Royal Wedding again

[callmemadam]

I refer all my readers to the brilliant pre-wedding commentary given by rosathome.

Dears, I cried nearly all the way through, especially when the couple took their vows. Don't worry, all proper weddings affect me like that. The Abbey looked beautiful with the arcade of trees. The music was beautiful. The bride was beautiful: she looked more royal than the groom! The service seemed somewhat restrained, making Prince Charles' first wedding seem over the top in comparison. I think they all feel they're treading on egg shells. And really, congregations these days! I was shocked to see that with the exception of the Duke of Edinburgh, whom God preserve, people needed to have their noses stuck to their service sheets to sing Guide Me, Oh Thou Great Redeemer. At least David Cameron seemed to know all the words of Jerusalem without looking. I do and sang it heartily to an audience of Huw Edwards.

The bride's father certainly gave the National Anthem some welly. As the potential grandfather of a future King or Queen, he must be the country's #1 monarchist. All power to the middle classes, I say. Fergie's girls looked irredeemably vulgar (those hats!) compared with the wand-like Middleton women. Like the Phillips family all those years ago, the Middletons know how to be reticent and to behave with dignity. Unlike all the reporters manically trying to find eccentric people to talk to at the times when nothing was happening. Some creepy woman said the day was 'all about Diana'. Coverage: well filmed, unbearable to listen to.

It's been uncannily quiet here today; I don't think I've heard a single car go by.

Comments

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Satanic Goat-style headdress

Hee!

[lurpak.livejournal.com]

that teletubby one?

I really enjoyed it too... I wasn't planning to watch but I got drawn in. It was quite moving I thought.

[lurpak.livejournal.com]

"buck-toothed party organisers" haha!

I'm fairly indifferent to the monarchy too, but I thought it was an incredbily impressive occasion; I'd imagine it would take something very special to make Parisians stop and watch. I saw on the news last night it was even watched on the International Space Station.

[(Anonymous)]

Best description I've heard yet!

[ooxc.livejournal.com]

Hurrah for that deliciously medieval bridal gown! may we hope now for fewer almost topless brides/
Plenty of cars here - relay driving to and from the One Big Party on Mona show ground - but i chose to stay at home
Aaargh! Jerusalem is not a hymn - but at least it could be argued that all that Blakean sexual imagery is appropriate for a wedding!
Only really false note that struck me was the BBC stuff about "how realistic is it that they can live quietly on Anglesey?"
Well, they've been doing it for months now - and, as far as I know, no-one has ever blown the gaff . (See what I did there?)
Even if someone was that crass, there are plenty of other secluded cottages they could move to

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Lovely dress and when the bride was waving, I thought some mittens made of the same lace would have been a perfect finishing touch. Would have hidden the ring, though.

You're right about Jerusalem but it does have a special place in national events.

[ooxc.livejournal.com]

Thank you! That's who those girls were! I couldn't work it out !
What i found really weird was the chorus of disapproval about Sam Cam not wearing a hat - she looked amazingly dignified by comparison with those two

[mimmimmim.livejournal.com]

I am considering knitting Sam Cam a box full of hats as her husband is clearly too cheap to buy her one. If the day meant that little to her, she could've let me go in her place, I'd have managed to put one on my head.

[ooxc.livejournal.com]

My mother was once told off for wearing one, because "only royalty and social climbers wear hats to church"
I wondered if SC goes to church every week, so hadn't realized that non-churchgoers think that you have to wear a hat for church

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Ha! I'd love to see what you came up with.

[mammadibiba.livejournal.com]

Coverage: well filmed, unbearable to listen to.

This.

I also enjoyed it and ended up watching beyond the "dress reveal", which I wasn't going to do.
I think I am the only person on the planet not enthusing about the dress though.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

I liked the combination of modesty with showing herself off. Like ooxc I'm not a fan of the kind of wedding dress a bride seems to be overflowing.

[mammadibiba.livejournal.com]

I definitely don't like dresses with too much bridal overflow, either. I just think in this case, I was underwhelmed by all the lace (never been a fan), but I was pleased to see she wasn't wearing a meringue.

Some of the royals definitely have no idea when it comes to dressing (Fergie's girls, as you say); it is a good thing that many of them have to wear uniforms.

[gghost.livejournal.com]

Everything was so lovely, and I cried, too. We were married the same summer as Prince Charles and Diana, and I am amazed at how quickly 30 years have passed.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

And you've had a more successful marriage: congratulations!

[land-girl.livejournal.com]

Yes to all this: the trees, the dress, and crying all the way through. I thought it was really lovely.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Reasons to be cheerful: one, two three.
And I'd got you down as someone who wouldn't be watching!

[land-girl.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't have gone to London and camped out, but I am a (luke-warm) monarchist and I love all the traditions, old and new. And what's not to love about beautiful clothes, fabulous music and two people who look as if they really love each other?

I went to a wedding in Westminster Abbey once, in the chapel of St Mary Undercroft, and it was quite beautiful.

[minniemoll.livejournal.com]

I loved the dress, and thought that Kate had amazing poise - when she was sitting up listening to the sermon especially, compared to William who seemed to be slouching next to her.

Huw Edwards was unspeakably dreadful, I switched to ITV for probably the first time ever.

And I thought that the York girls had come as the ugly sisters to Kate's Cinderella....

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Yes, just what I meant when I said she seemed royal.

I hope they take Huw Edwards off all future big occasion duties.

Haha, very good!

[oddny.livejournal.com]

Loved the whole spectacle, the trees in the abbey were stunning. The daughter and I watched the whole thing and worked our way through a bottle of champagne and many hot scones with home made strawberry jam and cream. A most pleasing day :-)

[oddny.livejournal.com]

PS We loved Fergie's girls for their amazing resemblance to the ugly sisters in the last pantomime we went to!

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Poor things, you'd think someone would drop a hint.

Glad you enjoyed it. I watched it all over again in the evening and liked it even more.

[mimmimmim.livejournal.com]

I did wonder whether Beatrice and Eugenie realised they could never win on 'pretty' so decided to go for 'dramatic' instead. Or perhaps they had a private bet on who could get the most column inches.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

I do feel sorry for them, with such a mother as a role model and they're very young to take so much media criticism. OTOH, so much make up on such young faces! Save it until you need it, girls.

[joyeuce]

people needed to have their noses stuck to their service sheets to sing Guide Me, Oh Thou Great Redeemer

Maybe they know the proper words, rather than the slightly odd Anglican version? ;-)

(It's Jehovah, dammit!)

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Anglicans odd? ! :-)