Royal wedding fever: dress down Friday
Never mind election fever: the speculation over wedding attire is at fever pitch on the doorstep. Who will design it? How much will it cost? Will someone else turn up in the same gear? Can I buy one in Primark?
As of today, the speculation will stop. I can reveal, as those royal reporters say, that the Welsh first minister, Carwyn Jones, has decided to shun morning dress for the big occasion.
"I will be wearing a lounge suit," he told me. "I don't look good in tails." This despite Labour leader Ed Miliband joining David Cameron and Nick Clegg in morning dress for the occasion.
Mr Jones said: "Really, I associate tails with being part of the official party as it were. I don't think people are going to be looking at what I wear.
"It is up to people to decide what they want to wear. The option is morning suit, lounge suit or uniform. I don't have a uniform, so it's lounge suit."
Another notable Welsh guest is also shunning tails. Presiding officer Lord Elis-Thomas will also be wearing a lounge suit, although probably one of immaculate tailoring. (It was once suggested that the reason he was so demob-happy during his last days as an MP was because he was the only one wearing a demob suit styled by Giorgio Armani).
Lord Elis-Thomas has been known to express the occasional republican sentiment in the past, although he was once late for his own leader's speech at a Plaid Cymru conference due to a visit to his constituency by the Queen.
As Bethan Jenkins, one of his past colleagues in the Welsh assembly, put it on twitter: "The Lord works in mysterious ways".
Hello. I'm David Cornock and I'm parliamentary correspondent for Ö÷²¥´óÐã Wales. This is the blog for the latest news and gossip from the Westminster village - with a Welsh accent.
Comment number 1.
At 26th Apr 2011, caradog_minchin wrote:I think it is a great shame that these key officers of the Assembly have not been provided with a form of ceremonial dress appropriate to the grandeur of the institution and this occasion. Why not have a competition which would allow the best of young Welsh talent to submit designs of appropriate robes and, I suggest, hats with feathers as would befit the new Governors General of Wales....
Complain about this comment (Comment number 1)
Comment number 2.
At 26th Apr 2011, RW49 wrote:Whatever they turn up in I expect the traditional repost: Are you wearing that for a bet?
Complain about this comment (Comment number 2)
Comment number 3.
At 27th Apr 2011, tredwyn wrote:There's a statue of Oliver Cromwell outside Westminster Hall. They should get their tailor to knock up versions of his outfit to give expression to their republican sentiments.
After the Restoration one of the Commonwealth officials was being dragged out ot be hanged drawn and quartered. The crowd bayed and spat at him and someone shouted "where is your grand old cause now"? He struck his chest above his heart and answered "here".
Complain about this comment (Comment number 3)