I never got into the whole “Royal Wedding” buzz- the excitement over Kate’s dress, when and how they will share their first kiss as a married couple, how the Westminster Abbey will be decorated and who was on the guest list. None of it fazed me… until the day actually came. And wow was I bedazzled.
I woke up Friday morning feeling the throbbing pain in my feet from the previous evening’s dinner preparation and hosting. Fatigue had ridden my body listless, and I reeked of cigarette stench- the weekend was almost over, that’s just lovely, I felt it had only just begun. I rolled over to my left side picked up my BlackBerry from the nightstand and ran through the messages- and of course my friends were talking about the Royal Wedding. “That’s right; it’s the event of the season. Meh, may be I’ll watch it after my shower”. I managed to carry my deadweight out of bed and stumbled into the shower. There’s nothing like lukewarm water to revitalize your body, and a hot cup of coffee to cure the morning headache. With coffee in hand, and the sweet smell of nectarine and peaches replacing the nicotine, I made my way to the living room. I suddenly felt a rush of urgency to quicken my pace, this Royal Wedding intrigue was starting to stir, and I actually started to get excited.
My Dad was already watching the main event, and he sat with his eyes fully fixated onto the flat screen smoking his cigar not noticing that I had just walked into the room. I propped myself up on the bar stool, placed my coffee mug on the table and from then on I was hooked. I was wowed, royally.
London had been transformed to Fairytale Land. The exquisite cars, the emptied streets rimmed with cheering enthusiastic onlookers waving British flags, then of course the guests arriving at Westminster Abbey. The ladies in their chic dresses and elaborate hats, the gents in their tuxedos and top hats- dress codes we have only come across on screen from Hollywood. I sipped my coffee, without saying a word to my Dad- we were both enthralled by the haute-royal event. The abbey transformed from a Gothic church, to a modern park lane lined with seven-meter trees that created a lush canopy in the nave and running down the center a red carpet that would take the bride from the entrance of the abbey to her Prince Charming (literally). “Seems like a sunny day in London, they’re lucky,” came my Dad’s voice overtaking that of the BBC commentator’s. London was basking in more than the heat of the sun; she was basking in the magic of the wedding. London was happy, just as happy as the hundreds of millions of others who were glued to their screens just as we were.
My Mom came in with just the same smile I was wearing, that indelible “aww” kind of smile. “Come up and watch it with me, leave your Dad to smoke his cigar, honestly Gebran is it necessary?” I tuned her out, didn’t want anything to ruin the magic carpet ride I found myself floating on, so I zipped upstairs into my parent’s bedroom, curled up on the beige leather couch and was instantaneously re-captivated.
The man of the hour had arrived in a chauffeur-driven Bentley painted in Royal Claret Livery (as delicately gruesome as that color sounds) with his brother, Prince Harry, the best man by his side. Both officers in the Armed Forces, they naturally opted for their uniforms which they wore with honor and distinction. Prince William wore the brilliant red uniform of the Irish Guards regiment, he looked dashing and like a future king. Diana would be proud. They smiled and waved to the delighted spectators as they set off from Clarence House, their London home, on William's final journey as a single man, and entered the abbey, with Harry probably telling his older bro “This is it… no turning back.” I felt the rush of shivers run up and down my spine; I haven’t been this excited to watch the news in, well probably ever. Okay, may be not ever, at least in 2011.
As Westminster Abbey greeted its dashing Prince the excitement was raised to the nth degree. Everyone’s chatter turned into big smiles and modest bows as the future King made his way to the high altar. The bride’s mother, Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall (Camilla), the Queen Elizabeth (in her brighter than the sun yellow ensemble) all arrived to the abbey, but still everyone was impatiently awaiting the arrival of Kate.
I picked up my BB and was reading through the thread of messages on Thubaba (our group name). All the guys and the girls were reporting their thoughts and feelings or making passes at the absurd hats. I bet millions more were texting and tweeting in a similar manner. It’s so amazing how one joyous event can draw in millions of people, and create a sense of unity in the name of love- rather than in the name of war.
I looked back up at the screen, as the camera pulled away from Westminster Abbey and towards the Rolls Royce parked outside Goring Hotel… and the camera caught a first glimpse of the future Princess as she sat in the backseat of the car, next to her father.
There she was elegant, beautiful, simple Kate in an Alexander McQueen wedding gown. She was organically breathtaking in her lace white dress with a humble train and a magnificent tiara. Her hair was half pulled back in brunette waves and her makeup (which she had done herself btw) highlighted her features in the perfect way. As she left her Rolls Royce, stepping onto the pavement she turned around to the crowds pouring behind her and waved at them with just as much fervor as they were waving at her, probably trying to shake off her nerves. As she turned to enter the abbey and regained full composure she was ready to take her steps towards her new life; she was about to be the wife of the man she loves, and written down in the Royal family tree as a Princess and Duchess of Cambridge (we were to find out after the event) . As she greeted the bishops and clergymen that were standing at the foot of the door, her smile widened and she kept peering through the naval to catch a glimpse at her guests and her fiancé. I think before she can even collect a thought, the choir’s music replaced the calm that had settled in the abbey as the Princess made her way down the aisle, with her father to her left, and flower girls, and maid of honor (Pippa) tracing her from behind.
… I imagined myself walking down the aisle towards the church’s high altar with Mr. Haven’t Met You Yet standing in awe or cold feet. I could almost hear the choir singing as their voices swirled around the church walls infusing with the afternoon sunlight pouring from the church’s arched windows and bursting into the hearts of the guests. I could imagine how sweaty my palms could get holding the white bouquet, and how teary my mom’s eyes would be… for the first time I imagined every detail. I was Kate, the happiest and most nervous woman on Earth, living out a fairytale.
Kate stood by Will out of love, and devotion, not out of duty. They were to be wed just like any other couple, but the difference is their wedding was broadcast live for hundreds of millions to listen to their vows of matrimony… He ,Will, took Kate to be his lawfully wedded wife, and she, Kate, took Will to be her lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, through rich or poor, until death do them part.
I woke up Friday morning feeling the throbbing pain in my feet from the previous evening’s dinner preparation and hosting. Fatigue had ridden my body listless, and I reeked of cigarette stench- the weekend was almost over, that’s just lovely, I felt it had only just begun. I rolled over to my left side picked up my BlackBerry from the nightstand and ran through the messages- and of course my friends were talking about the Royal Wedding. “That’s right; it’s the event of the season. Meh, may be I’ll watch it after my shower”. I managed to carry my deadweight out of bed and stumbled into the shower. There’s nothing like lukewarm water to revitalize your body, and a hot cup of coffee to cure the morning headache. With coffee in hand, and the sweet smell of nectarine and peaches replacing the nicotine, I made my way to the living room. I suddenly felt a rush of urgency to quicken my pace, this Royal Wedding intrigue was starting to stir, and I actually started to get excited.
My Dad was already watching the main event, and he sat with his eyes fully fixated onto the flat screen smoking his cigar not noticing that I had just walked into the room. I propped myself up on the bar stool, placed my coffee mug on the table and from then on I was hooked. I was wowed, royally.
London had been transformed to Fairytale Land. The exquisite cars, the emptied streets rimmed with cheering enthusiastic onlookers waving British flags, then of course the guests arriving at Westminster Abbey. The ladies in their chic dresses and elaborate hats, the gents in their tuxedos and top hats- dress codes we have only come across on screen from Hollywood. I sipped my coffee, without saying a word to my Dad- we were both enthralled by the haute-royal event. The abbey transformed from a Gothic church, to a modern park lane lined with seven-meter trees that created a lush canopy in the nave and running down the center a red carpet that would take the bride from the entrance of the abbey to her Prince Charming (literally). “Seems like a sunny day in London, they’re lucky,” came my Dad’s voice overtaking that of the BBC commentator’s. London was basking in more than the heat of the sun; she was basking in the magic of the wedding. London was happy, just as happy as the hundreds of millions of others who were glued to their screens just as we were.
My Mom came in with just the same smile I was wearing, that indelible “aww” kind of smile. “Come up and watch it with me, leave your Dad to smoke his cigar, honestly Gebran is it necessary?” I tuned her out, didn’t want anything to ruin the magic carpet ride I found myself floating on, so I zipped upstairs into my parent’s bedroom, curled up on the beige leather couch and was instantaneously re-captivated.
The man of the hour had arrived in a chauffeur-driven Bentley painted in Royal Claret Livery (as delicately gruesome as that color sounds) with his brother, Prince Harry, the best man by his side. Both officers in the Armed Forces, they naturally opted for their uniforms which they wore with honor and distinction. Prince William wore the brilliant red uniform of the Irish Guards regiment, he looked dashing and like a future king. Diana would be proud. They smiled and waved to the delighted spectators as they set off from Clarence House, their London home, on William's final journey as a single man, and entered the abbey, with Harry probably telling his older bro “This is it… no turning back.” I felt the rush of shivers run up and down my spine; I haven’t been this excited to watch the news in, well probably ever. Okay, may be not ever, at least in 2011.
As Westminster Abbey greeted its dashing Prince the excitement was raised to the nth degree. Everyone’s chatter turned into big smiles and modest bows as the future King made his way to the high altar. The bride’s mother, Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall (Camilla), the Queen Elizabeth (in her brighter than the sun yellow ensemble) all arrived to the abbey, but still everyone was impatiently awaiting the arrival of Kate.
I picked up my BB and was reading through the thread of messages on Thubaba (our group name). All the guys and the girls were reporting their thoughts and feelings or making passes at the absurd hats. I bet millions more were texting and tweeting in a similar manner. It’s so amazing how one joyous event can draw in millions of people, and create a sense of unity in the name of love- rather than in the name of war.
I looked back up at the screen, as the camera pulled away from Westminster Abbey and towards the Rolls Royce parked outside Goring Hotel… and the camera caught a first glimpse of the future Princess as she sat in the backseat of the car, next to her father.
There she was elegant, beautiful, simple Kate in an Alexander McQueen wedding gown. She was organically breathtaking in her lace white dress with a humble train and a magnificent tiara. Her hair was half pulled back in brunette waves and her makeup (which she had done herself btw) highlighted her features in the perfect way. As she left her Rolls Royce, stepping onto the pavement she turned around to the crowds pouring behind her and waved at them with just as much fervor as they were waving at her, probably trying to shake off her nerves. As she turned to enter the abbey and regained full composure she was ready to take her steps towards her new life; she was about to be the wife of the man she loves, and written down in the Royal family tree as a Princess and Duchess of Cambridge (we were to find out after the event) . As she greeted the bishops and clergymen that were standing at the foot of the door, her smile widened and she kept peering through the naval to catch a glimpse at her guests and her fiancé. I think before she can even collect a thought, the choir’s music replaced the calm that had settled in the abbey as the Princess made her way down the aisle, with her father to her left, and flower girls, and maid of honor (Pippa) tracing her from behind.
… I imagined myself walking down the aisle towards the church’s high altar with Mr. Haven’t Met You Yet standing in awe or cold feet. I could almost hear the choir singing as their voices swirled around the church walls infusing with the afternoon sunlight pouring from the church’s arched windows and bursting into the hearts of the guests. I could imagine how sweaty my palms could get holding the white bouquet, and how teary my mom’s eyes would be… for the first time I imagined every detail. I was Kate, the happiest and most nervous woman on Earth, living out a fairytale.
Kate stood by Will out of love, and devotion, not out of duty. They were to be wed just like any other couple, but the difference is their wedding was broadcast live for hundreds of millions to listen to their vows of matrimony… He ,Will, took Kate to be his lawfully wedded wife, and she, Kate, took Will to be her lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, through rich or poor, until death do them part.
