Another Royal Wedding

Williams, Prince of Wales married his Catherine today, almost thirty years after his parents embarked on what proved to be a disastrous union. I have heard a lot of comments from people afraid of history repeating itself. They talk of the fairytale wedding, the media hype, the glare of public scrutiny, all factors that helped in destroying what was themed the wedding of the century in 1981.

However, they forget some things that are essentially different about these two couples. First their ages, Charles was thirteen years older than Diana, by the time he married her, he had seen and done almost everything while she was a mere nineteen, naive and romantic. Their relationship had been likened to the romantic novels her step grand mother Barbara Cartland wrote, virginal girl, mysterious and handsome older man except for them, there was no happy ending. William and Kate on the other hand are agemates, they are from the same generation, they have common interests, they went to school together, infact, i would daresay they speak the same language.

Also, Princess Diana famously said they were three people in her marriage, with William and Kate, it has almost always been the two of them. They have known each other for a decade and have been a couple for almost nine out of the ten years. I would not be wrong when I say these two grew up together. These newlyweds paint a perfect picture and I do not see the ghosts of past lovers haunting this marriage.

Media hype and public scrutiny are issues Kate has had a long time to adjust to, she knows what is expected of her and has done admirably well so far. And also she can depend on the support of William who has shielded her through their difficult moments. This wedding might had looked like a fairytale but  the two people intimately involved looked totally comfortable together as was evident from their frequent whispers of reassurance to each other during the ceremony.

Finally, British royalty is definitely more relaxed now than it was in 1981, protocols are not so strict as seen today from the various breaks in tradition. The one that amused me most was the Dukes and Duchesses in coaches!  And the romantic in me was moved by William driving Kate back to Clarence house in his father's  open top Aston Martin. The family as Prince William calls it has embraced modernity and has become more fun.

Here is to wishing Kate and Wills a blissful life.