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CNN Live At Daybreak

McCartney, Mills Arrive at Castle Leslie for Wedding

Aired June 10, 2002 - 05:42   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: In Ireland, singer Paul McCartney and his fiancee, Heather Mills, are to hold a news conference today. McCartney and Mills arrived at Castle Leslie by helicopter last night.

And CNN's Richard Quest is geared up and ready for the reported $3 million wedding.

RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Morning, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Good morning, Richard. How was it? Did you have a front seat?

QUEST: Just look at this weather, typical Irish summer they are saying, and certainly not perhaps -- forgive the umbrella, but without it I promise you I'd be a drowned rat before we finish speaking.

Yes, Sir Paul and Heather arrived yesterday evening about half past seven. The couple spent the night at Castle Leslie.

I've got to be very careful, the wind's getting up as well. The whole -- this whole thing could end in tears and disaster.

Unlike the wedding, which actually -- and now what they're planning -- what they basically spent the evening and the night in the castle. I understand that one or two of the guests may have arrived over the weekend, including artists such as Cliff Richard and those sort of -- nobody's quite sure who's in there.

What I do know is that later this afternoon it is planned for Paul and Heather Mills to come out here for a photo call and to answer some questions from the press.

Now the importance of this wedding in the media as well as in the entertainment world is absolutely huge. Paul McCartney of course only married once before and then for 30 odd years to Linda McCartney who died in 1998. Then he met Heather Mills at a charity function and the fairy tale story continues to some extent.

The question, where he proposed? If you -- if you ask some people, Kyra, he actually proposed to Heather Mills here at Castle Leslie when he visited it last year searching for his family roots. If you ask other people, they say no he didn't, he proposed elsewhere in England. So the weather is truly dreadful. We understand that the atmosphere inside is very quiet, very restrained. The final preparations have been made. And from Paul McCartney's point of view, he's getting what he wanted which was a secluded, remote, rural, peaceful wedding where for the second time in his -- in his life and indeed for the second time in her life, they can exchange marriage vows -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Now, Richard, give us a little history behind Castle Leslie. I know this is where Paul McCartney proposed to Heather Mills, right?

QUEST: Well indeed, although you have to take pretty much everything that you hear about what Paul and Heather Mills are supposed to have done with a pinch of salt. One thing I can tell you is that many of the people who have been working this particular engagement, a lot of the roadies, a lot of the staff have had to eat vegetarian food for the past week. They're getting a bit sick and tired of that. They're looking forward to a good steak or a bit of chicken. But, of course, Paul McCartney vegetarian, following on from his late wife, Linda McCartney, who was an ardent vegetarian and a great supporter of that particular cause.

And now -- and we understand that the feast, the wedding feast, which will be served under two huge marquees and a floating marquee, will actually be an Indian vegetarian wedding feast. So meat lovers perhaps not that -- will perhaps find that a bit lacking at the moment.

Otherwise, I mean what's going to be interesting, Kyra, let's put it bluntly, what's going to be interesting in the next day or so is who arrives, which guest has finally decided to make it here. Everybody from Bill Clinton to Madonna, you pays your money you takes your choice on who's on the actual wedding list.

PHILLIPS: Richard Quest live from the scene of the -- I guess not crime, but excitement. Thanks so much, Richard.

Well soon we'll have to call him Sir Mick, according...

QUEST: Thanks, Kyra, and it...

PHILLIPS: Yes, go ahead.

QUEST: Yes, I was just -- yes, I was sorry, Kyra, I didn't mean to barge in. Well I was just about to say I'll be back with you within the hour when we'll be talking and finding out how the locals here in Glaslough have been getting on with it and what they hope to get out. And I've got a little treat for you, I'll show you where I've been staying.

PHILLIPS: All right. Richard Quest, we look forward to that. I know CNN's budget. I don't know how fancy it's going to be, definitely no the castle. Richard, we'll see you soon.

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