This morning, Prince William, the second in line for the British throne, married Catherine Middleton in an orrnate ceremony at London's Westminster Abbey. The service was led by the Archbishop of Canterbury and attended by 1,900 guests, including foreign royal family members and heads of state. It is estimated that more than 600,000 visitors from all around the world flocked to London to witness the spectacle and participate in William and Catherine's happiness who are now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.The Wedding of the Century is a landmark in Great Britain's modern history.
As I am still on holiday (last holiday weekend!), I had the chance to watch the wedding live on TV. What impressed me most is that everything was organised impeccably, as planned - the exception being Prince William's slight delay to set off from Clarence House to Westminster Abbey. He was escorted by his brother, Prince Harry, who was also the best man. Watching them walking down the aisle at Westminster Abbey, I realised how close to one another these young boys must be, especially after their mother's death.
However, the crowds gathered at Trafalgar Square were looking forward to seeing the bride depart for Westminster Abbey. Most importantly, they couldn't wait to see her dress! Soon after Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip arrived at the Abbey, Catherine and her father got into the Rolls Royce which drove them there. We could then only catch a glimpse of Kate's gorgeous wedding dress. When she got off the car at the Abbey, I was speechless! Her wedding dress, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander MacQueen - the great fashion designer who recently passed away - was far beyond my expectations. It was exquisite! The absolute chic! The media compared her dress to Grace Kelly's wedding dress when she married Prince Rainier of Monaco, but to me, there was nothing to compare.
During the ceremony, the most touching moment was when the young couple exchanged their vows. Catherine could hardly speak - she'd just whisper her vows to the man of her life. I also loved the way she wore her hair loose against the Protocol. Inevitably, there was a comparison between Diana and Catherine. But once more, there was really nothing to compare and, to my mind, that was a very unfortunate comparison. Lady Diana was an innocent girl who had only seen Prince Charles 20 times before she was chosen by the Queen as her son's bride. She had no "say" in her wedding. Cattherine, on the other hand, had a long-term relationship with Prince William. They had been together for eight years before they finally decided to get married. Yet, I feel William must have missed his mum on his special day. But she was watching from above, from the world of angels, feeling proud of her son.
By 1:30 pm - London time - the world was looking forward to the traditional royal kiss from the central balcony of Buckingham Palace. It was a brief kiss and I felt that both Catherine and William blushed! Or maybe it was just an impression.. May their marriage be blessed with joy, faith and love.
All photos: Associated Press
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