The Royal Wedding

Yes, I did get up early to watch it. 11.00am your time was 5.00am mine. I set my alarm for 4.40am, because I thought we'd need a bit of time to build up the excitement, and see the Royal Family arriving at the Abbey. Though 20 minutes seemed a rather paltry allocation, when I set the alarm for anything earlier, it did look terribly terribly early. You have to remember this is an ordinary school and work day here. The alarm went off, I turned it off and went back to sleep. Husband woke me at 4.55am, saying "it's time to get up". So much for the build up.

What a lovely do. We do do do's terribly well, we Brits, don't we?

We all snuggled up on the sofa to watch, trying not to be too grumpy. Then it was the usual morning routine, making packed lunches and scooting everyone out the door. I remember on my own wedding morning, driving to the church, past Marks and Spencer, seeing people out shopping, and thinking "how odd! Here am I getting married, and there they are, just a normal Saturday morning in M&S". I don't imagine Kate Middleton thought of us normal folk, making packed lunches and scooting children out the door, but if she had, it would have been the same sort of thing.

Now I'm not a great follower of fashion, but I do have just one comment. Hats are ok on the top of heads. They are ok on the side of heads (the word 'jaunty' is useful for this). They are not ok on the front of heads. Not unless you're carrying a laser gun and you're auditioning for a part as an extra in a sci fi movie. Victoria Beckham and Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice - I'm talking to you.

My favourite moment (well, one of them) was when the American commentary that we were listening to kindly found someone to lip read what William said to Kate's father, just before the service began. It was something along the lines of "just a small family affair, then". Now if that isn't a fine example of British humour, I don't know what is.

Jerusalem. It's a great hymn. "And did those feet, in ancient time, walk upon England's mountains green? And was the holy Lamb of God, on England's pleasant pastures seen?" But at that point, some inner rebellion in me always wants to answer "No, I don't think Jesus ever made it to England". I know. Terribly literal of me. I have no poetry in my soul.

As so often, 7-yo had her own unique take on the occasion.

"So she's going to be the queen now."

"No, she's marrying the prince, so she'll be the princess."

"What? She goes through all this, and she only gets to be the princess?"



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