Premier Cox to attend Royal wedding
Premier Paula Cox has been invited to attend this Friday’s Royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.Ms Cox and her husband Germain Nkeuleu will be among the 1,900 official guests to the wedding in Westminster Abbey, London, alongside royalty and representatives from more than a dozen other countries and territories.Speaking yesterday, the Premier said: “I am pleased that Bermuda was recognised, provided with an invitation and is being represented on this occasion.“Clearly this will be a wedding with a difference. It has the wow factor.“As a woman you feel a kinship with the idea that love has trumped the odds despite differences in background.“Many of us women can emphathise with the love story. This is certainly one of my less arduous duties.”The night before the festivities, the Premier will attend a dinner hosted by the Secretary of State and Foreign Affairs William Hague and his wife, and after the wedding, will attend a reception at Lancaster House.It is believed that the Premier will be seated in the Abbey’s south transept to the right of the sacrarium with Governor-Generals, members of the diplomatic corps and family friends of the Middletons.The Dean of Westminster will conduct the service, with the Archbishop of Canterbury marrying the couple and the Bishop of London giving the address.The congregation is expected to arrive between 8.15am and 9.45am London time (4.15am to 5.45am local time), with the Premier arriving with other distinguished guests after 9.50am (5.50am local time). The service itself is expected to start at 11am (7am local time), and will be broadcast internationally.More than 50 members of the Royal family will attend the wedding, including the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince of Wales.Among the Royal guests representing other nations are the King and Queen of Norway, the Queen of Spain, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, the Sultan of Brunei and the King of Swaziland.Also attending will be members of the UK Government, including the Prime Minister, and representatives of numerous religious groups.Other guests include celebrities such as football star David Beckham, singers Elton John and Joss Stone, director Guy Richie and actor Rowan Atkinson.Of the 1,900 people invited to the service, 650 have been invited to a lunchtime reception at Buckingham Palace, and 300 have been invited to a dinner.lUseful website: www.officialroyalwedding2011.org.