Royal Wedding

The Royal Kiss in the balcony of Buckingham Palace (Photo: BBC) 

Like millions of people around the UK (and billions around the world) my family and I were glued to our television set to witness the royal marriage between Prince William (second in line to the British throne) and his commoner girlfriend Kate Middleton yesterday 29th of April.

Being a special holiday (no school and no work), we woke up late (and got up even later) yesterday, but still not missing much of the momentous event. We watched the coverage of BBC One channel and switched to BBC HD halfway towards the end.

The coverage prior to the wedding proved too much for our boys. The older one protested that it was boring to watch while the younger son just proceeded silently towards the computer to watch more exciting YouTube videos of his favourite game involving an ordinary plumber turned hero.


My wife was very keen on watching the whole coverage. She confessed later that afternoon that she got tired from feeling tensed while watching it, as if she was involved in the wedding! She must have been reminiscing on our wedding almost a decade back that's why she felt that way.

Before the wedding started, the television channel was all abuzzed about THE wedding dress of Kate Middleton. The rumour was that the dress will be designed by Sarah Burton of MacQueen fashion house. When Kate came out of the hotel on the way to Westminster Abbey, the rumour was confirmed as we caught a glimpse of her wedding dress by Sarah Burton, which is of white and ivory satin with lace. I think she looked very elegant in the dress. I am sure my other half was daydreaming that it was her in that lovely dress!

The wedding ceremony was very solemn. I like the way that they placed trees inside the abbey, which I find unique and quite refreshing. I did wonder though why it was only Kate who was made to wear a wedding band. This is something to research on.

After the wedding, the newly-wed royals returned to Buckingham Palace in an open horse carriage passing by hundreds of thousands of well wishers along the streets.

Of course, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (the titles the Queen bestowed upon them after the wedding) did not disappoint the eager crowd who gathered outside Buckingham Palace by kissing not just once but twice in the balcony!

Philippine President Benigno Simeon Cojuanco Aquino III or P-Noy had sent a congratulatory letter to the newly-wed Royal Couple with a wish for privacy from media. He was represented by Embassy Charge d'Affaires Reynaldo Catapang in the wedding.

The other Fiipino invited to the wedding was Lilie Piccio, who served as a nanny to Princes William and Harry when they were younger. Although not invited another lucky Filipino, ABS-CBN Europe's correspondent Jomel Anthony Gutierrez was able to shake hands with the future king and even got to ask a question.