“Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts.”
Last night it rained over an inch and lightning added to the drama. My fastest wiper cycle could barely keep up with the deluge. It was slow going for a while. The rain then tapered off a bit until I got in my front yard then the heavens opened again. I got soaked running to the front door. Today is warm and both cloudy and sunny. Right now the day is bright but soon enough the sun will disappear behind a cloud.
I got up at five to watch the wedding. I love parades and pageantry and wouldn’t miss the chance to see it all. I sat with my coffee and my scones to watch the arrivals at Westminster and I marveled at the women’s hats. Some could have come directly from a Star Trek episode while others were perfectly understated. The Abbey was lovely with trees and flowers. The boy’s choir with the added men’s voices was nearly divine. The TV hosts identified people as they arrived and kept showing the hoards of spectators lining the streets and waving flags. The horses with their uniformed guards were magnificent. The service was fairly short and almost informal. I didn’t know a single hymn. Kate’s dress was perfect and William looked dashing. My favorite parts to watch, though, were the carriage rides back to Buckingham Palace with all the bells pealing. I thought of Cinderella at the ball and every princess fairytale I’ve ever read. The bride and groom were beaming and waving. The crowds then surged and surrounded the fence outside the palace waiting for the royal family to emerge on the balcony. When they did, even the queen looked at ease. Everyone was waiting for the first kiss. There were two.
By 9:00, I was back in bed and slept until 11.
Explore posts in the same categories: MusingsTags: Buckingham Palace, Cinderella, Kate Middleton, Prince William of Wales, Westminster Abbey
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keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
April 29, 2011 at 12:07 pm
I got up and made scones and tea at 5:30 after going to bed at a modest 2:30. Suffice it to say, dragging myself into the office this morning was painful.
April 29, 2011 at 1:25 pm
sprite,
Luckily I was given scones or I would have had toast. I went to bed late but, unlike poor you, did not have to drag myself to work.
April 29, 2011 at 1:00 pm
I don’t understand the whole royal thing. I caught the highlight film at eight. In tight ecconomic times the UK needs a monarchy like a third leg. The queen is one of the richest woman on earth yet the British government supports the royal family. I think the queen spent 1.5 million dollars on flowers alone for this wedding. Kate and William have been living together just like millions of other couples so it wasn’t a first kiss and it won’t be a first anything on the wedding night. Europe is full of do nothing monarchs in places like Belgum, The Netherlands and Sweeden. Except for the British they don’t even get their pictures printed onto the money any longer.
Unfortunatley, in this country we secretly yearn for a royal family and therefore we have elected some real winners to the White House based on their looks. How many voters are quoted when leaving the polls,’he looks so Presidential.’ Maybe we should have a king, who does nothing except photo opportunities and elect people with brains to public office.
April 29, 2011 at 1:31 pm
Don´t be so grumpy Bob 🙂 🙂 We do have our king on a coin 🙂 🙂 🙂
Christer.
April 29, 2011 at 1:32 pm
Bob,
It’s the pageantry of it all. I’m not a queen aficionado but the British do such occasions royally, and they are beautiful.
I looked up some of the costs for today, and it seems by other weddings this was far more frugal (but not frugal by average standards!). The biggest expense was security. ABC News on line had this, “William’s father, Prince Charles, is expected to pick up most of the check for the wedding, including a possible donation from the queen. But security costs, which have been estimated well into the millions of pounds, will be paid by police and government agencies.”
I saw where the flowers were $360,000.The Middleton’s paid for Kate’s 3 dresses and is reportedly contributing six figures for specific costs of the wedding.
Average U.S. wedding: $26,000
April 29, 2011 at 4:29 pm
The Government pays for the Queen’s expenses out of funds paid by the Queen into the General Revenue. Periodically, there are complaints about her ‘costs’, which indicate that the Government is trying to get more from her.
Cheers
April 29, 2011 at 9:32 pm
Minicapt,
The special I watched tonight said much of today was paid for by the queen; Prince Charles is paying for the evening dinner and the Middletons contributed a huge amount.
Thanks-I had no idea where her money comes from or goes.
April 29, 2011 at 1:38 pm
We had our royal wedding last (Our Crown Princess married her man from the common people) year and that started to talk about it way to early and kept on doing it every day several times a day until it finally was over. I think I got to much of the royalties then, so I have to say I didn´t care about this wedding at all 🙂
I think we like our royalties because we know where we have them. They aren´t allowed to talk politics and we know that they aren´t corrupted. Our royal house is the cheapest in Europe and most of the money they get goes to the castles (that the state owns) and all hired personnel. They are also much better PR for us than any president might be. No one cares if the president from Sweden comes to a country, but most reacts if a king visits them 🙂
Have a great day!
Christer.
April 29, 2011 at 9:21 pm
Christer,
I didn’t get royaled out though I saw several programs prior to the event. I thought today was magnificent. The red was amazing on the horse guards, and I didn’t miss a thing.
What do your royals do? You’re right about the PR.
April 30, 2011 at 12:38 am
They do go on trips making PR for our little country. The queen works hard against children´s abuse (and often do say political things but we like her a lot anyway 🙂 )
The crown princess is the head of a foundation that helps disabled children to get out and do fun things that isn´t possible unless one is really rich.
So even if a child barely can move at all they take them out sailing or camping or what ever the kid might think is fun 🙂
The other princess is involved in UNICEF and the king in wild life protection. The prince however I have no idea 🙂 🙂 I think he just has a good time most of the time 🙂 They do a lot of other things of course but that´s what I can think of right now 🙂
Christer.
April 29, 2011 at 2:36 pm
Turned on BBC America at 4.00 am to get uninterrupted BBC1 coverage. Early enough to see the arrival of Elton, Becks and Trevor.
As an Ex-Pat I thoroughly enjoyed the event, the wacky hats, minor royals on the party bus, the Queen on the wrong side of the car, the crowds and the carriages on the Mall. How cool was the fly over by the Lancaster, the Hurricane and the Spitfire?
Should they have invited Blair and Brown ? You betcha (sorry Alaska lovers)
Now, lets hope that I get all the Olympic tickets that I applied for for next Summer
A terrific and nostalgic event this morning.
April 29, 2011 at 9:24 pm
My Dear Hedley,
I watched the BBC for a while, but I went to one of the HD channels because the picture was so much more vibrant, and it didn’t have commercials either, but I switched back and forth to hear the different commentary.
The fly over of the WWII planes was way cool.
April 29, 2011 at 4:01 pm
I didn’t know a single hymn
Kat, the highlight was “Jerusalem”
And did those feet in ancient time.
Walk upon England’s mountains green:
And was the holy Lamb of God,
On England’s pleasant pastures seen
Also a major star at the last night of the Proms. The ol’ C of E can rustle up some terrific foot tappers, including “Love divine all loves excelling” which also starred today
April 29, 2011 at 9:26 pm
My Dear Hedley,
My not knowing the hymns didn’t change my appreciation at all. The choir was lovely. Nothing sweeter than those boys’ voices.
Thanks for identified them as I had no memory of what they were.
May 5, 2011 at 1:09 am
Good ole Charles Wesley (John’s brother) wrote the words to “Love Divine All Loves Excelling”. John was the founder of the Methodist Church.
May 5, 2011 at 11:16 pm
Rick,
I remembered John Wesley but had no idea he even had a brother.
April 29, 2011 at 5:17 pm
Excellent reflection of a wonderful wedding, everything went on cue. We watched early too, went back to bed, then got surprise tickets to the VIP area for launch of Endeavor. It was scrubbed and my tickets aren’t good for Monday. Bummer!
April 29, 2011 at 9:29 pm
Z&Me,
I’m so sorry about the launch. I know how much you were looking forward to watching it. Are you going to watch on Monday?
It was a perfect wedding.
April 29, 2011 at 11:26 pm
Did someone get married? ;-0
April 30, 2011 at 12:30 am
Besides Prince William and Kate Middleton?
April 30, 2011 at 4:02 pm
Yes. We will watch the launch on TV.
April 30, 2011 at 7:30 pm
Z&Me,
Sorry about the VIP seats!
April 30, 2011 at 7:33 pm
Thanks, Christer