"Soon she will be Princess, and one day she will be Queen", were the first words I heard when turning on the radio just before lunchtime today.
These were the words of a BBC reporter, with news of the impending marriage of Prince William to his long-time girlfriend, Kate Middleton. Like it or not, this is a truly historical moment, as we witness the continuity of almost a thousand years of history of British Royalty.
In this modern era, there is a tendency to be rather cynical about the British Royal Family. It's fashionable to ask whether it has any relevance or it it's just an unecessary expense. But it seems that all of this negative talk has got completely thrown out of the window, as the media shows scenes of unbridled joy in Britain today. And fascination of Kate and William's engagement has rapidly spread throughout the world. All of the major U.S. news networks opened their morning shows today with dramatic fanfares, and even the Czech media is devoting massive airtime to the story.
I am surprised about how emotional I am about this news. I remember the wedding of William's parents 29 years ago. Your grandmother Veronica and I watched the ceremony from the office window of our friend Robin Ellison, just a stone's throw from St. Paul's Cathedral. Your grandfather was perched on a second floor window sill taking photographs with my two beloved Nikon cameras with long lenses attached. I have some wonderful photographs which you must see of this great event.
The birth of Prince William is another day etched in my memory, with happy photos of his mother cradling him in her arms. Of course, I recall the day that Prince William's died in a car accident in Paris just over ten years ago. I was deeply touched by the scenes of the happy couple posing for photographs in St. James Palace this afternoon. In fact there is no other family's life that I have followed more than British Royalty. It may seem strange for you but this announcement feels very much a part of my life.
Love is beautiful, and the deep feelings that this couple, who have been going out together for nearly a decade, was very clear for everyone to see. In spite of the declining popularity of marriage -- with a third less people in Britain tying the knot today compared to 30 years ago -- everyone adores a wonderful wedding. These may be so-called times of austerity, but the wedding planned for next spring or summer is bound to be of fairy tale proportions.
Kate and William, both 28 years old, have been living together near his military base in Anglesy for the past six months. I was therefore amused by his father's comment that "they have been practicing for long enough". Another interesting sign of the times is that Kate is the first 'commoner' (non-aristocrat) to marry into the Royal family. And with so many modern marriages sadly breaking down, it was wonderful to hear William say that he had chosen this women with whom to share the rest of his life.
Amusingly, given the rather dismal record of failed Royal marraiges, Prime Minister David Cameron's description of "unadulterated joy", raised a few eyebrows as he stood on the steps of Number 10 Downing Street today.
I beleive in the institution of marraige profoundly. To live with someone in good times and bad, to support and cherish them whatever the pressures, is wonderful. I can think of nothing more uplifting than growing old toegether with the person you adore more than anyone else in the world. I hope that the love which radiates from this union will have a positive impact on us all.
Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic
