On April 29, 2011 Prince William, son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, will marry longtime girlfriend, Catherine Middleton. The royal wedding has captured the imagination of royal enthusiasts around the world who have been waiting for a royal wedding since Prince Charles married Princess Diana in 1981. HRH Prince William and Kate's upcoming wedding, however, has also sparked controversy surrounding British/American relations.
The Royal Wedding Mania
British citizens are not the only people eagerly anticipating the upcoming royal wedding. Glamour Magazine reports that 39% of Americans are obsessed with Prince William and Kate's wedding. April 29th has been declared a national holiday in Britain. While Americans aren't as lucky, Britain is attempting to lure Americans to London with special vacations deals. British Airways is offering special royal wedding packages to Americans who are not content to watch the wedding on their television sets.
British Airways is not the only airline attempting to profit from the royal wedding, Virgin has also jumped on the bandwagon offering special deals for those who wish to travel to London for the big day. In addition, the royal marriage has its own website, which will air the wedding live on April 29th.
If the above doesn't convince you that the royal wedding is the event of the year, visit The Royal Wedding William and Kate Online Store where you can purchase items, such as baby bibs, key chains, coasters, and paperweights with William and Kate's image. BBC America claims America's fascination with the upcoming royal wedding stems from America's love for the late Princess of Wales.
Kate Middleton and Princess Diana: A Comparison
It was inevitable: Kate Middleton is being compared to Prince William's much beloved mother, Princess Diana. After the announcement of their wedding on November 16, 2010, Kate proved to be as much as a fashionista as the late Princess of Wales. The blue dress, designed by Brazilian designer Issa, literally flew off the shelves within hours of the engagement.
Kate's sense of style has captivated the fashion world. Copies of the blue dress worn during her wedding announcement are widely available online. Kate is already being labeled a fashion icon by British newspapers like Telegraph.co.uk. Kate's sense of style, however, is very different from that of Princess Diana. While the Princess of Wales was known for her glamour, Kate prefers a very casual look. Often photographed in jeans and boots, Kate usually appears at official engagements dressed in low key elegance.
Her use of stylish hats also gives Kate a very fashionable and relevant look compared to other members of the royal family. Kate is also compared to the Princess of Wales due to her down to earth demeanor. Although not yet a royal, Kate is already predicted to be the next people's princess. While Kate admits to being nervous during royal engagements and about her future role in the royal family, she is not the shy country girl Princess Diana was when she married the Prince of Wales in 1981. Kate has been dating Prince William for nine years and is no stranger to tabloids and royal social functions.
Controversy Surrounding the Royal Wedding
Although HRH Prince William's wedding is a cause for celebration, his wedding has also led to controversy. The guest list has raised eye brows from royal watchers everywhere. President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama are not among those included on the guest list. The royal wedding is not a state ceremony since Prince William is not the direct heir to the throne, therefore, wedding invitations to heads of state are not required.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy and other heads of state, however, were invited to the royal wedding. Some consider President Obama's missing invitation as proof of deteriorating Britsh/American relations. The Daily Caller blames the royal snub on the First Family who committed several acts which may have offended the royal family. Upon his election, President Obama returned a Winston Churchill bust which President Bush kept in the Oval Office. Michelle Obama also committed a royal faux pas by briefly touching the Queen's back in 2010. Regardless of the reasons for not inviting President Obama and the First Lady, some people consider the decision as a slight against Americans.
Sources
The Royal Wedding. officialroyalwedding2011.org Accessed March 2011.
Kate Middleton's Engagement Dress. dailymail.co.uk Accessed March 2011.
President Obama Snubbed. dailymail.co.uk Accessed March 2011.
Royal Wedding Fever. blogs.bbcamerica.com Accessed March 2011.
Elizabeth Crowley - Elizabeth Crowley is a freelance writer who lives in San Antonio, Texas. She has a Bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at San ...
