What if you planned a commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy and then forgot to invite the only living head of state who actually served in the War?

Among those not on the guest list for the commemorations in France on June 6 is Junior Commander Elizabeth Windsor of the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service....better known as Her Majesty, Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.

The Queen is reportedly very upset that she did not receive an invitation to visit France during the anniversary -- as a head of state, protocol dictates that she can only go where officially invited -- and that her government was so haphazard in its planning for the event.  

Two days ago, the French government announced that she was "naturally welcome in her capacity as head of the British state," but did not follow up with an formal invitation. And even thought the Queen travels with a relatively small entourage, it would simply not be possible to work out the logistics of such a visit with little more than a weeks' preparation.

The French agenda has been clear from the beginning. Government spokesman Luc Chantel said last week that this was "first and foremost a Franco-American ceremony given the recent election of President Obama." The President is wildly popular in France, and Nicolas Sarkozy wants every opportunity to be photographed at his side. Mr. Sarkozy even used his speech at VE-Day commemorations in May to heap praise on Obama and the U.S. efforts during the War. Through no fault of his own, Barack Obama -- born in 1961 -- has thus become the focal point of the anniversary of the 1944 battle.

The British government accepted this with nary a whimper. (Officially, the country only participates in the 25th, 50th, 60th and 100th commemorations of historical events, but could be expected to join more fully in other meaningful anniversary years.) It made little or no diplomatic efforts to win an invitation for the Queen or any other Royal. It offered to cover the travel expenses of those veterans living on tight pensions only within the last few weeks, long after most ferries and hotels had fully booked up. The Normandy Veterans Association says that, as a result, at least 400 veterans will not be able to attend, and given the relative age of its membership, this is no small number.  Prime Minister Gordon Brown will be representing his country at the quiet British commemorations, "away," a French government source told the Daily Mail "from the American beaches, as is appropriate. This is very much a Franco-American occasion"

But here's the problem with the whole "Franco-American" thing: the Normandy invasion was an Allied effort. The 83,000 British and Canadian troops who stormed the Juno, Sword and Gold beaches represented more than half of those who landed that day. Of those 83,000, a total of 17,556 British and 5,316 Canadians died there. Poles, Belgians, Czechs, Greeks and Dutch forces also sent troops, while Norwegians contributed naval support and Australian and Kiwi planes patrolled the skies. All contributed, all suffered, and all deserve equal honors.

The failure of the French to invite the Queen is bad form, but forgivable. Marginalizing the role of the British forces is simply, utterly unforgivable.  The average age of British WWII veterans is 84. Their numbers dwindle by the day. So most of these gentlemen will not be around for the 70th anniversary, or the 75th. For many, this is the last opportunity to take part in a major commemoration of their sacrifices and the sacrifices of their comrades.

Hopefully, the White House will take note of this and assure that when the President speaks, he will honor all those who fought. And since he and the Queen got along so fabulously this spring, couldn't he stop by London and offer her a lift?

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