Premier: ‘Royal Wedding Simple, Elegant’
After attending the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey this morning [Apr.29] Premier Paula Cox said the service was “beautiful, simple, elegant; and it was delightful to have been a witness to such a joyous occasion.”
The Premier said she and husband Germain Nkeuleu were pleased to have represented Bermuda at the ceremony, noting the grand, flawless wedding managed to combine traditional pomp, circumstance and pageantry with a distinctly human dimension.
It was announced last week the Premier had been invited to attend the London royal nuptials. She and her husband were among just 1900 guests invited to the ceremony at the thousand-year-old London abbey.
But an estimated worldwide audience of more than two billion people watched the wedding on television. Thousands of Bermudians and Bermuda residents got up early to view coverage which began at 5 am local time. Both the Robin Hood pub in Hamilton and the Bermuda Musical & Dramatic Society hosted royal wedding-watching parties which got underway in the pre-dawn hours.
And this afternoon Project Action held a Bermuda Reception “High Tea” in celebration of the wedding at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess. Tapes of the ceremony were played and a silent auction was held at the fund-raising event for senior citizens.
An Associated Press news service report on how the wedding was being celebrated in current and former Caribbean British territories cited the Project Action tea — but mistakenly claimed Bermuda had declared a national holiday to mark the royal nuptials.
AP reported: “In the tiny British Atlantic territory of Bermuda, a charity for senior citizens is hosting an afternoon ‘high tea’ at a swanky hotel where attendees can view the BBC’s royal wedding broadcast while snacking on cakes and savories. Guests are expected to show up in their most conservative clothes ’We”re saying high tea attire if so desired,” said Cindy Swan, whose Project Action charity provides free transportation for seniors. ‘Ladies in hat and gloves and men can come in their top hats and morning suits’.
“In fact, the wedding has prompted Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, the Turks and Caicos Islands and others to declare Friday a public holiday. St. Kitts and Nevis and other sovereign Commonwealth nations have issued stamps to mark the royal engagement and wedding …”
The Premier said she and her husband had been well placed to witness the hour-long service.
“Germain and I were very well situated in terms of our seating arrangements,” said the Premier. “We were in a wonderful place to people watch, given we were seated just behind the foreign and British royals.
“We were fortunate to be located near the Lantern section of Westminster Abbey as it gave a complete view of the procession. In fact, the positioning of the Commonwealth and Overseas Territories was strategic and underscored the relationship between the Territories and Commonwealth generally.”
Attendees at today’s royal wedding reception at Lancaster House: (Left to right) UK Foreign Secretary William Hague, Premier of the Cayman Islands McKeeva Bush and his spouse Kerry Bush, Premier of Bermuda Paula Cox and her spouse Germain Nkeuleu
“The bride looked stunning and one could overhear many compliments from those around us. Even men seemed touched by the aura and apparent sentimentality; we all want to see people happy and in love and the feelings of the about to be newly-weds seemed so heartfelt and genuine that it pulled at people’s heart-strings.
“The choir was fantastic, the music was magnificent. The people were elated and happy. They waved, clapped and were just so thrilled.
“The ceremony had meaning and even in the beautiful expanse that is Westminster Abbey, what impressed me was the sense of warmth and intimacy. I was pleased to have been able to attend and glad that Bermuda was represented. This wedding was special.
“Prior to the start of the wedding, the groom passed very nearby when he entered from the side door to assume his position. He looked comfortable and was very social, polite and warm. Prince Harry also elicited a laugh from the crowd at some of his expressions, and, when he mouthed how beautiful the bride looked to his brother.
“Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth drew admiring looks in her striking canary yellow ensemble. Many of the other female Royals also looked very elegant and there were some show-stopper hats in every hue that you could imagine worn by the special guests.
“I did have a chance to chat with some of the leaders of the Overseas Territories and we exchanged pleasantries on what we’d just experienced.
“When walking from the Foreign Secretary’s reception, people were very friendly and waved and took photographs. They did not know who I was but I think the hat and the wedding programme I carried made them feel I may have been someone they should have known. They were so very warm and I and Germain were happy to respond.”
l like the Premiers words here……maybe a wayward sway and mooray eel, she might just figure out that being a part of the UK isn’t so bad after all.
Praying
um um…….rolfe?
um um……Walton?
um um……Burch.
Ya I’m glad you had a great time meanwhile the ppl in ya country are starving, jobless, and broke. It must feel good to be a sell out to your own ppl. Way to go Premier and PLP
You know we as a people talk stopped at times. What about the people that are on the Social Assistance and travel and say they can not afford rent etc.
Remember she is the Premier of Bermuda and she has to represent us at certain functions..
Get a life.
People are retarded !!! What person in the World would have turned down an Invitation to the country that still basically owns this Island..You people need to fall back and realize what being Premier to this country is all about..
She payed her respects to the Royal family !!
Do you speak for those people? Last I checked computers and internet were luxuries.
LMAO… OK, Really. Funny comment.. Terry is that you?
Premier Cox, finally a great hat choice . . . Quite beautiful!
I agree the premier looked stunning.
Premier Cox looks great – and the hat certainly ranks amongst the best at the wedding…and there were some fab hats!
Only issue is that she wore black to a wedding. Protocal is that black should only be worn to funerals and cocktail parties. Oh well – she still looked good!
I agree, she looks Great!
Hey hells kitchen. Seems you’re doing alright. I mean with your internet access and all. Or you’re probably at your desk job sounding off while eating kfc. By the way. Do you know any starving people. Do you volunteer your time and effort to feed them.
Bermudians can take a lesson form the Royal Family and clean up their act!
Surely you jest
OMG Premier LOVE the hat. I need that in my wardrobe, I love a good hat. A job ‘VELL” done Bermuda. We represented well.
Did we pay for the hat too?
Did we pay for the hat, crap, get a life.
What is wrong with you stupid narrow minded people. She represented Bermuda. What an honor and a priveledge. BTW The Premier looked stunning today, good choice
PLP divorced Dame Jennifer, Ewart divorced Paulaand Neletha and friends want nothing to do with the Anglican Church…..poo pew poo pew poo…………
Um a Seventh Day Adventisits….um der arry day…….
Terry is there ever a time that you have written anything that is worth reading.
and it’s the A.M.E. Church not Anglican, Terry….get ya fact straight. That’s how rumors start!
Hea mate, here in England we also have jobless, homeless, starving and perentless people. Come here sometime to witness the poverty in the citys up and down the country.
how much doid the HAT cost to fly *FIRST CLASS* with the SUIT on BA???
That hat reminds me of Napolean Bonaparty….He was in England once right?
This is soo funny. Seeing her complimenting on the royal wedding. Coming from a political party that doesnt want to be part of Britian anymore. Hypocrits
However it is so nice to know that she actually turned up and didnt use this as a relaxing vacation at tax payers expense.
Another good thing to know is that BERMUDA was represented.
For once in my Bermudian life I AM PROUD TO BE BRITISH
Yawn
Yawn x’s 2
How utterly asinine. Any position on independence from Britain shouldn’t preclude one from ‘complimenting on the royal wedding’. Americans threw down their colonial masters 2 centuries ago and last I checked, Americans were tuning into the Wedding in record numbers.
What country wants to be a part of the Colonial error? Slavery and everything else that went with that Savage way to run the world. We have every right to deny being an asset to a country that doesnt care about us.
Hardly an asset.
Continue to live in the past if it makes you feel bette.r
just wanted to point out that there’s plenty of slavery and indentured servatude to be found in “post-colonial” parts of the world. even some of the never-colonized parts. let us not forget American slavery, at its zenith for almost 90 years after they went indy…so really slavery went nowhere, even when colonialism (allegedly) ended in most of the world. i’d say both are strong today, everywhere.
The Premier looked great – and I bet she showed more class than to demand a better seat too!!
I am happy that the trip went well, however when she re enters the domestic scene Lister, Burgess and especially Butterfield must be dealt with.
Will the real PLP stand up. Are you pro independence or anti… did you really have a problem with Black Bermudians accepting Queens honors or did you just feel left out (Dame and Dame, CBE’s and OBE’s)… Are you Progessive or just the same old anglophiles that you complained about…Sigh
LOL wax on…….wax off
I despise the PLP as much as the next man, however, this is irrelevant.
I wonder how many people quietly approached her and whispered in her ear ” good for you for getting rid of that Burch”
What happened to my “Limey” comment….
It was probably more crap so they axed it
LOL ha ha got u m8!
Premier Cox looks lovely and her hat is fab! Certainly much classier than the two atrocities called Beatrice and Eugenie!
You know what, as you will guess I’m not the greatest fan of Cog or the PLP, but I have no issue with this. Her comments were appropriate, as was her presence at the event.
Madam Premier – glad you enjoyed it, and you looked fabulous! See – the Brits aren’t all that bad…:)
did she pay for the trip out of her pocket or did Bermuda
Given that we pay her salary, does it really matter?
@._./, considering that she wants bermuda to tighten its belt financially, YES!!!!!!
Somehow I don’t think a trip to the UK is going to make all that much of a difference.
Personally, I’m glad she went. Now she can’t table independence
No, she will not. In my opinion Burch has his sights on independence. The fools in his constituency will vote him in, he will oust Premier Cox and then, well….you know…. Get ready for a rocky ride!
I’m with you ._./
Do you not think that any independent nations were invited to the wedding? Why don’t you check the guest list.
Why is this even relevant LV? Kate Middleton could have invited her dog (who would not have been Bermudian) it doesn’t matter. The point is that Paula went to the UK as the head of a Dependent Territory – so one would assume she must condone being head of a Dependent Territory to a certain degree. This might make a bid for Independence (earlier) a bit uncomfortable.
EB would have gone and you know it. Much as he hates everything UK. He would have cost us twice as much too with his entourage – to boost his out of control EGO!!!
it will come
I believe the taxpayer paid for her husband as well. THAT I do take issue with… but hey we’re a billion in debt, what’s a few grand more, right??
SMH……
I’ll bet she was shuffled off to the side of the Abby, along with the rest of the Commonwealth heads who had to be invited purely as a courtesy. In a sea of silly womens hats whatever she wore would have been appropiate.
Hope she is ready to deal with Butterfield & Burgess when she gets back to reality. First step would be to take their travel documents away from them. We would not want to risk their childish behavior outside of Bermuda.
The HAT had to compete with an array of silly hats……It should of been Pink to really represent…..She gave a blow by blow report of the events too bad BBC Carribean has folded^^
I heard all of the British territories got a holiday for the wedding. What happened to Bermy?!
No. A bus schedule has to be organized before any public holiday.
Paula Cox looks like she just got initiated into the Illuminati O_o