Royal Weddings, Gowns and Hats, Oh my!

William and Catherine and those adorable children!

OK, now that life is getting back to normal after the "Wedding of the Century!", it's time for a recap and a little historical perspective. First of all, it was wonderful to watch and the dress was gorgeous. My sister called me the moment Kate appeared in her dress and we yakked on the phone until they were on their way out of the church. It was much more fun in the company of my sister with our running commentary on the whole event just like we did as teens for Chuck and Di's wedding. And now the bride and groom appear happy and let's hope they make lots of royal babies soon so that Kate doesn't get bored sitting around in Anglesey, Wales waiting for her helicopter pilot to come home (remember Andrew and Fergie?)

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge-modern but timeless

Now, did anyone else notice how the men at the wedding all looked like they could have stepped out from the history books while the women (except for Catherine and Phillipa) looked really modern? I mean there was gold braid and swords and top hats and tails for the guys. And then there were the women in the spike heels and the weird hats. There was an occasional retro look, reminiscent of the 1940s or 1950s but those weren't always pulled off with style. Are the milliners of Britain really misogynists or is it a way for the ladies to get some attention in the press? Perhaps this is a cultural difference watching from across the pond, as we don't really get the hat thing. I mean even a small intimate wedding in England demands a hat from the ladies. Now, some obviously pull it off better than others. And Kate can really rock a hat, never mind a tiara!

I mean, here is Princess Beatrice at the big wedding:

Princess Beatrice-toilet seat and flying TP?

And here is Catherine at a recent wedding:

Kate Middleton in a gorgeous blue hat

And now here again is poor Princess Beatrice:

Princess Beatrice in butterfly hat

And again back to Kate:

Kate Middleton's feather hat

Kate knows how to wear a hat!  One of my fave comediennes, Tracey Ullman was on Canadian telly and said something to the effect that many of the guest of the royal wedding, instead of wearing fascinators, had opted for horrifiers instead!

If you want to check out the website of Philip Treacy the creator of many of the more unusual hats here it is: Philip Treacy.co.uk


OK, now it's time for a whirlwind tour of royal weddings since Queen Victoria's day. Now there were no cameras at the time of Queen Victoria's wedding, so I have opted for a later photo of the two.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert-hereditary baldness?

Now check out the head gear on the ladies in the actual painting of the ceremony, which was not at Westminster Abbey but at St. James' Palace (where Wills and Kate had their engagement photos taken).

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert on their wedding day 10 Feb 1840

King Edward and Queen Alexandra's wedding (when they were only 21 and 18 and called Prince Edward and Princess Alexandra) was a small affair at Windsor Castle and apparently the public was not really happy that it was out of London and not a public spectacle. Likely this had to do with the fact that Edward's (Bertie's) father Prince Albert had died 2 years previously and his mother was still in mourning.

Princess Alexandra of Denmark married Bertie (the future Edward VII) on 10 March 1863

The marriage of Bertie and Alix was a fairly happy one, owing partly to the fact that they both enjoyed a party and partly to the fact that she looked the other way when he had his many affairs. Their second son, George married his brother's fiance Princess Mary of Teck after eldest son Prince Albert Victor died of pneumonia. Apparently they comforted each other after their loss.

Princess Mary of Teck and Prince George (future King George V) wedding day 6 July 1893

Apparently this was a very happy union. No hanky panky in this marriage and they were pretty boring by all accounts. George just liked to shoot things (birds, big game) and stick stamps in albums. Oh, well, whatever it takes. As we all know now, their first son known to the family as David, became King Edward VIII for a short time before abdicating to be with his paramour the divorced Mrs. Wallis Simpson. So the next big wedding had occurred a few years before between Prince Albert (another Bertie, the future King George VI) and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (the future Queen Mum), the Duke and Duchess of York.

Bertie and Elizabeth's wedding 26 April 1923 at Westminster Abbey

And we also know that their eldest daughter Elizabeth has been on the throne since 1952 having married Prince Phillip of Greece and Denmark in 1947 at Westminster Abbey. It was recorded on newsreel and on the radio for the adoring public to follow.What a treat for the war weary Brits.

Princess Elizabeth and Prince Phillip on their wedding day, 20 Nov 1947

I love the story that Elizabeth's tiara snapped on the day of the wedding and they had to get the royal jeweler in to repair it before the ceremony.

Prince Charles and Princess Diana on that iconic day, 29 July 1981

Well, in hindsight, this may not have been the best of the royal matches, but then the world would be a bit different if it hadn't happened. So let's just hope that Kate and William make a go of it and keep up the good part of the monarchy without the negative side. Well, the press will give them a honeymoon period of a few years anyway one would think before they start, well...you know...that stuff that the British press do.

So, if you are in the royal mood, and you want a bit more royalty without William and Catherine this time, consider a few of my favorite films with royal themes below.

I guess we all like to watch the fairytale about the Princess getting her Prince. Don't we???