Like anyone with English roots in their family tree, I am a distant cousin of the queen, and before you ask, no, I wasn’t invited to the wedding. But I will be up at 1 a.m. on Friday, April 29 to watch Prince William wed Catherine Middleton in London’s Westminster Abbey.
While I will admit to being a news junkie I will be up watching television coverage of the big event more for the comedy that is sure to unfold than for the fact it’s a royal wedding. Plus I heard they will not have any servants as they begin their married life together and I decided they might need a little help in the kitchen so I sent my gift early, an IKEA cheese grater, just in case the newlyweds have a craving for a little late night beef and cheese nachos.
The media coverage of this blessed event has gone nuts. Literally, they even did a story about how wedding preparations included shining the horses hooves and vacuuming the cobblestones at the Abbey. Having been to the Abbey I can tell you that must have made a huge difference given the fact they are stone and not likely to produce dust bunnies that might distract the millions of royal watchers who are expected to fill the streets outside the Abbey on Friday morning.
A royal wedding is a piece of history and not one that is shared by all countries. Those of us who don’t have a royal family in residence are often curious about countries who do have royal families. I was equally intrigued by the Dutch royal family during my visit to Holland a few years ago.
Besides what little girl at some point in their life hasn’t dreamed of being a princess and come Friday Catherine, commonly known as Kate, will walk the lengthy aisle as a commoner but will exit the Abbey a princess.
I watched Prince William’s parents’ wedding and was glued to CNN’s coverage of his mother’s untimely death. I admit a bit of an interest in pop culture and although I don’t get into a lot of reality shows what could be a better reality show than to watch a royal wedding unfold on television, practically on every channel.
In the lead up to the big day it seems every television channel has some sort of coverage or tie into the event. Everyone has their “experts” lined up. It seems all you need to be an expert on some networks is a British accent. Given my family’s history, my mom was born in England, I can do a pretty fair imitation, maybe the fishing channel is looking for an “expert”. It’s about the only channel that hasn’t advertised royal wedding specials and lengthy coverage leading up to and including the wedding day.
It’s been a few years since I was in England so on one hand I’m actually looking forward to seeing a bit of the country and the Abbey once again, I loved visiting that historical building.
And who can resist watching all the news outlets try and out do each other on their coverage and their use of their “experts”. Honestly it promises to be the best live comedy going. Who can resist the minute to minute description of everyone’s arrival at the church, who they are wearing and who they are with.
I suggest making a party of the ridiculous early morning event, why not have friends over for a wedding brunch- well on this side of the pond it will be more like a midnight lunch- but why not have a little English tea and a crumpet to mark the occasion.
So sit back, in your pajamas with a bowl of popcorn, and enjoy all the pomp and pageantry that only a royal event can produce.