PM accepts invitation to wedding of Prince William

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and his wife Eloise have accepted an official invitation to attend the wedding of Prince William and his wife to be, Kate Middleton, on Friday, April 29, in Britain.{{more}}

Governor-General Sir Frederick Ballantyne and his wife Sally-Ann Lady Ballantyne are also expected to attend the special occasion.

When contacted on Wednesday, April 6, Prime Minister Gonsalves said all the Governors-General and their spouses as well as all Prime Ministers and their spouses of the Commonwealth will be attending the wedding. William is second in line to take the British throne.

In response to critics who have been saying that Gonsalves should not attend the wedding after calling for the removal of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William’s grandmother, as this country’s Head of State, the Prime Minister said: “It just shows that I am a democrat to the core.”

“The people of St.Vincent and the Grenadines voted to keep, among other things, the Monarchy and the Governor-General who represents the Queen, after the 2010 election. He is the man who appointed me as Prime Minister.”

Gonsalves said he is a constitutionalist, who follows the law of the land.

“I made a call for the change in the system from a monarchial one to a republican one, the people said ‘no, leave as it is’,” said Gonsalves.

SEARCHLIGHT has learnt that Roger Pritchard, Managing Director of the Mustique Company; Richard Scaffer, Resident Tennis Coach on Mustique; Liz Saint of the Equestrian Centre; and Greg Allen, a Mustique yoga teacher, were also invited to the wedding. (HN)