"Are you going to the wedding?" people ask because we live in London. We would be attending, of course, but our invitation must have gotten lost in the mail...
The Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton will take place in this city in less than 48 hours and the excitement is palpable. Flags line Pall Mall, Union Jack bunting is draped over balconies, pictures of the couple are in shop and pub windows. Giant television screens have been set up in the parks.
A million people are expected to descend on London to take part in the festivities. Already there are people sleeping in tents on the Mall and as near as they can get to Westminster Abbey.
Since the engagement, newspapers and magazines have been full of speculation about how Kate will look on the big day. Will she wear flowers in her hair (it's rumored she prefers to) or a tiara? Since she is a commoner, will the Queen lend her one of hers if she decides to go that route? Will her dress be a billowy meringue or form-fitting? I'm betting form-fitting with sleeves of some sort.
A million people are expected to descend on London to take part in the festivities. Already there are people sleeping in tents on the Mall and as near as they can get to Westminster Abbey.
Since the engagement, newspapers and magazines have been full of speculation about how Kate will look on the big day. Will she wear flowers in her hair (it's rumored she prefers to) or a tiara? Since she is a commoner, will the Queen lend her one of hers if she decides to go that route? Will her dress be a billowy meringue or form-fitting? I'm betting form-fitting with sleeves of some sort.
There have been constant comparisons of Kate with her deceased mother-in-law, Diana. They are nothing alike.
Kate will be 29 when she marries, Diana was barely 20. Kate has known William for eight years, Diana and Charles knew each other for a few months. Kate is a university graduate, Diana was not (she once described herself as "thick as a plank"). Kate comes from a stable and close family, Diana did not. Kate is self-assured, discreet, and calm. Diana was none of those things. Kate and William have shared university life, the same interests and friends. They lived together quietly in Wales, where they divided up household duties. Diana and Charles had nothing in common.
The one thing Kate and Diana do share is the same engagement ring. Many people find William's decision to give his fiancee his mother's ring disturbing, if only because it brought such unhappiness to Diana.
But what was Kate to do? Turn it down? Ask him to come up with something else because that blue sapphire surrounded by diamonds gave her the heeby jeebies?
William said he gave her Diana's ring so his mother could "be part of all the excitement."
The whole world wants to be a part of this excitement. Magazines in every language have cover stories about the couple. People will get up before dawn in many parts of the globe to witness every moment of the wedding day on television. We lucky ones in London can get up at a reasonable hour, but some will be too excited to sleep.
It is a cliche to say the British do pageantry like no one else, but they do. There is something about the British royal family that captures our interest in a way no other royals do. Did anyone get up early to watch the wedding of Spain's Prince Felipe to Letizia Ortiz a few years ago?
It is impossible to know or describe why we are looking forward to this big event on April 29. We just are.
It is impossible to know or describe why we are looking forward to this big event on April 29. We just are.
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