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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2011 10:42:11 GMT
I wonder what alien observers think of this on their planet.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Apr 29, 2011 10:52:38 GMT
They probably think that we're actually still living in the dark ages.....oops National Anthem...better stand up.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2011 11:06:39 GMT
I just saw them taking their wedding vows. Must admit it was all really very sweet, they are a nice couple, hard to dislike. I'm sure they will be very happy together.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Apr 29, 2011 12:13:22 GMT
The odd thing is that we live in difficult times, we aren't the deferential society that we once were...we are more cynical here in the UK. I think that we just suspend our cynicism when we have this sort of occasion, and celebrate our inheritance. The crowds are a real mix of nationalities and generations and it's really gratifying to see people enjoying themselves so much.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2011 13:03:20 GMT
The French news was going over the wedding contract the other day. One of the items was that in case of divorce, William gets automatic custody of the children. What if he turns out to be a wife beater and an abusive father? How can something so sensitive be "automatic?"
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Post by lola on Apr 29, 2011 13:53:46 GMT
Well, God bless them, and may it never be necessary.
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Post by Kimby on Apr 29, 2011 14:47:30 GMT
Oops! I forgot to set up the DVR to capture every moment of the big event before retiring last night, but am enjoying the endless replays of the best bits this morning on all 3 American major networks. (The new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are getting much better coverage here than President Obama is able to get for all his important issues - except for questions about his birth certificate, of course.)
Some impressions from across the pond:
The dress struck me as surprisingly understated and modest, yet infinitely more elegant and mature than Diana's over-the-top puffy gown. It reminds me of Princess Grace's look. I'm glad Kate chose to wear her hair down and with understated makeup. Although a wedding is the ultimate dress-up event in a girl's life, you want to be able to recognize the person under the finery. (And because of the public nature of their "first kiss," bright lipstick would be out anyway.)
William was dashing in the red uniform and I think the photos will hold up well over time, though it's a shame he doesn't have a full head of hair anymore. He is rapidly taking after his father in that regard. Fortunately he has his mother's looks, though. And it seems, her personality. BTW, I loved Pippa's dress, with its greek goddess neckline.
Mostly I was struck by how relaxed the couple seemed, considering the magnitude of the event. And they definitely ARE a couple already, whereas Diana was only getting to know her prince when she married him. Remembering Diana's wedding, she had a bit of the look of a lamb led to the slaughter. Nothing like that for Kate.
And I was impressed by how manageable the huge (500K) crowd outside the palace was. That a single line of bobbies could hold back that sea of British humanity during the wait for the kiss on the balcony amazes me. In the aerial shots the mob looked like an amoeba with a thin black membrane. And no one was hurt, apparently. (Unlike soccer crowds - and soccer matches are far more common events than a royal wedding.)
I read that astrologers say William and Kate are perfectly matched, and since the sun came out on what was supposed to be a rainy day, it appears that the stars are aligned in their favor.
I hope when they return to their quiet life in Wales where William is on duty that they are allowed to begin their married life without constant press scrutiny.
News flash: The newly weds just left the palace in an Aston Martin Volante convertible with JU5T WED license plates and balloons and tin cans tied on the back bumper. A charming detail. No limo with a driver for them. (Being used to American cars, at first I thought Kate was at the wheel, but that would never happen.)
All in all, a class act.
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Post by tod2 on Apr 29, 2011 15:27:45 GMT
I'm a bit disappointed that the Queen has decided to convey the title of Duchess on Catherine and not Princess (Diana became a Princess on her wedding day) . Diana was an aristocrat and Catherine is a 'commoner' (altho she comes from a very affluent family, no blue blood there) I spose that is partly because Charles was the Prince of Wales...a title that William will inherit when his father becomes the next King. Well call me a romantic, a royalist, and anything you like, as I thoroughly enjoyed watching the whole ceremony on TV - for us in South Africa it was a perfect time as we are only 1 hour ahead. I agree Cheery - I would have liked Catherine to be called Princess. Diana had blood so blue she was more royal than the 'Royals' themselves. I don't think Charles will ever be king. Her Majesty will never ever step aside and let him take the reins ( or should that be reigns?) as she has promised to rule until the end of her life. I think Britain would be daft to give up on Royalty. They bring in Billions of pounds to the UK in the form of tourism. No-one does it like the Brits when it comes to pomp and ceremony. "God save the Queen"!
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Post by Kimby on Apr 29, 2011 15:45:02 GMT
Watching the Queen lately, I'm thinking she's getting closer to being "doddering". What if she doesn't just live strong until she suddenly drops dead? What if she gets Alzheimers' or some other cognitive deficiency?
Is the British monarch simply a photo-op figurehead, or does she need to have her wits about her to conduct official business of the realm? When she "loses her buttons" won't Prince Charles HAVE to take her place? (Unless HE'S doddering by then, too!)
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Apr 29, 2011 18:20:12 GMT
Watching the Queen lately, I'm thinking she's getting closer to being "doddering". What if she doesn't just live strong until she suddenly drops dead? What if she gets Alzheimers' or some other cognitive deficiency? Is the British monarch simply a photo-op figurehead, or does she need to have her wits about her to conduct official business of the realm? When she "loses her buttons" won't Prince Charles HAVE to take her place? (Unless HE'S doddering by then, too!) I think that it would be difficult to disguise the Queen losing her marbles, she attends hundreds of public events and gives speeches on a regular basis. At the state opening of parliament she has to give quite a long speech...she meets visiting dignitaries, hosts diplomatic banquets etc etc.... Catherine will be also known as Princess William of Wales.....she'll have to wait a while to be Princess Catherine.... The tv is going bananas....we've had the wedding on aaallll day...
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2011 19:12:17 GMT
I was unexpectedly home ill and did not watch any of it. The main French channels had non stop coverage from 9:30 to 14:30. I dived deep into the cable world and found other stuff to watch when I was not in a feverish coma. It was bad enough to see the lengthy recap on the evening news.
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Post by bjd on Apr 29, 2011 19:16:59 GMT
Our computer connection died last night, so I didn't see any of it. Not that I would have watched much of it -- I heard some coverage on the radio while I was making lunch today.
My husband just found an old cable to hook up to the box, so I have internet now. I had a look at a couple of photos on the BBC but that's enough.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Apr 29, 2011 19:21:09 GMT
It isn't for everyone... ;D and I spose that looking in from the outside we must look rather strange.
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Post by Kimby on Apr 29, 2011 19:22:47 GMT
Sorry you've been ill, kerouac. Are you better now?
Your barely-concealed disdain for the British royalty, K2, somehow seems inconsistent with your being an admitted fan of the Harry Potter books and movies.
They are both English fairy tales replete with pagentry, ritual, costumes, pomp, eccentric characters and interesting architecture.
What's not to like?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2011 19:26:21 GMT
I think that will make the Prince Albert (of Monaco) wedding in July delightfully silly. There are only 6000 citizens of Monaco (19% of the population of 32,000), so it will be a totally over-the-top spectacle with no implications for anybody, except entertainment value.
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Post by mich64 on Apr 29, 2011 19:29:02 GMT
Cheery, I am mistaken that Catherine would not receive the Title of Princess because they are not direct in line to the throne. My assumption is that the Queen could not yet name her a Princess because Prince Charles is the next successor and when he succeeds then William and Catherine will become Prince William and HRH Princess Catherine. I am by no means a Royal expert, just thought I heard this when Peter and Autumn married a few years ago. Mich
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2011 19:30:51 GMT
Your barely-concealed disdain for the British royalty, K2, somehow seems inconsistent with your being an admitted fan of the Harry Potter books and movies. They are both English fairy tales replete with pagentry, ritual, costumes, pomp, eccentric characters and interesting architecture. What's not to like? Actually, I have always seen the HP books as being about challenging authority and fighting for freedom. Most of the later ones are clearly inspired by WW2 resistance fighters with lots of undercover ops, safe houses and traitors. Perhaps some readers are looking for something else.
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Post by bjd on Apr 30, 2011 8:29:07 GMT
Peter and Autumn
Who is that?
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Post by spindrift on Apr 30, 2011 9:29:30 GMT
I surprised myself by watching the royal wedding from start to finish. I thought it was delightful. I was amazed at Catherine's poise. Not once did she (or her sister) falter. Everything went perfectly. William has found himself the ideal partner. A friend remarked that it is obvious that Kate 'wears the trousers in this relationship'...would anyone agree with this? To me she seemed happiness personified. All the Middleton dreams have come true. They now have their own coat of arms! I thought Mrs Middleton looked very elegant and the Middleton brother carried off his reading in Westminster Abbey with aplomb. Congratulations to all.
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Post by mich64 on Apr 30, 2011 13:43:07 GMT
BJD, Peter and is the son of Princess Ann, she asked that when her children were born that the Queen not Title them, he and his sister are first cousins to William and Harry. A few years ago Peter married a Canadian named Autumn and they just had a child, who is the Queen's first Great-grandchild. Cheers, Mich
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Apr 30, 2011 13:59:43 GMT
We had the tv on all day here...and enjoyed it probably because it was so well done. I am not a royalist...but am too apathetic to be a republican. I was charmed by Catherine, thought that she looked beautiful. I think that the British public have a very special place in their hearts for William and Harry, we watched with a sort of horrified respect when they were allowed to follow the coffin of their late Mother. The Middletons all held up rather well I thought too. You are so right Kimby... www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1381989/Royal-Wedding-Kate-Middletons-wedding-dress-tribute-Grace-Kelly.html(I can't believe I have quoted a newspaper that I loathe so much...but the images show the comparison between the dresses quite well)
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Post by bjd on Apr 30, 2011 16:57:19 GMT
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Apr 30, 2011 17:29:55 GMT
Talk about attention seeking.....but they're very young aren't they?
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Post by frenchmystiquetour on Apr 30, 2011 18:18:05 GMT
Being royal has its perks.
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Post by lola on May 1, 2011 0:24:02 GMT
If I were as clever as Heather Mallick, the Star columnist who is so amusing on the subject of hats, I could formulate just the right remark.
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Post by hwinpp on May 16, 2011 9:17:05 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on May 26, 2011 15:56:40 GMT
Very regal.
Is that Wm. bobbing in the water next to her? Nice arm!
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2011 18:33:02 GMT
No point in getting titillated about such things. European women do not really worry about exposing their torsos in aquatic summer settings.
Frankly, I am more worried about the upcoming royal circus in Monaco. Of course it will be of little importance for the UK or the US, but that irritating little wart is of interest to parts of the European continent. There's even a chance that South Africa will be sucked in due to the nationality of the bride.
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Post by Kimby on May 26, 2011 22:06:06 GMT
You gotta feel sorry for them, since the wind has probably been taken out of their sails by the British Royal wedding. Not much chance of 2 billion TV viewers for this one!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2011 6:38:40 GMT
Monaco always knows how to perk up media interest when necessary. The blushing bride was apparently intercepted by Albert's bodyguards at Nice airport two days ago, where she was attempting to escape with a one way ticket back to South Africa.
Now people are going to want to see if she looks drugged or scared when the big moment arrives this weekend.
Speculation is rife as to what made her run. Albert already has two bastards -- maybe she found about some more.
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