MP hails "deeply wonderful" royal wedding

I wish I had a pause button to press says Richard Benyon, who was a guest at the royal wedding

THE MP for Newbury Richard Benyon has spoken of his "special" experience as a guest at the royal wedding between Prince William and Chapel Row's Kate Middleton yesterday (Friday).

Mr Benyon attended with his wife Zoe, who designed the earrings worn by Miss Middleton, who later became Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and her bridesmaids.

"It was just lovely, even though it was a big national event with kings and queens of all countries present, it still felt like a family wedding," he said.

"It was really warm, it had a really warm feeling to it, and just the way they would have wanted it.

"I wish I had a pause button, it was such a special day, a deeply wonderful occasion."

"We got to the Abbey on good time, and we got a good view of everything, we were close enough to see everyone.

"Kate looked absolutely stunning, and such an elegant, regal figure. There is an intelligence to her, and the royal family are really lucky to have her and the Middletons, and I think they know that."

He said West Berkshire was also represented in another way during the day.

"We went back to the palace for the reception, and one of the things on the menu was Royal Berkshire honeycomb ice cream. Amongst all the Duchy meats and scallops there was this little ice cream, probably made by some small manufacturer here; we even made it onto the menu."

"I was speaking to some other politicians afterwards and it was remarked that there can't be many, if any, other countries who have such a level of positive public relations in events like this, like that we have got here in the UK," he said.

"I think the Monarchy is in very good hands in the next generation and the one after that. People like Kate will instil a sense of modernity amongst all the tradition."

Mr Benyon recalled his memories of the previous royal wedding, between Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981, when he was stationed in Germany with the army.

"We were given the day off and went to the next city along, which was Cologne, a place completely devastated by Allied bombing during the war," he said.

"We found a bar that was populated by Germans who were all sitting around watching the wedding on TV. When they found out we were with the army, we didn't have to buy a drink all day. It was an extraordinary act of kindness and one I will never forget. It was so touching; they were fascinated by our traditions, by something that we found so personal."