What will the leaders’ partners do?
The world leaders traditionally bring their partners along for the meeting. Men are thin on the ground on the trip: German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s husband, Joachim Sauer, is reported to be skipping it, while British Prime Minister Theresa May’s office confirm to
Newsweek her husband Philip won’t make it.
Five First Ladies will be there, however: Italy’s Manuela Gentiloni, America's Melania Trump, Canada’s Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, Japan’s Akie Abe and France’s Brigitte Trogneux. Her husband Emmanuel Macron is the most recently-elected leader among the group, having won the elections in early May.
As with every conference, the partners’ program features a
more entertaining schedule than that of the official meeting, the Italian news agency Ansa reported. The spouses will be treated to a helicopter ride to Mount Etna, which, despite its proximity to the venue and its recent volcanic activity,
is unlikely to erupt in the coming days, and go on cultural excursions to archeological sites, museums and exhibitions on Friday. On Saturday, they will taste local products such as freshly squeezed juices and Sicilian
granita, a semi-frozen dessert made from sugar, water and various flavorings.