Sarah Ferguson's memorial read

Sep 10, 2008, 11:00 GMT

Britain's Sarah Ferguson is to give a reading at a memorial service for a murdered couple today (10.09.08).

The Duchess of York met the parents of Dr. Catherine Mullany and physiotherapist husband Ben - who were shot dead on honeymoon in Antigua - on a flight in New York, where the relatives were in transit from a visit to the Caribbean.

Sarah was reportedly so moved by their plight she has agreed to give a reading at the service at Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff and be patron of The Mullany Fund, a charity founded in the deceased couple's honour to train UK students as doctors and physiotherapists.

A source is quoted by Britain's The Daily Mail newspaper as saying: "Sarah had read about the tragedy and was very moved by what they had to tell her. She later wrote to them expressing her condolences.

"As a result, the family asked her if she would come to Wales and read a poem at the memorial. She is very happy to do so and has now agreed to be patron of the new charity which the family are in the process of setting up."

More than 500 people are expected at the memorial service, let by the Archbishop of Wales, Dr. Barry Morgan and the family's local vicar Martin Perry.

Two men have been charged with the murders, and five others have been charged with associated offences.