Children’s party for a very British cause

The SPCA’s Paws 4 a Cause charity shop in George Borg Olivier Street, Sliema, has organised a day-long celebration of the Royal Wedding for today, serving wine and canapés and the chance to watch the wedding while playing tombola.

A “rare and valuable” collection of books and magazines about the British Royal Family from the 1900s until the 1980s, donated to the charity shop, is on sale on the occasion in aid of the animal homing centre in Floriana.

Paws 4 a Cause’s shop windows have been dedicated to the Royal Wedding, with images of its members wearing the clothes on sale and resulting in requests from customer’s to buy “Kate’s dress” – until now top secret.

A group of friends have also taken the opportunity to organise a Royal Wedding party today, complete with crowns, tiaras and champagne from the early hours.

“We’re not into the Royal Family. We just want to be part of the rest of the world,” they said, planning to spend the day on the sofa, watching the wedding, followed by a DVD with a royal subject.

However, other parties have had to be cancelled due to the Royal festivities. Robyn Farrugia turns seven today but her mother put forward her birthday party to Wednesday, fearing guests would not turn up and wanting to watch the wedding on TV herself.

“My mother is Irish and my mother-in-law is English,” said Deirdre Farrugia, adding that she needed their assistance on the day to cope with 30 children and their parents. Changing the birthday date has guaranteed that.

Originally, she was thinking of having a princess theme and TV screens for the mothers to watch but it proved to add to the complications of organising a kids’ party.

Robyn has benefitted from a double celebration and so does journalist Ray Abdilla, who has double cause to party today. He got married 21 years ago on a Friday and plans to spend the morning watching the Royal Wedding with his wife.