Royal wedding of William and Kate: Hardly a frivolous story
Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, walk from Buckingham Palace on Saturday. Photo credit: John Stillwell/AFP/Getty Images
The wacky hats, the British pomp and the bride’s gorgeous dress were a lot of fun, but the royal wedding was an important story.
When an audience of 3 billion sees a couple exchange the wedding vows, the event reminds everyone of the importance of marriage. Doesn’t that divorce-plagued institution need a lift?
Prince William and Kate Middleton — now Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge — certainly got the trappings right. She was simply lovely, and he was understandably dazzled when she arrived at the altar. ABC News brought in lip readers to decipher what William and Kate were saying.
But it’s the words they said aloud – and the way they said them — that matter. They are obviously a couple in love, and the kisses on the balcony at Buckingham Palace were charming. Yet the looks between them during the wedding vows were poignant, hopeful and inspiring.
Those moments supplied an example: This is how it should be. And the happy wedding news offered a temporary break for a world beset by storms, wars, earthquakes, unemployment and economic uncertainty.
We live in a world of symbols and examples. William’s mother, Diana, continues to fascinate millions long after her death. Her big wedding day ended years later in headline-making shambles. But that wasn’t the end of the story, and so a great portion of the world tuned in Friday.
Her children, William and Harry, have grown up to be charming, handsome and dashing. William, who isn’t fond of the press, certainly understands the importance of putting on a good show, and the grand wedding had a fairy-tale feel to it.
Yet during the vows, you could sense that he and his bride understand that a lot more is at stake than making the public feel good. The look of love was more impressive than any of the pomp. Friday was a grand day for marriage.