Unless you've been hiking on Bouvet Island for several months, you are probably aware of the royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.
In the last several days, I have read opinions ranging from unashamed Anglophile devotions to blanket denouncing of the entire British realm. I have heard the happy couple revered as socially aware and infinitely philanthropic. I have also heard suggestions that they are ridiculously extravagent and totally inappropriate in celebrating their nuptials while the world faces crisis after crisis. Frosting these comments was the assertion that we should not give a crap about them, because they would never give a crap about us, unless it somehow affected their income.
First, let me proudly say my veins run with British blood. My grandfather emigrated to this country at the age of 16 from Bath, England, fought with the allies in WW1, and made his home in Michigan. 25% of my genetic makeup is steeped in good, strong tea.
I grew up revering the monarchy long before I could recognize the political disproportion of the institution. I didn't care about nonrepresentative government or parliamentary unrest. I didn't see the aloof disdain for the commoners, and the layers of separation between the rulling class and the working class. There was a QUEEN, for God's sake, and princes and princesses and castles and carriages-- this is the stuff of fairy tales!!! All the history, pageantry, beauty. Like generations of little girls, I imagined being a princess, and marrying a prince, and living happily ever after (and may I say as an aside, that dream came true in its own very real and perfect way). At its most basic, this wedding, for me, was just a fun celebration of that fairy tale, that dream, that glitter frosted vision. The music, the guests, the bridesmaids, the men in uniform, oh MY! Westminster Abbey has never looked so beautiful, and still paled in comparison to the bride as she floated down the aisle to meet her prince. Lighten up, people, it's a ROYAL WEDDING!
It saddened me to see reality lived out with Charles and Diana. They were a couple practically doomed from the start by differences so vast that one wondered what ever brought them together, outside the royal desire to see the prince finally wed to someone--providing a positive shine for the tarnished image of the monarchy. Their two beautiful boys made their public struggles even more tragic--how could you not love those impish little mischief makers whose adorable smiles shined under public scrutiny? All grown up now a delightfully handsome, those same little boys are the faces of the future of the monarchy. They are also the most "real" royals we have ever met. Both are serving with pride and hard work in the armed forces, on the front lines, respected by superiors and those they lead. The future king chose as his bride a "common" woman by royal terms, but uncommon in her ability to charm and endear them both to the people. Their request for charitable giving in lieu of wedding gifts is admirable. Their residence is not a palace, but rather a house in the country. They're happy, relaxed, and in LOVE!
A year ago, I visited in the sitting room of my cousins in Bristol. The British people are well aware that their monarchy is without much real power. The Queen, at 88, is respected as intelligent, shrewd, and steady. They are figureheads, their roles more social than political. While the government in Great Britian fights the ever-present battle to balance the left and the right, the Royals stand as somewhat antiquated quardians of the crown jewels. The changing of the guards is coming, and the generation of William and Harry think much differently than do their parents and grandparents. It shows on the faces and in the actions of the newlyweds. It shows in how they conduct themselves as leaders in their country. That's enough to keep me hopeful that "happily ever after" can be more than a fairy tale.
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