27 April,2011 12:06 PM IST | | Sudeshna Chowdhury
Raghunath Medge, President of Mumbai Dabbawallas Association, remembers every detail of the royal wedding between Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles in London six years ago.
"A translator would help us to interact with the people who had come for the wedding ceremony. We had received a lot of love and admiration from the royal family of Britain," says Medge, who recalls William as a, "young, handsome, fun-loving man who was busy cracking jokes with the newly wed couple. I remember shaking hands with William," he adds.u00a0
ROYAL TREAT: Raghunath Medge and Sopan Laxman More with Prince
Charles
Sopan Laxman More, another dabbawalla, toou00a0 attended the wedding along with Medge in 2005. Mumbai's ubiquitous dabbawallas are known for their efficient delivery system but an invitation from the Royal family of Britain catapulted them to international fame. However, this year the dabbawallas are not part of the royal wedding guest list, and this has upset many of them, who were expecting an invitation for William and Kate's wedding on Friday, April 29. "We had expected an invitation from the royal family. In fact many of my friends and neighbours wanted to know if I was being invited. William's father, Charles, was kind to us and gave us so much of love and affection. Hence, we wish his son and daughter-in-law all the best in their married life," says More.
For the dabbawallas, the association with the Royal family of Britain started in 2003 when the Prince visited India and since then the dabbawallas have had a special connection with the royal family. Many of them plan to watch the wedding live on television. Says Medge, "Raja je bete ki shaadi hai to zaroor dekhenge (The Prince's son is getting married so we will definitely watch)."
More has been reading newspapers to learn more about the royal wedding. "As of now, I don't know which channel will telecast the wedding. But as soon as I find out, I shall watch the wedding ceremony on television."
