Overview
- The couple held multi‑day celebrations in Palermo and nearby Bagheria over the weekend of June 5–7, 2026, hosting more than 200 guests at sites including Villa Igiea, Palazzo Gangi and Villa Valguarnera.
- Organisers set up wide security cordons, road closures and anti‑drone systems and required strict confidentiality from suppliers and some residents.
- Reports say residents in affected zones were offered payments and asked to sign non‑disclosure agreements that limited photos and filming, with media citing figures around £5,000–€5,800 per household.
- High‑profile guests attended and performed, with multiple outlets reporting Sir Elton John played at the Villa Valguarnera event, while intense international paparazzi presence amplified tensions in the city.
- Local critics staged visible protests with slogans such as “Palermo is not for sale,” and Palermo’s mayor defended the event as a tourism and publicity boon while condemning press coverage that evoked ‘Mafia‑Chic’ stereotypes.