Celebrity Colonialism with Holly Branson – and Freddie!
CELEBRITY colonialist of the day is Holly Branson, Richard Branson’s daughter. Recently, Holly married Freddie Andrewes “in an idyllic ceremony on Necker Island “(prop, R. Branson – price on application). She’s the “UK patron of Free The Children – a charity Virgin Atlantic works in partnership with“.
The facts come thick and fast in OK!. Says Holly:
“I’m really happy my husband Freddie…is on the trip. We haven’t left each other’s side for two months as we’ve been travelling in Costa Rica and Antarctica for our honeymoon, and only landed back on London a couple of days ago. It’s wonderful to share this experience with him.”
Ah, inhale that poverty.
“After arriving at our hotel we enjoy an Indian banquet over the beautiful Lake Pichola, before an early night ahead of out exciting day ahead.”
Holly wears T-shirt, jeans, trainers and a pot of eater on her had. Freddie wears a garland of flowers and a clean white shirt and jeans. They are reassuringly blonde amid a sea of dark faces.
Holly says that 40 percent of the women in their Udaipur village she’s visiting die in childbirth. Says Holly:
“I’m a trained doctor, but gave up career to go into the family business.”
Maybe the village could use a doctor even more than it could use an OK! photoshoot?
After the obligatory tribal dance with the locals, the celebrity colonialist tells us that “back in the UK we take for granted having things like a proper roof, a bathroom and a bed”.
Holly then tells us that the recent fire on Necker Island taught her that “how unimportant material things are“.
Adding:
“This part of India would be great place to bring kids from back home, to show them how happy others are with very little.”
One day Holly hopes to return to show her own children the happy, simple dark faces. Unless, the booming Indian industrial revolution has reached a village in Udaipur, in which case Holly can always flog the local extras Virgin cola, balloon flights and a cracking deal with Virgin Mobile India…
Posted: 9th, March 2012 | In: Celebrities Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
