[Archived] A Royal Wedding

[adopted scouser]

I am genuinely happy for them.

I was one of 11 ­million viewers who tuned in to watch the ­engagement ­interview on ITV and the BBC, which just goes to show at heart we’re a nation of ­hopeless ­romantics.

For a moment, we could forget about the grind of real life and make a ­forensic study of this young couple.

OK, so her accent is even plummier than his and she now rather snottily wants to be known as Catherine, but remember this polished creature comes from a long line of coal ­miners and ­domestic ­servants.

Her parents are self-made, tight and ­supportive.

They are a ­million miles from the emotionally challenged royals and you can see this in their daughter and her relationship with William.

As they sat on the sofa together, relaxed and open, they looked like equals rather than two people forced together to protect a dying dynasty.

Many comparisons have been made to William’s parents, but these two young people are the polar ­opposite of Charles and Diana.

Instead of crackling with awkwardness and making snide cracks about “love, whatever that is”, they glow with mutual affection.

It’s a credit to his mother, the People’s Princess, that William is so surprisingly real. His voice doesn’t have that 1940s newsreel ring to it, and you can tell he has a proper job flying helicopters in hairy situations rather than spending hours ­chatting to his organic ­dahlias.

You can see now why it’s taken this sensible, grounded young man nine years to propose.

With a history like his ­family’s, you’d do ­everything to avoid a re-run of your parents’ doomed ­marriage.

Watching him smile at his fiancée, you would start to believe that despite the ­unimaginable ­pressures ahead of them, this marriage just might work. Imagine that.

My God, we need one now. With Government cuts and a long winter ahead of us, the ­timing is perfect for a ­proper, full-English royal wedding.

Pomp and ceremony is what we do best. It’s why ­US news stations are going gaga over these nuptials and why my friends and family in ­Australia are ­suddenly planning trips to the UK next year.

Britain is back on the map and it’s our duty to put on a ruddy good show. I want guardsmen on horses, gilt carriages and liveried footmen.

I don’t care if the security alone costs us ­£20million, ­because we’ll get that back 10 times over with the boost to ­tourism and ­business. Just watching those ­ladies in Derby­ ­furiously painting ­commemorative mugs gives you an idea of the Wills and Kate effect on our­ ­economy.

[Mattyblue]

Think I read that 82% of the population now believe in the institution of the Monarchy, up from 75% a decade ago, so you Republicans that come on to say 'no one cares' are way off the mark!

Ps, the Middletons are the quintessential social climbers that hit the jackpot!

[Jim J]

Most important thing, will there be a bank holiday???

[ABBEY]

Make the royals pay for it and not us or pay out of the money it makes.if our tax pays for it then send them to the register office.

I'm going to Alton towers or the pleasure beach or anywhere with no telly. This country is allegedly on its arse yet we can spend 40 million on a wedding...scandalous.

[adopted scouser]

Make the royals pay for it and not us or pay out of the money it makes.if our tax pays for it then send them to the register office.

I'm going to Alton towers or the pleasure beach or anywhere with no telly. This country is allegedly on its arse yet we can spend 40 million on a wedding...scandalous.

That's your opinion Shaun and I respect it, but it's inescapable that the event will give the whole country a lift.

Objectors will be way, way in the minority.

[Tom]

I'm all for it I'm a fan of the monarchy and will be a good day for the country IMO.

I'm just not looking forward to the endless Diana comparisons etc

[Simon Says]

Whilst I would not describe myself as a flag waving royalist, I found this article pretty offensive.

[Rovermatt]

If I get a day off, the Brits can have as many royal weddings as they want.

[broadsword]

Two people are getting married - welcome to the 21st Century.

By an accident of birth, one of them leads an incredibly privileged existence. I don't see it as something to get excited about. I will be doing anything but watching, i find weddings unbelievably boring at the best of times.

[joey_big_nose]

William seems like a decent person, know nothing much about Kate Middleton, and its nice for any two people in love to marry. I do have to wonder though what is the big deal, why is it important? Idealistically I don't believe in the role that the monarchy has in government is correct - even if it is minimised by convention. We are supposed to be a country of equals where power is derived from the people, not inheritance.

That said the queen has done a decent job and provided a lot of good advice to PMs over the years so nothing personal against her, and William looks like he would use decent judgement.

The main thing I find depressing is how much attention and column inches are going to be devoted to something so meaningless in the greater scheme of things.

[adopted scouser]

The main thing I find depressing is how much attention and column inches are going to be devoted to something so meaningless in the greater scheme of things.

It's at times like these that something so 'meaningless' is entirely the opposite. Lots and lots of column inches these days are filled with nothing but the threat of debt and disaster, we all need this wonderful distraction.

[joey_big_nose]

It's at times like these that something so 'meaningless' is entirely the opposite. Lots and lots of column inches these days are filled with nothing but the threat of debt and disaster, we all need this wonderful distraction.

Well I suppose what I would ask is

1) Why is it wonderful?

2) 90% of modern living is distraction. We are on a football website for God's sake. I am not sure Britain is going to benefit in any particular way by the zealous celebration of the wedding of two massively privileged individuals.

[roversmum]

This wedding will bring a boost to the economy. People will want to have fun and celebrate. All except the usual suspects, that is, who are a miserable lot of (please don't use that word again). Moan, moan, moan and moan.

People having fun generally spend money on food, drink, decorations etc. Events such as this encourage neighbours to have fun as families which is good for society. Tourism will benefit.

Bring it on.

[adopted scouser]

This wedding will bring a boost to the economy. People will want to have fun and celebrate. All except the usual suspects, that is, who are a miserable lot of (please don't use that word again). Moan, moan, moan and moan.

People having fun generally spend money on food, drink, decorations etc. Events such as this encourage neighbours to have fun as families which is good for society. Tourism will benefit.

Bring it on.

Absolutely spot on You'll need to explain it to JBN though, he doesn't get it.

Where's me Union Jack waistcoat ?

[jim mk2]

I was thoroughly impressed by both William and his fiancee in their interviews post the announcement, both very natural and normal and a credit to themselves and their families. The difference between them and the cringingly embarrassing Charles and Diana interview all those years ago was startling. Good luck to them both - with the world watching their every move they'll need it.

[joey_big_nose]

This wedding will bring a boost to the economy. People will want to have fun and celebrate. All except the usual suspects, that is, who are a miserable lot of (please don't use that word again). Moan, moan, moan and moan.

People having fun generally spend money on food, drink, decorations etc. Events such as this encourage neighbours to have fun as families which is good for society. Tourism will benefit.

Bring it on.

I'm quite the opposite of a moaner, and if all those positives occur that's great, and a big party is a great tonic and builder of community. I just find it bizarre that the union of two people who have a tiny impact on the country as a whole, who neither earned nor asked for their position, should be the cause for a celebration.

It would strike me as more worthwhile if it was a celebration of the country and its population as a whole and our collective values, such as the VE day anniversary was.

[BuckyRover]

I think I read something that Royal approval is at 82%, up from circa 70% in the 1980s.

They make a lot of noise for such a small minority. (Republicans)

[ABBEY]

This wedding will bring a boost to the economy. People will want to have fun and celebrate. All except the usual suspects, that is, who are a miserable lot of (please don't use that word again). Moan, moan, moan and moan.

People having fun generally spend money on food, drink, decorations etc. Events such as this encourage neighbours to have fun as families which is good for society. Tourism will benefit.

Bring it on.

I for one aint being miserable ,just cant understand why a wedding has to cost £40,000,000 ? In these hard times its obscene and rubbing peoples noses in it. If they want a wedding paid for by us then it should be low key and low cost . If they want a lush do then im afraid they should do what we do and the families pay for it.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Yes, of course your right Abbey,in these hard times it should be up to the Royal family to pay for it at that huge projected cost.The Queen could always pawn just one or maybe two of the crown Jewels to pay for it if she too was feeling the finanical burden like the rest of us.

Truly stirring stuff that AS,millions of us chattering classes will be dewy eyed,in total awe and loved up on the great day I'm sure.

[Mattyblue]

Yes, of course your right Abbey,in these hard times it should be up to the Royal family to pay for it at that huge projected cost.The Queen could always pawn just one or maybe two of the crown Jewels to pay for it if she too was feeling the finanical burden like the rest of us.

Truly stirring stuff that AS,millions of us chattering classes will be dewy eyed,in total awe and loved up on the great day I'm sure.

charles should pay for the majority of it himself, he makes a killing from his Duchy of Cornwall empire.

[adopted scouser]

Truly stirring stuff that AS,millions of us chattering classes will be dewy eyed,in total awe and loved up on the great day I'm sure.

And so you should be SG, know your place

On the day turn your telly off, then go round to Abbey's to watch his Glee box set

[adopted scouser]

just cant understand why a wedding has to cost £40,000,000 ?

A huge proportion of that will go on security, following the profoundly sad and equally ridiculous 'campaign' in Iraq and Afghanistan. There's nothing those loonies would want more than a major upset whilst (most of) the nation joins in the party. Can't imagine much of a threat from the Irish, so probably just the poppy burners.

[ABBEY]

i know what your saying but i read 20m on security? that is a lot of money a seroius amount.

[adopted scouser]

i know what your saying but i read 20m on security? that is a lot of money a seroius amount.

Times we live in our kid, not a problem, the networks in the states will collectively pay more than that for the tv coverage.

[ABBEY]

come on nick 20 million on security is taking the mick out of the counties crisis, how can they justify 20m on security?

i bet it could be done for less quite easily.