NEWSMAKERS | Brian Williams interviews De Niro

NEWSMAKERS

Brian Williams interviews De Niro

NEW YORK

At the Tribeca Film Festival, Brian Williams attempted a challenge: interviewing Robert De Niro.

Williams sat down with the actor Saturday as part of Tribeca’s “Directors Series” talks. De Niro is a famously difficult interview, but the New Jersey- native newscaster was eager for a chance to face off with a personal idol.

The NBC News anchorman said he wanted to interview De Niro “as a fan.” Though De Niro often answered Williams’ questions with typical recalcitrance, the two managed a good conversation with only an occasional sigh from Williams.

Asked if he watches his old movies on TV, De Niro said he doesn’t and instead watches NBC News and the “Today” show.

Beckham, Elton John to be at royal wedding

LONDON

David Beckham, Elton John and “Mr. Bean” actor Rowan Atkinson will mingle with dozens of royal guests at Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding, according to an official guest list released Saturday that includes one uncomfortable presence — the Bahraini crown prince accused of a brutal crackdown on protesters.

St. James’s Palace also released the seating plan at Westminster Abbey, which showed that relatives of William’s mother, Princess Diana, are sitting across the aisle from the royal family, joining the Middletons in an exception to the traditional division of a church into a bride’s side and groom’s side.

There was no explanation of the seating arrangement, but the Spencers have not had a good relationship with the royal family, especially after Diana’s brother Charles Spencer attacked the royals during a speech at her 1997 funeral.

More than 46 foreign royals are seated behind the British royals. They include Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, an invitation that could prove awkward in light of his government’s rough treatment of mainly Shiite pro-democracy protesters.

Associated Press