I know both COs very well, and trust me, there is absolutely no way either of them would have ignored this had they been invited. Which is of course the key point. Had they? Trust me, had they been invited and could not make it (this may come as a shock but they are quite busy), they would have at least sent their apologies.
If everybody assumes X is invited apart from X then its hard to apportion blame to X.
Cenzo
Did say as much in my comment a couple of weeks ago......
Most people would either attend or make an apology, even if they disliked the person.......... someone moving on then nowt achieved in being uncivil, no matter what personal opinion you may hold.
Sadly as originally figured it may have been a case that everyone assumed someone had invited Senior officers but nobody had, que embarassment all round and a feeling that someone had been snubbed.