Royal Wedding: A Touch of Class, and a Cavalcade of English Life
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: For the armchair viewer, the day offered superb cameos and a sparkling star turn

If you had to pick a moment from the thousand moments, it would be her smiling face behind the mist of the veil with the tiara and earrings glinting through. It took Catherine Elizabeth Middleton three and a half minutes to walk down the aisle to marry her Prince. Three and a half minutes plus 10 years. Well, I think we can all agree it was worth the wait.

They may have called her a commoner, but she outclassed every one of them. Lovely as a poem, the bride conquered any doubting hearts when we realised that she has not yet perfected the royal screw-top hand movement. She still waves like a human – eager, excited, happy. Catherine was not alone in her thrill; there were two billion people who felt roughly the same way.

It could not have been a more perfect day. At 7.45am, the TV cameras were already out in force and the sky over London was pewter with the threat of rain. Two great British loves had come together in glorious union: a slap-up royal wedding and dodgy weather.

Forget Carole Middleton, for viewers up with the lark the nation's most important Carol was the BBC's weathergirl. With her customary gale-force good humour, Carol Kirkwood explained to Fearne Cotton that there was an easterly wind, which was making it cold, but there was still hope that the showers could be kept away from the Abbey for the Big Moment. Down in Whitehall, Suzanna Reid was taking the temperature: "It was feeling a little damper earlier, but it seems to have lifted. No umbrellas!" Frankly, a passing typhoon could not have dampened the spirits of the throng in Hyde Park who cheered for England every time they saw themselves on the giant screen. » | Allison Pearson | Saturday, April 30, 2011

Americans Obsessed with Royal Wedding

RT: 'Twas the morning of the Royal Wedding and all through DC, hundreds and hundreds sat glued to TV. » | Saturday, April 30, 2011

«Un pays fier de ses institutions et de son passé»
LE FIGARO: INTERVIEW - Tristram Hunt, historien et député travailliste élu au Parlement de Westminster en 2010, est spécialiste de l'époque victorienne. Il a aussi présenté des documentaires télévisés sur la première révolution anglaise au XVIIe siècle.

LE FIGARO. - Ce mariage était-il important pour la monarchie anglaise?

Tristram HUNT. -Sans aucun doute. Catherine et William apportent un sang nouveau à la monarchie, qui en a bien besoin après les crises de ces dernières années. Ils sont beaux, jeunes, symbolisent une nouvelle génération. En les voyant, on sait tout de suite qu'ils s'aiment et sont heureux. Ils ont été absolument parfaits pendant toute la journée et ont montré une image positive de la famille royale. La présence d'une foule aussi impressionnante devant Buckingham prouve à quel point ils sont tous les deux populaires.

L'absence de Tony Blair et de Gordon Brown sur la liste des invités va-t-elle compliquer les relations entre la monarchie et les politiques?

Je pense que c'était vraiment une erreur de ne pas avoir invité Blair et Brown, qui sont tout de même les deux derniers premiers ministres travaillistes. Même s'il ne s'agit pas d'un mariage d'État et si leur présence n'était pas obligatoire d'après le protocole. La monarchie a absolument besoin du soutien de tout le peuple britannique, et devrait faire très attention à ne pas provoquer l'animosité d'une partie de la population qui est peut-être à gauche, mais qui est tout de même socialement très conservatrice et qui soutient majoritairement la famille royale. Le soutien des grands partis à la monarchie reste très fort, comme l'a montré la présence dans l'abbaye de Westminster des leaders des trois grands partis. » | Par Cyrille Vanlerberghe | Vendredi 29 Avril 2011

Hats Make Fashion Statement At Royal Wedding
Watch the YouTube video here

Nicht nur Prinz Harry wirft ein Auge auf Pippa
WELT ONLINE: Pippa Middleton war der heimliche Star der königlichen Hochzeit. Eine Romanze mit dem Bruder des Bräutigams ist aber unwahrscheinlich.

Die schöne Schwester der Braut, Pippa Middleton, beschäftigt die Nation auch noch einen Tag nach der Hochzeit. In ihrem aufregendem Kleid machte die 27-Jährige sogar der Braut Konkurrenz. Auf einigen inoffiziellen „Pippa“-Fanseiten beim sozialen Netzwerk Facebook stieg am Freitagnachmittag die Anzahl der positiven Reaktionen rasant an: Auf der Top-Seite hatten rasch mehr als 30 000 Nutzer den „I like“-Button geklickt – was so viel bedeutet wie „mir gefällt das“.

Pippas Auftritt fiel nicht nur den vielen Zuschauern auf, auch Prinz Harry schien das auf dem Balkon des Buckingham Palast gemerkt zu haben.

Nach Angaben der britischen Zeitung „The Sun“ machte er der schönen Brünetten in dem engen weißen Kleid mehrere Komplimente. „Du siehst wirklich toll aus heute, ganz ehrlich“, soll der wilde Bruder von Prinz William ihr zugeflüstert haben. Weiter lesen und einen Kommentar schreiben » | Samstag, 30. April 2011

Photo: Google Images
Royal Wedding: Prince William and Kate Enjoy Eight-tiered Wedding Cake
OK!: The royal wedding cake certainly lived up to its expectations

PRINCE William and Kate Middleton enjoyed an amazing eight-tiered wedding cake at their royal wedding reception yesterday. » | Saturday, April 30, 2011

William & Kate: Royal Wedding Best Moments

Royal Wedding: A Day That Was Truly Happy and Glorious
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Telegraph View: The British people are optimistic, hopeful enough about the monarchy to rejoice in a new generation that will be its heirs.

The royal bride wrote in the page of her diary recounting her wedding day: "Crowds very kind." That was the new Duchess of York, whom later we knew so long as the Queen Mother, on her wedding at Westminster Abbey in 1923, and her phraseology said something about her character – and that of the British people. Yesterday was another opportunity for a display of the same kind of kindness. It was more like happiness, a happiness shared between the cheering crowd, with their proud little Union flags and periscopes, and shared with the royal couple. "Every wedding is a royal wedding," the Bishop of London had said in his address. Much more was implied by the crowd's cheers: that at home Britain is at peace, when the world is full of crowds in conflict; that the British people are optimistic, hopeful enough about the monarchy to rejoice in a new generation that will be its heirs. So the people cheered the new Duke and Duchess, of course. They brought Catherine Middleton, a "commoner" like most of us, and now Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge, into their hearts. But they cheered something, too, that they could hardly put into words. Continue reading and comment » | Telegraph View | Friday, April 29, 2011

My comment:

Beautiful bride, beautiful venue, beautiful pageantry, beautiful procession, beautiful day! Says it all! Proud to be British! God save the Queen! – Mark

Balcony Kisses Seal Royal Wedding
BBC: Prince William and Kate Middleton have kissed twice on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after their wedding service in Westminster Abbey.

They were cheered by 500,000 well-wishers who gathered outside the palace, as RAF planes flew past in honour of the new royal couple.

Police estimate a million people lined the procession route from the abbey to the palace.

The bride will now known as Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge.

Prince William drove his new bride back to Clarence House, following a buffet reception at Buckingham Palace, at the wheel of his father's classic blue Aston Martin.

The vehicle was decked in ribbons and balloons with "Just Wed" on the number plate.

Later in the evening the couple returned to the Palace for a black tie dinner and dance which is expected to continue into the early hours. (+ video) » | Friday, April 29, 2011

On a Lighter Note: Where Did You Get That Hat, Beatie?!
Photos: Google Images

Royal Wedding: Majesty, Pageant, Glamour
A majestic day for Great Britain! Such pageantry makes one feel proud to be British. The bride looked stunning. Absolutely stunning! And her gown was truly elegant. Worn, of course, with panache. She is a true beauty, and has such a winning smile. Gorgeous! She's going to win the nation's hearts and affection. She is a real asset for the House of Windsor.

Everything was executed to perfection; and it was such a relief that nothing untoward happened to mar the day for the royal couple.

No country in the world can put on an event like this better than Great Britain! Rule Britannia! » | Mark Alexander | Friday, April 29, 2011

La robe de Kate, enfin
L’arrivée de Kate était un moment fort du mariage princier. Sa robe a été créée par Sarah Burton créatrice chez Alexander McQueen

Prince William, Kate Declared Married
Kate and William acknowledge well-wishers. Photo: Arab News
ARAB NEWS: LONDON: An elegant, tiara-bedecked Kate Middleton swept down the aisle to marry Prince William at Westminster Abbey as fans packed the streets of London, hoping to snatch a glimpse of a historic royal wedding expected to revitalize the British monarchy.

Some 2 billion people across the globe were believed to have tuned in as the future king and queen of England started their lives as husband and wife with the two simple words “I will.” The couple looked nervous but happy and recited their vows without stumbling before Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.

A million well-wishers — as well as some protesters — flooded into the areas surrounding Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and other London landmarks. Crowds were up at dawn waving flags for television cameras under steely gray skies and cool temperatures. Cheers erupted as huge television screens began broadcasting at Trafalgar Square and Hyde Park.

“Will, it's not too late!” said one sign held aloft by an admirer dressed as a bride.

Middleton's ivory wedding gown with lace applique was designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, while her hair was half-up, half-down and decorated with a tiara.

William wore the scarlet tunic of an Irish Guards officer, sending a strong signal of support for the armed forces and reinforcing his new image as a dedicated military man. » | Gregory Katz, AP | Friday, April 29, 2011

Britisches Prinzenpaar getraut

Le prince William et Catherine Middleton sont mariés
Kate et William s'embrassent sur le balcon de Buckingham Palace. Photo : Le Figaro
LE POINT: La robe de la future princesse est l'oeuvre de la créatrice Sarah Burton, directrice artistique de la griffe britannique Alexander McQueen.

Le prince William et son épouse Catherine ont échangé leurs premiers baisers en public vendredi sur le balcon du palais de Buckingham, sous les acclamations de centaines de milliers de personnes en liesse. William et Kate sont apparus d'abord seuls au balcon du palais, comme le veut la tradition. Le prince a demandé à sa femme "On s'embrasse ?", avant de joindre le geste à la parole devant des centaines de milliers de personnes, déclenchant une immense ovation. Quelques minutes plus tard, ils ont échangé un nouveau baiser, bref lui aussi.

Le jeune couple a ensuite été rejoint par plusieurs membres de la famille royale, dont la reine Elizabeth II, grand-mère de William. Ils ont admiré un bref survol aérien du palais par trois avions de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, suivis d'avions de chasse modernes. Sur ce même balcon, 30 ans plus tôt, les parents de William, Charles et Diana, avaient échangé un très bref baiser devant une foule en liesse. Le baiser du balcon est depuis devenu une tradition. Continuez à lire et ajouter un commentaire » | Le Point.fr (Source Reuters et AFP) | Vendredi 29 Avril 2011

William and Kate: The Royal Wedding
To the Los Angeles Times picture gallery » | Posted by Jerome Adamstein | Friday, April 29, 2011

Royal-Wedding Jewelry: Kate Middleton Wears the Cartier Halo Tiara
Photo: Vanity Fair
VANITY FAIR: Kate Middleton chose to wear the Cartier “halo” tiara, which was made in 1936 and purchased by the Duke of York (later King George VI) for his wife, Elizabeth's mother (also Elizabeth). » | Rebecca Sacks | Friday, April 29, 2011

Duchess Kate Middleton a Vision in Ivory and Lace
HERALD SUN: CATHERINE Middleton, the new Duchess of Cambridge, arrived only four minutes behind schedule, looking stunning.

Her dress, simply, was ivory and white satin, created by Sarah Burton of British fashion house Alexander McQueen.

The heart-shaped bodice and sleeves were covered with white English and French Chantilly lace.

The bodice was narrowed at the waist and padded at the hips, a hallmark of McQueen's designs.

The dress pays homage to Britain's arts and crafts tradition. The lace applique of the bodice and the skirt was hand-made by the Royal School of Needlework.

The lace was hand-engineered using the Carrickmacross lace-making technique from Ireland.

In a tribute to McQueen's wedding dress, individual roses, thistles, daffodils and shamrocks were hand-cut from lace and sewn on to the ivory tulle veil.

The gown, with its long sleeves, full skirt and a 3m train, took almost a minute to fold into the the bride's Rolls-Royce across the lap of Kate's father, Michael Middleton.

THE TIARA

Kate's diamond tiara was a story in itself.

Lent to her by William's grandmother, the Queen, the little known "halo" tiara was made by Cartier in 1936 and was bought by the Queen's father for her mother, three weeks before he succeeded his brother, King Edward VIII, who was to abdicate.

The tiara was given to the Queen by her mother on her 18th birthday. It was, in the royal bridal tradition, "something borrowed". » | Miranda Devine | Herald Sun | Saturday, April 30, 2011

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Kiss on the Balcony, and Watch Fly Past

The Royal Wedding
Prince William & Catherine Middleton
Watch the Royal Wedding live on the BBC (the build-up has already begun) here