Stressing over when invitations to the royal wedding would arrive wasn’t the only thing guests to William Charles and Catherine Middleton’s wedding had on their minds. When their passport to the April 29th ceremony at Westminister Abbey, London finally arrived, invited guests were at a point where they had to find something appropriate for a couple who had everything they needed and then some!
Silverware, toaster ovens, antique furniture, perhaps? All those would have likely been on the list of things not to get for the royal couple, but thankfully for those invited, William and Kate made things a whole lot easier by requesting that guests make a donation to one of their favourite charities under the Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton Charitable Gift Fund.
Having been touched by the goodwill shown to them since their engagement, the couple asked that anyone wishing to send them a wedding gift consider doing so in the form of a donation to the fund. Wedding invitations included instructions on how such donations could be made. The list of charities was posted online and included causes like Changing Lives Through Arts and Sport; Children Fulfilling Their Potential; Help and Care at Home; Support for Service Personnel and Their Families; and Conservation for Future Generations.
William and Kate also supposedly had a private wedding list of gifts they wanted from their friends. Though wedding gift details remain something of a mystery, one of their gifts has been unveiled, a sculpture from one of St Lucia’s top notch sculptors, Jallim Eudovic.
Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy chose to give the couple a more intimate gift, in the form of a one of a kind, hand carved sculpture with more than a hint of love!
Local Artist Jallim Eudovic said the wooden sculpture was created from St Lucian mahogany wood, and captured the marriage of William and Kate beautifully with two interlocked rings welcoming each other into their lives.
Jallim has held exhibitions in Paris, Ottowa, Africa, China, Martinique and England, and characterized by the passion that shows through in his work it was easy to fathom why he would have been hand picked by the island’s governor general for the task.
“It’s definitely one of the greatest honours that has ever been bestowed upon me,” Eudovic told the STAR.
“I didn’t even have time for that privilege to really sink in because it was very 11th hour, but half way through the gravity of it all started to take shape based on people’s reactions and that’s when I realized, wow, this is a big deal.”
It took two grueling and tedious weeks for the sculpture to come to life once the governor general had selected which of the artist’s sketches she thought best. After that the process included first making a prototype, then creating the masterpiece with the governor general giving keeping close watch at the artist’s progress.
“The two heads leaning on each other at the top of the sculpture signifies the crown jewels of England and the world, coming together as one yet gaining support and strength from that special union while respecting the others individuality,” Eudovic said speaking of the sculpture’s concept. “The ring is of course the universal symbol of togetherness, love, infinity and eternity, all wishes for the beautiful couple as they start their adventure together.”
When the sculpture themed ‘Crown Jewels’ was complete the artist included an exquisite wooden casing complete with velvet upholstery that could be carried as hand luggage by the governor general as she made her way to the royal occasion.
“I think she was quite pleased and content with it,” Eudovic said. “It wasn’t exactly a surprise but she was still pleasantly surprised at the finished piece.”
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