TURNING 18 is always either an exciting or absolutely terrifying time, depending upon the life you lead in general, but it's rarely 'just another birthday' or devoid of emotions – and, if you live in Spain...
James Rhodes' wedding photos with Pablo Iglesias, Irene Montero and Benedict Cumberbatch posted
03/09/2022
A STAR-STUDDED guest list helped British-born pianist James Rhodes celebrate his wedding to Micaela Breque, and the musical legend has now posted the official photos to Instagram.
Having just received them from Emotion and Motion, James, 46, has displayed them for the first time, giving his thanks to the photographers for their 'incredible' footage.
James and Micaela married 'officially' in August 2021, just the two of them and a registrar, then held a wedding reception and repeated their vows in May 2022, inviting all their friends.
In the pictures, minister for equality Irene Montero and her husband Pablo Iglesias, co-founder and former leader of the left-wing independent party Podemos – now governing in coalition with the centre-left socialists, or PSOE, are shown laughing as James wields a cake knife.
Irene commented, 'wonderful!' on the picture, and James responded, “sorry about the thing with the knife.”
Actor Javier Cámara joined in with, “Madam, we're having a great time and all that!”, to which Irene responded: “Weddings have to be repeated, clearly.”
Another image shows Pablo Iglesias dancing, and a subsequent dancefloor picture shows comedian couple Andreu Buenafuente and Silvia Abril having a bop.
The most internationally-famous guest, also shown in the photos, is British actor Benedict Cumberbatch, of Sherlock and The Power of the Dog fame – a close friend of James Rhodes' since their school days at Harrow, and best man at both 'weddings'.
Mayoress of Barcelona, Ada Colau – on the local Podemos faction En Comú Podem – is shown at the reception in one of the official photos.
James, a professional classical pianist, moved to Spain in 2017, and soon built up close ties with Pablo Iglesias, who was then first deputy president to national leader Pedro Sánchez (PSOE).
The musician helped Iglesias draft the new child protection law which was signed off and put into effect in May 2021, drawing on his own traumatic childhood experiences.
James was abused and suffers PTSD as a result, but was never able to gain closure or justice, since the PE teacher accused died before the trial started.
Aspects of the law which have changed how adults inside and outside the home care for them include a legal requirement to have effective anti-bullying protocols in schools, a Child Welfare Coordinator in all schools and any other establishment, such as sports centres, which work with under-18s, and an obligation for any adult involved with children to report anything that could raise concern, such as a child's own comments, rather than dismissing these as the overactive imagination of a very young person.
James' substantial co-authorship of the new law meant he was granted Spanish nationality as a reward for his work, after just four years of residence, rather than the usual 10 years that apply to everyone other than citizens of Portugal or of former colonies, descendants of the Sephardic Jews thrown out of Spain in the 15th century, and direct descendants of the International Brigades members who helped fight fascism in the Civil War.
These applicants are the only ones entitled to hold joint Spanish nationality with their original citizenship; all others have to renounce their existing nationality when applying.
James had expressed his intentions of applying for Spanish nationality, as a result of Brexit, as soon as he was able.
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A STAR-STUDDED guest list helped British-born pianist James Rhodes celebrate his wedding to Micaela Breque, and the musical legend has now posted the official photos to Instagram.
Having just received them from Emotion and Motion, James, 46, has displayed them for the first time, giving his thanks to the photographers for their 'incredible' footage.
James and Micaela married 'officially' in August 2021, just the two of them and a registrar, then held a wedding reception and repeated their vows in May 2022, inviting all their friends.
In the pictures, minister for equality Irene Montero and her husband Pablo Iglesias, co-founder and former leader of the left-wing independent party Podemos – now governing in coalition with the centre-left socialists, or PSOE, are shown laughing as James wields a cake knife.
Irene commented, 'wonderful!' on the picture, and James responded, “sorry about the thing with the knife.”
Actor Javier Cámara joined in with, “Madam, we're having a great time and all that!”, to which Irene responded: “Weddings have to be repeated, clearly.”
Another image shows Pablo Iglesias dancing, and a subsequent dancefloor picture shows comedian couple Andreu Buenafuente and Silvia Abril having a bop.
The most internationally-famous guest, also shown in the photos, is British actor Benedict Cumberbatch, of Sherlock and The Power of the Dog fame – a close friend of James Rhodes' since their school days at Harrow, and best man at both 'weddings'.
Mayoress of Barcelona, Ada Colau – on the local Podemos faction En Comú Podem – is shown at the reception in one of the official photos.
James, a professional classical pianist, moved to Spain in 2017, and soon built up close ties with Pablo Iglesias, who was then first deputy president to national leader Pedro Sánchez (PSOE).
The musician helped Iglesias draft the new child protection law which was signed off and put into effect in May 2021, drawing on his own traumatic childhood experiences.
James was abused and suffers PTSD as a result, but was never able to gain closure or justice, since the PE teacher accused died before the trial started.
Aspects of the law which have changed how adults inside and outside the home care for them include a legal requirement to have effective anti-bullying protocols in schools, a Child Welfare Coordinator in all schools and any other establishment, such as sports centres, which work with under-18s, and an obligation for any adult involved with children to report anything that could raise concern, such as a child's own comments, rather than dismissing these as the overactive imagination of a very young person.
James' substantial co-authorship of the new law meant he was granted Spanish nationality as a reward for his work, after just four years of residence, rather than the usual 10 years that apply to everyone other than citizens of Portugal or of former colonies, descendants of the Sephardic Jews thrown out of Spain in the 15th century, and direct descendants of the International Brigades members who helped fight fascism in the Civil War.
These applicants are the only ones entitled to hold joint Spanish nationality with their original citizenship; all others have to renounce their existing nationality when applying.
James had expressed his intentions of applying for Spanish nationality, as a result of Brexit, as soon as he was able.
Related Topics
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