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Spanish TV cameras film the guests watching the wedding.
Recognition at a royal wedding

Recognition at a royal wedding

The British ambassador hosted a garden party for a cross-section of the community

Rachel Haynes

Friday, 25 May 2018, 10:15

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The springy green lawn behind the British ambassador's residence in Madrid was disturbed by stiletto heels and tent poles on Saturday as guests turned up in their finery to celebrate the royal wedding. Few British residents in Spain had an invite to the real thing in Windsor, so the next best thing was to watch Prince Harry and Meghan Markle make their vows and become the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in this little corner of Great Britain created in the heart of Spain.

The ambassador, Simon Manley, and his wife, María Isabel Fernández, had not just invited their neighbours. The garden, decorated with bunting bearing faces of the happy couple, was occupied by guests who had travelled from all over Spain for the occasion.

As Manley explained, they had followed the lead of the bride and groom, who had invited 2,000 volunteers to the grounds of Windsor Castle, and opened his residence to a cross-section of Britons from across this country who contribute day in, day out, to their communities.

Four large TV screens set up both inside the house and under the awnings in the garden were prepared to ensure that no one missed the important events of the day.

However the ambassador and the British consuls had not brought people from across the country to let Harry and Meghan take all the limelight. As a special sign of appreciation of their work for the community, Manley gave out certificates to individuals and organisations.

I am constantly amazed, as I travel round this country, by the level of their contributions, he said, before the British consul for Andalucía and the Canary Islands, Charmaine Arbouin, read out the names in various categories: local ambassadors and honorary consuls; community organisations; military; churches and cemetery foundations; help with law and finance issues; British associations; education; town halls; and expat press.

The Costa del Sol was well represented with members of a number of associations, charities, firms and the media, including this newspaper, picking up certificates.

There was little time to admire the awards, though, as the big moment of the day was approaching: the arrival of the bride at Windsor.

Some dabbed at teary eyes as they took in the important moments: the dress, the singing, the entertaining sermon - which earned applause from the front row - and the all-important vows, after which the ambassador let out a cheer from somewhere behind the heads glued to the screen.

What the guests perhaps did not realise was that as they were watching their royal wedding, they were being watched, by the Spanish press.

To back up their coverage of the wedding, the national TV channels had sent their cameras to the ambassador's house. The result on one national channel was a report with images of the wedding itself alternating with footage and interviews from the British scene in Madrid.

A rendition of God Save the Queen by the ambassador's youngest daughter, Natasha, was a final gift for the guests, who eventually made their way out of the house and garden, leaving the lawn to get back to normal ready for the next party.

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