Royal choices touch xenophobic nerve

Press, 21 July 1986, Page 10

Royal choices touch xenophobic nerve

NZPA-Reuter London

The Royal marriage on Wednesday of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson is heralded as a big British event but insular Britons are beginning to wonder whether it is not being taken over by foreigners. “Andrew picks another outsider,” the “Daily Mail” newspaper reported after the American-based photographer, Albert Watson, was selected to take the official wedding pictures.

The headline was as close as the “Mail” could get to saying “another foreigner” because Watson, who has worked in New York for many years, was bom in Scotland.

But .it is not just the wedding snaps. Miss Ferguson’s dress is being designed by a couturier of Polish origin, Lindka Cierach, who was bora in South Africa. An American soprano, Arleen Auger, is one of the two singers chosen to take part in the musical celebrations during the wedding service at Westminster Abbey. Auger, bora in Califor-

nia, of a British mother and French-Canadian father, will sing the Mozart Cantata “Exsultate Jubilate” after the marriage service. Miss Ferguson, who works for a Swiss-based publishing company, brings the most-talked-of foreign connection to the wedding — her Argentinian stepfather, Hector Barrantes. The name Barrantes conjures up memories of the war in 1982 between Argentina and Britain over possession of the Falkland Islands. Four years after the war the two countries have yet to restore diplomatic relations.

After Miss Ferguson’s engagement to Prince Andrew was announced in March, Mr Barrantes was talked of in some circles as “the awkward guest.” The potential embarrassment was accentuated because Prince Andrew flew as a helicopter copilot in the British military force that put an end to Argentina’s brief invasion of the islands.

One newspaper, “Today,” even suggested that Mr Barrantes should be barred from the wedding.

Mr Barrantes quickly dissociated himself from the war — he said it was the act of Argentina’s military rulers, not its people — and the Royal Family went out of its way to make it clear that he would be welcome. Mr Barrantes, a rich polo professional who married Miss Ferguson’s mother, Susan, after her divorce 12 years ago, was warmly received at the Royal enclosure at the Ascot races.

An Argentinian diplomat said the new connection between the British Royal Family and his country was a positive element that could even help to restore ties between London and Buenos Aires.

“It demonstrates that at one level ties are already perfectly normal,” he said.

“One would expect that Andrew will eventually want to visit Argentina to meet the family,” he said.

Other foreign guests at Westminister Abbey on Wednesday will Include Nancy Reagan, Crown Prince Felipe of Spain, and Imperial Prince Hiro of Japan.