If you don't live in the same "Green and Pleasant" land my family and I do, with rolling hills and red post boxes , (cue music for Jerusalem) you may be forgiven for not knowing we are having a bit of a get together for a wedding a week on Friday. Well I say bit of a get together, my invitation must have got delayed in the post, but I'm sure its on its way.
The government has kindly decreed a national Holiday, so we can all attend the nuptials, or at least watch them on TV. They have also relaxed the rules, to allow more people to organise street parties, like those we held in June 1977 for Her Majesties Silver Jubilee.
In reality I don't know of any streets that are getting the trestle tables out and serving bits of pineapple and cheese on cocktail sticks, I'm guessing the public liability insurance is still too much.
On the whole I think most people will treat it as an extra day at the shops, or an excursion to the beach ?
But let us not put a dampener on things, Royal weddings are cool, you cant beat a bit of tradition and pomp to pull the nation together. There are also economic benefits, all you lovely tourists for a start! Then there is the merchandise and the Global TV rights. To be fair, how often does the world see a real fairy tale wedding with a Prince and Princess ?
I am sure a good day will be had by all but its starting to make me feel old , it doesn't seem like 30 years ago (1981) that we were all glued to the screen in the lounge watching Charles and Diana. We only had 3 channels on TV then, I cant remember, but I bet it was on all of them !
Like most families even the Windsor's need some practice, so I leave you now with some exclusive footage of rehearsals for next week, brought to you by the mobile phone giant T-Mobile
I should thank Dave at American Soda for finding this clip on YouTube and inspiring this post !
Till tomorrow......
