Sowetan

East London fans in royal wedding feast of their own

Elegant parties held to coincide with Harry’s do

- By Barbara Hollands

Cucumber sandwiches, scones and strawberri­es and cream were on the menu at East London, Eastern Cape royal wedding parties where guests wore hats, quaffed champagne and cheered British royal couple Prince Harry and American actor Meghan Markle through their nuptials in Windsor on Saturday.

Beacon Bay resident Linda Skinner and her daughter Christie Freeman issued elegant invitation­s to friends and family, requesting their presence at their “Royal Wedding” television screening to which guests were asked to “don royal wedding attire” and a hat.

In the place of wedding gifts for the couple, guests brought toiletries for elderly residents of Kennersley Park.

“Four of us got together when [Prince] William and Kate got married and had champagne and cucumber sandwiches and it was such fun that we decided to invite more ladies for Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding.

“We had an overwhelmi­ng response of 43 ladies,” said Freeman.

Freeman said guests aged between 12 and 90 attended the elegant afternoon.

“Everyone went to the trouble to look posh, and it was lots of fun,” said Freeman.

The Blue Bend dining room and bar area belonging to Ann Linaker took on a distinctly British feel with Union Jack coasters, flags and napkins.

“I am a great royalist and so decided to have a party with friends using lots of Union Jack things I had bought on visits to the UK,” said Linaker.

“I thought Meghan’s dress was absolutely beautiful and I loved her headgear.

“Her dress was plain but very elegant and I think this will now become the new look in wedding dresses ...”

Vincent resident Fay Goedhals said she invited couples to her home to watch the royal wedding and enjoy a suitably British lunch of cucumber sandwiches, coronation chicken and champagne.

 ?? /DAMIR SAGOLJ/ REUTERS ?? Prince Harry and his wife Meghan wave as they ride a horse-drawn carriage after their wedding ceremony at St George’s Chapel in Britain on Saturday.
/DAMIR SAGOLJ/ REUTERS Prince Harry and his wife Meghan wave as they ride a horse-drawn carriage after their wedding ceremony at St George’s Chapel in Britain on Saturday.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from South Africa