Beatles in Palace Lunch Muddle (1966)

John and Paul look tired and concerned, but the gentleman looking at the camera sure is happy.

 

Beatles in Palace Lunch Muddle

New Agency

The London Evening Standard

July 4, 1966

    The Beatles failed to keep an appointment with the wife of President Marcos of the Philippines at the Presidential Palace in Manila today because of a misunderstanding. Messages from the Palace and the British Embassy failed to produce the pop group. 

    Mrs. Marcos waited with her three children and 200 other youngsters for more than an hour before she told reporters, "We have no more time to receive them. We are also busy people." She added just before leaving the Palace music room that her children "Really like the Rolling Stones better than the Beatles."

     Paul McCartney today apologized in a radio interview on behalf of the Beatles for not turning up. "If she's listening now, you know, we're very sorry it happened," he said, "but it wasn't our fault."

     The Beatles press spokesman, Tony Barrow, said later that the group "Knew nothing about the appointment with Mrs. Marcos." He said that just after noon (local time), a call came from the Palace saying they were supposed to be there for lunch. "This was just impossible, because three of the Beatles were in bed at the time," said Barrow. President Marcos was to have lunched with the Beatles at the Palace.

     About 40,000 screaming and cheering fans watched the first of two performances by the Beatles in Manila today. Fire engines and ambulances stood by, but there were no incidents.