Prince William and his fiancee Kate Middleton pose for a photograph in St James's Palace, LondonIn one of the least unexpected announcements so far about next year's royal wedding, it was revealed yesterday that Prince William will marry his fiancee Kate Middleton on Friday 29 April at Westminster Abbey.
Disclosing the news to journalists, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, the prince's private secretary, took trouble to emphasise that, like most parents and in-laws, the royal family and the bride's parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, wealthy in their own right, will meet the bulk of the costs, including those of the service, flowers, bride's dress, catering and reception, and honeymoon.
Lowther-Pinkerton, normally a stern-faced former SAS officer, said with aplomb: "The couple are completely over the moon. I have never seen two happier people. They are on cloud nine."
The two were said to be getting fully stuck into the arrangements, and imposing their views on staff in emails and calls from the couple's cottage at RAF Valley on Anglesey, where William is working as a helicopter air sea rescue pilot.
The taxpayer will be expected to meet the cost of security and any service personnel on duty for the ceremonial, although officials said that any troops mustered would be drawn from those, such as the Household Cavalry, already assigned to ceremonial duties in London and would not be withdrawn from active service.
What were described as "associated and consequential costs", such as those for ceremonials, have still to be talked through with the government. Lowther-Pinkerton said: "All parties involved in the wedding, not least Prince William and Miss Middleton, want to ensure that a balance is struck between enjoying the day and the current economic situation … The couple are mindful of the situation, and Prince William has already expressed a clear wish that any involvement by the armed forces should rely in great part on those servicemen and women already committed to public and ceremonial duties."
The wedding will be what was termed a "semi-state" occasion. It is not yet known which if any members of foreign royal families may be invited.
Lowther-Pinkerton added: "We know the world will be watching on 29 April, and they are very keen it should be a classic British occasion … a classic example of what Britain does best. Prince William and Catherine made it very clear they wish everybody to be able to enjoy it with them, consequently it will be a proper celebration for the nation and the realm."
That means probably open carriages and a uniformed cavalry escort. It is likely, though not yet fixed, the service will be conducted by Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury. The date is the feast day of St Catherine of Sienna, though this was said to be incidental. Westminster Abbey was chosen for its long associations with the royal family, "a feeling almost of a parish church", said the private secretary.
News of the date would have come as a surprise, welcome or otherwise, to many couples who had already decided on the same day. Claire Webber, 30 and Jaimi Mitchell, 37, had set Friday 29 April 2011 as their special day soon after becoming engaged in March.
Yesterday they were astonished the royal couple had chosen the very same day. "I was really surprised," said Webber, 30. "It's still sinking in. It's strange, but I think it's really nice and it's going to be very memorable.
"You can only look at it in a positive way. It's a date everyone is going to remember, and people will be thinking about weddings anyway. And because it's now going to be a bank holiday, our guests won't have to take the day off."
Mitchell and Webber have chosen Parklands Quendon Hall, a 17th century mansion set in a deer park in Essex, for their ceremony and reception, and are inviting 85 guests. The two have already paid for most of the wedding, including the bride-to-be's dress and dresses for three bridesmaids and two flower girls, "mainly because of the VAT [rise in January]", Webber said.
The couple work in insurance, met at their loss adjuster in the City five years ago, and got together a year later; he proposed on a boat trip in New Zealand.
She said she would, like many others, be keen to watch the royal wedding and will have the television on while getting ready for her big day. "We're not getting married until the early afternoon, so if they get married in the morning I'm sure everyone will watch. I know I will."
Read More
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/nov/24/royal-wedding-semi-state-occasion
Disclosing the news to journalists, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, the prince's private secretary, took trouble to emphasise that, like most parents and in-laws, the royal family and the bride's parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, wealthy in their own right, will meet the bulk of the costs, including those of the service, flowers, bride's dress, catering and reception, and honeymoon.
Lowther-Pinkerton, normally a stern-faced former SAS officer, said with aplomb: "The couple are completely over the moon. I have never seen two happier people. They are on cloud nine."
The two were said to be getting fully stuck into the arrangements, and imposing their views on staff in emails and calls from the couple's cottage at RAF Valley on Anglesey, where William is working as a helicopter air sea rescue pilot.
The taxpayer will be expected to meet the cost of security and any service personnel on duty for the ceremonial, although officials said that any troops mustered would be drawn from those, such as the Household Cavalry, already assigned to ceremonial duties in London and would not be withdrawn from active service.
What were described as "associated and consequential costs", such as those for ceremonials, have still to be talked through with the government. Lowther-Pinkerton said: "All parties involved in the wedding, not least Prince William and Miss Middleton, want to ensure that a balance is struck between enjoying the day and the current economic situation … The couple are mindful of the situation, and Prince William has already expressed a clear wish that any involvement by the armed forces should rely in great part on those servicemen and women already committed to public and ceremonial duties."
The wedding will be what was termed a "semi-state" occasion. It is not yet known which if any members of foreign royal families may be invited.
Lowther-Pinkerton added: "We know the world will be watching on 29 April, and they are very keen it should be a classic British occasion … a classic example of what Britain does best. Prince William and Catherine made it very clear they wish everybody to be able to enjoy it with them, consequently it will be a proper celebration for the nation and the realm."
That means probably open carriages and a uniformed cavalry escort. It is likely, though not yet fixed, the service will be conducted by Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury. The date is the feast day of St Catherine of Sienna, though this was said to be incidental. Westminster Abbey was chosen for its long associations with the royal family, "a feeling almost of a parish church", said the private secretary.
News of the date would have come as a surprise, welcome or otherwise, to many couples who had already decided on the same day. Claire Webber, 30 and Jaimi Mitchell, 37, had set Friday 29 April 2011 as their special day soon after becoming engaged in March.
Yesterday they were astonished the royal couple had chosen the very same day. "I was really surprised," said Webber, 30. "It's still sinking in. It's strange, but I think it's really nice and it's going to be very memorable.
"You can only look at it in a positive way. It's a date everyone is going to remember, and people will be thinking about weddings anyway. And because it's now going to be a bank holiday, our guests won't have to take the day off."
Mitchell and Webber have chosen Parklands Quendon Hall, a 17th century mansion set in a deer park in Essex, for their ceremony and reception, and are inviting 85 guests. The two have already paid for most of the wedding, including the bride-to-be's dress and dresses for three bridesmaids and two flower girls, "mainly because of the VAT [rise in January]", Webber said.
The couple work in insurance, met at their loss adjuster in the City five years ago, and got together a year later; he proposed on a boat trip in New Zealand.
She said she would, like many others, be keen to watch the royal wedding and will have the television on while getting ready for her big day. "We're not getting married until the early afternoon, so if they get married in the morning I'm sure everyone will watch. I know I will."
Read More
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/nov/24/royal-wedding-semi-state-occasion
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