Coach for a princess

Press, 28 May 1981, Page 7

Coach for a princess

NZPA London As Britain's most prized invitations — to the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer — were on their way to more than 2500 people, Buckingham Palace yesterday announced more details of the arrangements. Lady Diana will leave from Clarence House for the drive to St Paul's Cathedral' in the magnificent glass coach, which has been used for nearly all Royal weddings since it was built in 1910. Its big glass windows and special interior lighting will give the watching world a clear view of the bride, as they did for the wedding of Princess Anne in 1973 and the Queen (then Princess Elizabeth) in 1947. • Millions watching worldwide on television will get a first close-up view of the bride, in her much-talked about Emanuel dress, from the cameras set up around Clarence House and the Mall. But for more than 2500 people waiting nearly 3 km away in St Paul’s, their glimpses of Lady Diana will be even more prized despite being more distant. Invitations have gone to Heads of State of Commonwealth, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and Eu-

ropean Common Market countries, and to some other Heads of State Prince Charles has met on overseas lours. Others are for members of the Government, Opposition parties, both Houses of Parliament, and many sections of society including the Church, civil service, armed forces and local councils. “But it isn't a State occasion, it’s a family occasion,” a Palace spokesman said. ‘/The first priority in terms of guests goes to the Prince and Lady Diana Spencer and their families.” .

An invitation has gone to President Ronald Reagan, although ft will be for him to say whether he will attend. He said when the engagement was announced he hoped to attend, but that was before the assassination attempt raised concern about the need for tighter security for him. The Palace has made complex arrangements for the wedding processions to cope with the possibility that July 29 could be marred by bad weather. The Palace announcement explains: “The definition of inclement - weather is weather which is either too wet or windy to make the use of open Carriages a practical proposition.”

Lady Diana's glass coach is the only carriage which will run whatever the weather, because it is enclosed. If the weather-is fine, the Queen will travel in an open semi-state landau, one of five still in service at the Royal mews, with four grey, horses. The Queen Mother will use an open State landau with a pair of bay horses. Prince Charles will ride from Buckingham Palace in the 1902 State postillion landau, specially built for King Edward VII and used by the Queen to meet foreign Heads of State on official visits. The carriage; with maroon paintwork richly adorned with gold leaf and upholstered in crimson satin, is normally used open. It is in this carriage that Prince Charles and his. new Princess of Wales will return from St Paul’s to Buckingham Palace. But if the weather is bad, the 1902 State landau will be replaced by the Scottish State coach, which has big glass windows and two tran-

sparent panels in the roof to give everyone the best possible views. The Queen’s wet-weather standby is the 130-year-old Irish State coach, normally used for the State opening of Parliament, and the Queen Mother would use Queen Alexandra's State coach. ■ A decision to use' the ■closed carriages can be made up to an hour before the procession leaves the Palace. \- If the weather is doubtful, the alternative carriages will be taken to the back of .St Paul's so they can be changed over during the service if necessary. The wedding has meant extra Work for the pottery at Prinknash Abbey near Cheltenham. '{■ ’ The monks have received orders for 30,000 commemorative plates, mugs and goblets worth $184,000 and 35 staff have been put on permahent overtime. Orders for their work have come in from as far afield as America, Australia and Bahrain. y ’•