FED:Aust spends $25,000 on royal wedding gift

AAP General News (Australia)
04-18-2011
FED:Aust spends $25,000 on royal wedding gift

By Susanna Dunkerley

CANBERRA, April 18 AAP - What is the perfect wedding gift for a couple who appear to have it all?

In the case of Prince William and Catherine Middleton a donation to a favoured donation
will suffice.

Australia's official wedding gift to the couple, who will marry next week, is $25,000
to the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS).

Prince William, a qualified pilot, visited the RFDS base in Cairns during his recent
trip down under, in the wake of the summer floods and Cyclone Yasi.

The charity is one of 26 the royal couple asked well-wishers to donate to in lieu of
a wedding gift.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who's attending the April 29 ceremony with partner Tim
Mathieson, says it's a "very generous gesture" on behalf of the happy couple.

"To ask for donations that will go directly to helping out Australians when they need
it most," she said in a statement.

Australia gifted 20 handcrafted silver platters to Prince William's parents, Charles
and Diana, when they wed in 1981.

AAP sld/sb/nb

KEYWORD: WEDDING GIFT

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