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CNN Live Today

McCartney to Wed Mills in One Hour

Aired June 11, 2002 - 10:24   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: About an hour from now, former Beatle Paul McCartney is to marry ex-model Heather Mills. It is happening in Ireland. The guest list is said to include some big names in pop music and politics, former President Bill Clinton reported to be on the invite list. Not sure if he's going to show up.

Among the uninvited media, our Richard Quest outside the castle, yet not diminished in the enthusiasm of this story, despite the rain and despite the lack of invite -- Richard, hello.

RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, Daryn believe me, my enthusiasm is not what it might have been when we started this 48 hours ago. Because we haven't really seen anything more except this gate for the last two days.

What we have seen, though, in the last maybe 20 minutes is some of the coaches of the various family and friends of McCartney and Mills, who have been flown to Belfast. We've probably seen four coaches so far go through: big coaches with friends and family, and let's remember, Paul McCartney has already made it quite clear, he wanted this to be a family and friendly event. It was not a celebrity wedding, he said. And certainly from the people we've seen so far, at least those we've been able to see through the windows, who came in on the chartered planes, they seem to be just family and friends.

We, of course, assume that the famous people, Ringo Starr, who has been seen at the Belfast airport, the model Twiggy was seen at Belfast. We also know Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders was seen. They were probably brought in, maybe by car or by smaller buses with blackened out windows. Because we've seen at least three or four of those roar through here at great speed.

Now, the weather was doing rather well. Though you may note, of course, I'm having my own personal little battle with the heavens. The weather was doing rather well, except five minutes ago, the heavens decided to open.

We are just about an hour, an hour and a half away from the ceremony. We will keep you -- just seeing if I can see any more busses up there at the moment. No, none of my colleagues from other networks are managing to see (ph). We can't see any more arriving just yet.

But as I say, the celebrities are on their way, and many will already be there. And then the service starts, Daryn, and after the service comes the festivities, the marquees, the Indian vegetarian feast, and then the bands, including Paul McCartney's touring band, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr. Elton John also confirmed to be attending. And the whole thing will all finish tonight with a fireworks display we believe. And according to rumor, the bride and groom will take to a boat and go into the middle of the lake, where they will watch it together. How sweet.

KAGAN: Even if it's raining, Richard, they're going to do that?

QUEST: Well, you'll have to forgive me, I have been rained on so many times in the past 24 hours, that I think my enthusiasm for the prospect of Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills rowing off into the middle of Glaslough, which literally means "green lake" because of the way the whole thing looks. That is where the name comes from, glas loch (ph), and my enthusiasm has somewhat waned.

Now we are starting to hear helicopters overhead, and we believe there has been an air exclusion zone around the place. But clearly, one or two helicopters now overhead. Not sure if they are guests, or if they are media trying to get more pictures. The service, as I say, about an hour and a half away.

KAGAN: Well, it sounds like everyone kind of came prepared. You have your trustee CNN umbrella there, Richard. And didn't the McCartneys make preparations in case of rain or media, there's a big covered area so that they wouldn't be intruded upon.

QUEST: Indeed, there is a huge marquee where it will all take place, and there are tunnels between the marquees, the church, and the castle. If you want to really know how we spend most of our time sitting here waiting...

KAGAN: I do.

QUEST: Let me show you, give you an idea -- I thought you might. Not only that, we've got the CNN patented chair. How would you like to spend the better part of 48 hours...

KAGAN: Lovely, Richard. I will leave you sitting right there, and we'll check back with you.

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