Finally, it's all over, news reports can go back to the grim stories from what seems to be a large part of continental Africa, both Arab and black. For more than a week every news bulletin has been fanning the flames of wedding frenzy. The same tired old experts have been trotted out, we have had tradition, pomp and circumstance, pageantry and Royalty rammed down our throats relentlessly, but everything comes to its end. The frenzy is over, the deed has been done, to the delight and dismay, in equal measure, of the population of the UK. An additional instalment has been added to the soap opera that is the House of Windsor. We have seen the dress, the kiss(es), the other dresses and hats, the coaches, the splendid uniforms and the even more splendid vestments of the clergy. We have reminded ourselves of the ancient couple at the helm of the whole edifice.
Fevered excitement and annoyed lack of interest were the order of the day. Nobody managed to remain indifferent. Beloved and I sat glued to the TV screen for the whole of the wedding service, I couldn't have switched off for the life of me; these things become compulsive viewing. I adored the interviews with people at street parties in towns and villages and members of the throng lining the streets of London itself; it was as if the camera crews had combed the crowds for the ugliest people, in the most ridiculous outfits, who promptly repaid selection by spouting enthusiastic tripe. I love finding a reason to feel superior, don't you?
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| St Catherine of Sienna fresco by Andrea Vanni, ca, 14th century |
The Queen created a trio of new titles for Prince William, and Catherine is now the Duchess of Cambridge.
I am not a Royalist but I have to admit that she looked very fetching, as did her sister and brother. A handsome family, the Middletons. A few chiselled cheekbones and clearly defined chins should work wonders for the pudding faced Windsors.
I don't suppose the fact that the 29th April is also the feast day of Catherine of Sienna had any bearing on the choice of day.
Nor this bit of advice for the 29th April which I found in The Anatomy of Abuses 1586, which those of an irreverent disposition might find amusing:
Put Taurean bulls to cows now for early calves next year. The bulls must not feed with cows for two months before their leaping time and then let them come together without restraint. They are a great while in copulation, and some have guessed by certain signs, whether the calf will prove male or female. If the bull leaps down on the right side of the cow, it will be a male, if on the left, a female. If a man then desires a male calf, let him tie up the right stone of the bull at the time of copulation, and for a female, bind up the left.
A few chiselled cheekbones and clearly defined chins should work wonders for the pudding faced Windsors.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness for a commoner in the mix every couple hundred of years.
I love the bit of irreverence you've offered amidst the royal doings. Those girls do have "chiseled cheekbones and clearly defined chins," don't they? It's the hats that seem consistently over the top....
ReplyDeleteCompulsively watched it live, and then on video. I'm surprised how much I got into it. My husband (my prince) now insists on kissing me twice.
ReplyDeleteRemembered when I was a child trying to be English....
Warm Aloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral
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Hello:
ReplyDeleteWho would wish to be in front of a television when there is the opportunity to read this delightfully witty, slightly irreverent, but loyal [no off to the Tower here] post?
We have escaped the whole thing, thankfully, more or less in tact. Our one regret in not having a television is not to have seen any pictures of Mrs. M, the former airline trolley dolly, now made good through carefully laid plans in which her daughter becomes D of C. This is something which, we are told, has been her life's work when not blowing up balloons for parties in the family business!
We saw the day through with Pimm's and good humour.
ReplyDeletewell i wonder if the wedding night...oh never mind...hahaha...
ReplyDeleteLOL!! Delightfully disrespectful, Friko! I watched the whole thing, too, on my own - Barry had more interesting things to do and had more than enough of ritual and pageantry during his time in the army - but I have to confess that I loved the whole shebang, even though I know it bears as much relation to the lives of most of us as fish bear to birds. My daughters and daughter-in-law also indulged while my son and sons-in-la.w were suitably - or unsuitably - dismissive of the circus. I hope this marriage will inject some intelligence into the Royal family.
ReplyDeletecongratulations to the Middletons for bringing up their children to be polite, confident and able to walk with commoners and kings.
Friko, you have a wonderful way with the English language — and with the English!
ReplyDelete— K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
So whose counting anyway!! (Re cows, calves and bulls). David and I love the Brits, love the Queen, and love Kate and William. You are so fortunate to live in the U.K. The politics here are a drag. Dianne
ReplyDeleteProcreation is one of their Royal duties, is it not? As to the choice between the left or right stones, I guess we'll find the answer if "the inevitable" happens.....
ReplyDeletehave managed not to see a single moment of the royal nuptials. was gone all day yesterday when it was repeated all day and have watched no news programs today. but I sincerely hope her dress was better than that awful mess Diana wore.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy reading thoughts from those closer to the happenings. You provide a fascinating perspective with great wit.
ReplyDeletePersonally I could have listened to the choirs much longer.
It was also somewhat comforting to find that the media are all cut from the same annoying cloth and it is not just rampant in the US.
I was looking forward to your view of this ceremony since you are much closer to this and much more knowledgeable about the whole thing.
ReplyDeleteThe Anatomy of Abuses? Where do you find these things? I'm going to go there! I cannot think of a better quote to pair with this "wedding post."
ReplyDeleteFriko, how you make me smile! And laugh.
ReplyDeleteI definitely saw the entire wedding ceremony (and though of you whenever the camera showed a musician.) I also kept my eyes on the tv screen through both kisses, and that lovely last look over the shoulder by Kate.
Then. I had to get on with my not at all royal life and go off to work a long day. Still, it was lovely to have had a change to see lots of happiness.
Slight, but not total change of subject. Have you ever worn any of those fantasy hats? When I used to get to London regularly, I'd always go to Harney Nicks hat dept to see and try what was then of the moment. It was great fun. Of course, I never bought any of them. Just wanted to do some research.
xo
I have relatives in London and they do not wear those fancy hats. I would have to struggle not to laugh at them if they did. It's worth watching these Royal Marriages just to see a lovely young lady with a hat stuck smack in the middle of her forehead! Sure beats Hyacith Bucket's hats!
ReplyDeleteA few chiselled cheekbones and clearly defined chins should work wonders for the pudding faced Windsors... this did make me laugh :o)
ReplyDeleteI have to say, the fascination with hats takes the focus off the shoes, which has consistently been the focus since all that fuss in the Philippines with the Marcos.
ReplyDeleteThe wedding was beautiful and I was glued to the telly too, even though I am off in the colonies.... (Canada). I loved the trees in the Abbey.
Your article on bulls and cows was very sad. The pain and torture those animals have gone through over the centuries, what with bull fighting, their reproductive organs being tied and not to mention the torture of the rodeos in western North America. Thank you for the interesting blog, Friko.
I was outside taking care of the Royal Weeding up my drive! There was this huge dandelion.......
ReplyDeleteFor a brief moment I thought that your being glued to the TV might be warning 'maudlin ahead!'. But your habitual wicknedness won out, thank goodness.
ReplyDeleteI thought the third-most elegant woman in the place was a slender sixty- or -seventy-somthing woman near the front dressed in a beautiful coral suit with matching hat. She had it all over Victoria Beckham, who looks permanently disgruntled. Perhaps she had the wrong muscles botoxed.
(Deborah S.)
Well, I must say, the Spencer blood did wonders for the Windsor line, and another infusion from the Middleton line seems it will have positive results!
ReplyDeleteYes I agree...the Middletons' are exactly what the lineage needs. Not to mention the fact that she has brains as well. So finally a chance the monarchy will have some smarts!! Very cool!
ReplyDeleteI too was glued to the set and watched all the festivities. Quite the spectacle!! I enjoyed it.
She looked smashing and he quite handsome.
What fun
Hugs
SueAnn
Oh, I enjoyed this.
ReplyDelete...although I am a complete sap when it comes to weddings in general, and the fairytale quality of Royal Weddings. The bride and groom looked to me just like fantasy figures, he so handsome and she so dainty and demure...
[sigh...]
I have been so busy that I only got to see a little of it the next day on the net, but I thought, why not? A little frivolity and silly pageantry livens up the depression of most of the news. Of course, we here in the US have our share of silliness (eg. Sarah Palin and her ilk) but Royal silliness (this time at least) is a lot less toxic than what we have been generating over here. It's fun to watch the Brits taking themselves seriously.
ReplyDeleteI do hope you have forwarded the animal husbandry info on to the Royal Family -- I imagine they'd like to ensure a couple of sons to begin with. Just think of England, they can tell William if he objects...
ReplyDeleteManaged to get back in time to to see them emerge from the Abbey . Didn't they scrub up well !!
ReplyDeleteYou can tell that standards are going down at the BBC when they hire the likes of Ferne Cotton to do the VoxPops
ReplyDeleteHonestly if a hungry zombie were to come along and eat her brain he'd barely have enough for a light snack
Oh dear, I hope William knows about tying up the left or the right one ;-)
ReplyDeleteOh how you make me smile! I confess to watching it a bit late, when our public television station ran a repeat of BBC America's coverage (no commercials, no silly talking heads). I thought the service was lovely and I esp. thought of you and your beloved when music was playing. She did indeed look fetching, her sister beyond fetching, and her brother did an excellent job of reading the scripture. But I spent an equal amount of time oggling the Duke of Edinburgh's eyebrows.
ReplyDeleteNow the frivolity is behind us, we turn our attention to the production of a male heir to the throne. Seems that during copulation, someone needs to tie up William's right stone!
ReplyDeleteFound myself quite taken over by it all, but then I'm getting more and more sentimental each year. Now - back to real life.....
ReplyDelete