a funny story about the royal wedding...
How did I get this rather close up photo of Princes Pilolevu when Peace Corps volunteers were not exactly invited to the palace for the marriage ceremony July 20, 1976? The answer is, and kindly keep this between you and me, I made a fake press pass (see below) in room 19 of Tonga High School. A touch of chutzpah, piece of linoleum, an Exacto knife, a little glue, a piece of paper, a safety pin and some creative wording…it’s what being an artist is all about. I didn’t think it would work, but it did…much to my surprise. I took a few photos before I scurried off.
A quick change to classic European garb. May I add that is one gigantic wedding cake in the background. Sadly, my faux press pass did not get me a slice of that cake.
After “sneaking” onto the palace grounds to take a photograph or two of the Princess, I continued to press my luck. I thought I would share this additional somewhat feloniously acquired photo I took. It’s a rather close photo of his Majesty on the Palace grounds while he was getting ready to drive the hundred feet to the parade grounds to help celebrate his daughter’s wedding. My faux press pass, it would seem, was all that I needed. On a separate note, I really like his license plate.
Okay, I was sure I was going to get caught, but I pushed forward and “peeked” into the palace where all of the wedding gifts from around the world were on display, with little tags showing what gift came from whom. The lady in the foreground told me I shouldn’t be there, but I raised my eyebrows and pointed to my “Press badge” and she let me take a photograph.