That was the case yesterday, however, as the 27-year-old footballer meekly followed instructions from a pretty blonde wedding planner on the day of his marriage.
Keane and 25-year-old Claudine Palmer – also a pretty blonde – tied the knot yesterday after six years of dating, exchanging vows in a Ballybrack church before whisking away for a marquee reception at the Ritz Carlton at Powerscourt.
Republic of Ireland and Tottenham Hotspur player Robbie Keane with his wife Claudine Palmer, a top Irish model
Press, locals and football fans gathered yesterday afternoon outside St Alphonsus and Columba Church, eager to get a glimpse of the high-profile couple and their famous friends.
Non-guests were kept at bay, however, as seven security guards ensured they stayed at a distance – when the men weren’t trying to tame decorative flower arrangements which repeatedly fell over.
The corporate-suited wedding planner patrolled the grounds all the while, clipboard and walkie talkie in hand.
Manchester United player Michael Carrick and his stunning wife Lisa Roughead
Arm-in-arm, Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given and his wife Jane Cunningham sport stylish sunglasses and colour co-ordinated outfits
The first notable event of the day occurred when the 120 guests, being transported by three Bus Eireann buses, arrived at 2.30pm on the dot – marking a punctuality coup not only for the guests but for the infamous bus company.
Among the guests were Irish footballers Damien Duffy, Shay Given, Gary Breen, Gary Kelly, Ian Harte and Richard Dunne. Tottenham Hotspur club mates Jermaine Jennas and Ledley King also attended.
Footballer Jamie Redknapp and his wife Louise rounded out the sports contingent, and caused a flurry of excitement among onlookers when they caught a glimpse of the pair.
Irish guests included former Miss World Rosanna Davison, who attended without a date and wore a toe-length blue and green strapless dress. Model Pippa O’Connor, with her presenter boyfriend Brian Ormond, also joined the celebrations.
The groom arrived next, pulling up in a black Bentley Continental at 2.40pm.
He was soon followed by mother-of-the-bride Joan, who turned heads with her mode of transportation – a Phantom Rolls Royce – in addition to her glamorous outfit: an enormous feathered head piece and short glittering dress.
The long-awaited moment occurred, however, when her daughter arrived – also in a Phantom Rolls Royce, and 13 fashionable minutes late.
Spurs team-mate Jonathan Woodgate wearing a light-coloured suit, white shirt and skinny tie
The former Miss Ireland contestant looked stunning in a traditional white gown with a long train, glammed up with a WAG touch – a zigzag of diamonds down the front. She clutched a bouquet of yellow roses.
Friends said she was nervous, but she looked calm and radiant as she headed towards the church door, decorated with white candles and white roses.
The bridesmaids – Robbie’s sisters Tash and Amy – wore long silver, figure-hugging dresses created by Limerick designer Fiona Whyte.
Robbie’s best man was his brother Graham, and his niece and nephew, Tasha and Craig, acted as a ringbearers.
The ceremony lasted just under an hour. Claudine walked down the aisle on a specially-laid white carpet, and Mary Black – who had arrived more than an hour early to rehearse – sang at the ceremony with the Dublin Gospel Choir.
When the wedding party poured out into the church yard, they were kept separate from the press by the diligent security guards.
The happy newlyweds left through a separate door and posed for only three minutes – just enough time for Robbie to lovingly kiss his bride. Guests showered the couple with white rose petals before they disappeared into a stretch limousine and were ferried off to the Ritz Carlton.
Guests were again transported by Bus Eireann coaches, this time taken to the hotel for a rose Laurent Pierre champagne reception.
Robbie and Claudine booked out the entire Ritz Carlton for the event, and a huge marquee was erected on the picturesque grounds.
Chris De Burgh and another band were hired to entertain guests – but Jamie Redknapp predicted that the groom might try to help them out.
‘I suspect by the end of the evening Robbie will be up on stage singing an Irish song,’ he said.
The celebration will continue today with a special outdoor barbeque for guests.
Tottenham Hotspur's Ledley King and former Liverpool player and pundit Jamie Redknapp show how to look dapper in black and grey tailored suits
Very Keane: Robbie shares a tender kiss with his other half Claudine
Security serving champagne to the media at the celebrity-studded wedding at St. Alphonsus and Columba Church in Ballybrack, Dublin
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