Royal Wedding - Islington pupils get ready to celebrate marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton

Published: 29 April 2011
by PAVAN AMARA

PUPILS of Thornhill Primary School feasted on cucumber sandwiches, sipped tea and learned some useful lessons in etiquette yesterday (Thursday), all in the name of the royal wedding.

Their English tea party was one of a host of events taking place today and yesterday to mark the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton today.

The royal wedding may divide opinion – with some believing it’s a waste of tax payers’ money and out dated – but hundreds of children across the borough saw it as an excuse for a party. 

“This is a perfect opportunity to teach them some life skills,” said assistant head Emyr Fairburn. 

“This week has put everyone in a different mental frame. So we decided to hold a tea party. We told them all they must play very formal roles. That means no slang, no slurping, and no shouting loudly across the classroom. They loved it. It’s a great lesson for adult life. They will be in formal situations, and they have to know how to behave. That means, behaving in a different way to what they’re used to.”

The year six pupils weren’t all simply accepting the royalist line, however. 

“The only way for Kate Middleton to be a good queen is to give all her money to the homeless people, because the only way people will like her is if she’s kind,” said Anisa Sikyurek, 11.

Ten-year-old Betsy Hannant added: “They’re just showing off. They have all this money, and they shouldn’t. It’s unfair, what about all the other people in the world?”

Canonbury School was another school to kick off the royal wedding celebrations in style. The school was transformed into a street party scene, as children and staff held their own royal wedding celebrations. 

There will also be a very British celebration at Highbury Terrace, held by the Highbury Crown Pensioners Association. Union Jacks will adorn the premises, and there will be the usual activities of face painting, bingo, food and drink.

Manager Graham Vine said: “Whether royalist or republican, Hindu or Sikh, black or white, our pensioners wish the newlyweds well and will always jump at the chance of a party.”

Other events will take place today in Barnsbury Park, Quick Street, Haberton Road, Wolsley Road and Queen Margaret’s Grove, Watlerlow Road, St John’s Villas and Goodinge Close. 

Islington Council handed out £2,723 in grants to some groups to pay towards the cost of bunting, food and entertainment. The  figure was condemned by Islington Hands Off Our Public Services (IHoops), who are battling government cuts.

Press officer Ken Muller, who stressed he was speaking in a personal capacity. “I think the money could  be better spent on education,” he said. 

But a council spokesman said the money came from funding specifically for community events.

Street artist Bambi, who featured in last week’s Tribune, summed up the ambivalence towards the wedding with a new work on the corner of Offord Road and Liverpool Road in Highbury. A seven-foot image of the royal couple was called Marmite – because you love or hate them.