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Madonna, Guy Ritchie to Be Wed Behind Tight Security at Skibo Castle; 'Sun' Reporter Discusses Media Presence

Aired December 22, 2000 - 9:30 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

LEON HARRIS, CNN CNN ANCHOR: Heat-seeking equipment, search lights, they're part of the security around Skibo Castle in Scotland today as the "Material Girl" becomes the married woman.

CNN's Nic Robertson joins us once again from Dornoch, Scotland. He's got more on the wedding of pop superstar Madonna and British film director guy Ritchie -- Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Leon, some of the superstars that are jetting into Scotland to come to the wedding today are having problems getting in. Fog is closing down the Inverness airport and they're being diverted to other airports around Scotland. Debate even whether some of the big names will actually be able to get here on time.

There are a few people gathering around the gates here outside Skibo Castle to try and catch a glimpse of anyone that goes in a few minutes ago. Singer Sting went in. He went inside in a black Mercedes car. And we peaked inside and he was wearing a kilt. We understand also that Guy Ritchie will be wearing a kilt for the wedding later today.

But really, for most people, the best chance to see Madonna was at the Christening of her son last night.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTSON (voice-over): At Madonna's side, carrying their 4- month-old child, Rocco, British movie director Guy Ritchie, Madonna's husband-to-be. Also arriving for the baby's christening at the 13th- century Dornoch Cathedral, Britain's northernmost, many of their friends, bringing Hollywood into the heart of the Highlands. Preparations for Rocco's christening and his parents' wedding a welcome delight for many in the remote town.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I've never seen this in my life. Never. Not even when the Queen Mother was here, there wasn't all this. No, nothing like it. I think it's brilliant.

ROBERTSON: Normally, a sleepy town reliant on summer tourists, the unseasonal burst in business brought by Madonna is seen as a harbinger of better days. CASIA ZAJAC, HIGHLANDS TOURIST BOARD: There is going to be a huge tourism spin-off, because I think people are realizing that, you know, a romantic get-a-way-from-it-all wedding, Highland wedding, is the kind of cool thing to do.

ROBERTSON: On the Royal Dornoch Golf Course, they acknowledge Madonna may help a wee bit.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It brings the town a bit of fame. But the main fame of the town is this golf course.

ROBERTSON: In Dornoch's butcher shop, fresh Highland venison is being dressed. The sentiments here: down to earth.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It would be nice to see her walking about the streets, though. But we're not going to see her close, we'll see here on TV.

ROBERTSON: Apart from the christening, Madonna, Guy and many of their more famous friends have sequestered themselves in this sumptuous luxury of nearby Skibo Castle, venue for the wedding and former Scottish hideaway for turn-of-the-century American industrialist Andrew Carnegie.

The castle is remote, beautiful and, if its name in the ancient Celtic language is to be believed, "a peaceful fairyland." It is off limits to the media, which are blamed for disrupting the singing star's Malibu wedding to Sean Penn in 1985.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTSON: Well, the secrecy is making it very difficult for journalists to cover this wedding. Locked outside the grounds of Skibo Castle, perhaps 100 or so journalists camped outside of the gates.

I'm joined now by Dominic Mohan.

Dominic, you are the showbiz editor of "The Sun." Just how are you going to cover this huge showbiz wedding?

DOMINIC MOHAN, "THE SUN": Well, I mean, we are were lucky last night because we obviously were given a picture opportunity at the christening. But, I mean, we're just sort of hanging around waiting for people to go in and out. We've got -- speaking to people inside and getting a bit of information about what's going on, and we're just really hoping that Madonna will release the picture to the media this evening after the ceremony.

ROBERTSON: In the light, however, of Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas's court of appeal ruling that they could sue the "Hello" magazine for printing a clandestine picture of the wedding, what would you do in a similar situation now today?

MOHAN: Well, there are a number of pictures actually around that were taken on the grounds. But, I mean, we're obviously making a decision whether to run those or not. I mean, they'll probably appear in international media, but probably not in Britain because of privacy laws, although there is no trespass law in Scotland. So that makes it different from England so that our legal teams are looking into it now.

ROBERTSON: Have you tried to put somebody in the grounds today?

MOHAN: No, we haven't. We haven't. I mean, obviously there were two people arrested after an incident last night at the church. So, I mean, Madonna's security are taken this very seriously. They've stepped up security today at the castle. There's teams on an hourly basis scouring the grounds with sort of walking sticks and iron bars. So they're checking through the undergrowth to see if anybody's lurking. So it would be a very brave man to go in there.

ROBERTSON: Yes, quite off-putting, I would think, for most journalists.

Now, you've been very fortunate. Recently you've interviewed both Guy and Madonna. Madonna seems to be spending a lot more of her time in the U.K. What can you tell us about that?

MOHAN: Yes, I interviewed her about a month ago. And, actually, I said to her that she seemed quite European, and I think that was the biggest compliment I could have paid her, really. Her sort of eyes lit up and she said, oh, really? I mean, she's starting to talk with a slightly English accent. She's spending a lot of time in odd places like London pubs, London restaurants where you wouldn't normally expect to see her. And, you know, 10 years ago she'd have had sort of 20 security with her. But now just her and Guy seem to go around, and he's basically her minder. He can look after himself.

ROBERTSON: Dominic, thank you very much indeed.

So, we're waiting here outside the gates, the press, a few onlookers. We don't know what to expect. Will somebody come out of the gates and announce to us that the wedding has happened? Will we just have to wait for the fireworks that we're told may happen this evening over Skibo Castle? We'll wait and see.

HARRIS: All right, thanks, Nic. Nic Robertson reporting live from Dornoch.

Don't think he's going to go in there and try to catch the bouquet, do you?

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: How come Madonna's marrying a man 10 years younger?

HARRIS: Hey, more to him.

KAGAN: He's got it. All right. Younger men, OK.

HARRIS: He's doing it for the 401(k), trust me.

(LAUGHTER) KAGAN: Which is hefty, I'm sure.

HARRIS: No doubt.

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