T&T can function internationally

T&T’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Garvin Nicholas has described yesterday’s Royal Wedding as an amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience. Nicholas was one of many foreign diplomats invited to the wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey, London. The 2,000-person guest list included Elton John, David and Victoria Beckham, actor Rowan Atkinson, Spain’s Crown Prince Felipe and Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria and husband, Prince Daniel.  Nicholas wore a traditional British Sunday suit with a T&T national flag pinned on his jacket. In a telephone interview yesterday, Nicholas said it was an honour to represent T&T at the historic event.

He added: “From the execution to the procession the entire wedding was perfectly executed and went off without a glitch.” Nicholas said Westminster Abbey had been transformed into a blooming forest, with six maple trees and two hornbeams lining the aisle up to the altar. The High Commissioner said all diplomats were shuttled to the wedding, arriving at 9.40 am (UK time) or 4.40 am (local time). Nicholas said on his arrival Prince William took time to greet all foreign diplomats.

He said the prince looked nervous and after greeting his guests retreated out of the crowds’ view with his brother, Prince Harry, until the procession started. Pressed about the United Kingdom’s new Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, Nicholas said: “She looked stunning. She is a beautiful young lady.” Nicholas said Middleton was the ideal candidate to be the wife of the United Kingdom’s  potential future king. Discussing the post-wedding event, held for diplomats, Nicholas said he had the chance to talk to British Lord Chancellor Kenneth Clarke and British Foreign Secretary William Hague.

He said his invitation to the Royal Wedding showed T&T, “as a small nation, can function on an international level.” Thousands gathered around London yesterday to catch a glimpse of the new Royal couple. The wedding, which started at 4 am local time, was watched world-wide with many Trinbagonians waking up early to watch the lead-up to the procession.  The United Kingdom has not seen a celebration of this scale since the 1981 wedding between Prince William’s parents, Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, at London’s St Paul’s Cathedral. Middleton has been dubbed by the British population as this generation’s Princess Diana.