Friday.

Waikato-born John-Paul Clarkin, 32, and his parents have come to know the royal family while competing in the sport across Europe.

His aristocrat wife, Nina, 28, whose Vestey family's beef empire is worth £750 million ($1.5 billion), is a top polo player in the UK.

Mr Clarkin's mother, Cherle Clarkin, who runs Mystery Creek Polo Club in Ohaupo, near Cambridge, told the Weekend Herald her son was very excited.

"I keep saying, 'What are you going to wear?'

"He just says, 'Don't you worry about that, it's all under control'. Luckily his mother- and father-in-law have sorted him out a nice handmade suit. I'm sure it's from somewhere very nice."

Mrs Clarkin said the wedding would be one of many big events for the couple as Nina Clarkin is pregnant with their first child, due in July.

The couple are among 388 guests on a list drawn up by William and Kate.

They join David and Victoria Beckham, Rowan Atkinson, rugby manager Sir Clive Woodward and film director Guy Ritchie.

The rest of the 1512 guests have been invited by the Queen and Prince Charles, Miss Middleton's parents or via the Lord Chamberlain's Office.

They include members of the British royal family, foreign royals, aristocrats and other VIPs.

John-Paul Clarkin is the highest-ranked New Zealand polo player.