Up with the Royals

Where were you on July 29th, 1981?

I had completely forgotten what the date was, but I do remember the day. My father woke me up while it was still dark. I didn't really understand what was happening - he told me that Prince Charles was going to marry Diana Spencer, and we could watch it happen on our own t.v. at home.

I remember what pjs I was wearing. I remember all of the little flower girls and attendants.

I remember Diana walking into the church.

I remember seeing the family and wedding party waving from a balcony.

I kept the People magazine that was issued with photos of little Prince William featured - a large splashy photo across the cover.

I wrote to Queen Elizabeth in grade three, and heard back with a note written by her lady-in-waiting.

When Prince William and Kate Middleton were married, I didn't watch live, but I followed the news and reaction, paid attention to details and hoped they would have a long and happy relationship.

Hearing that Prince Harry had proposed to actress Meghan Markle, the two seemed to have a lot in common and to walked to the beat of a slightly different drummer.

I have a habit of waking early. On the weekends I don't always rise after the first awakening, rather snoozing a little - but there's no real glamourous sleeping-in. I decided I would avoid waking the whole household, set an alarm for 5:00 a.m. and go to watch the big event from my apartment with the cats, returning around the time that my boyfriend had plans to head out for some very early garage saling.

I got to the apartment, made a coffee, fed the cats and got the live stream going on my computer via PBS News Hour's Youtube channel. There was no commentary, so it was interesting watching in silence as various people made their way down the four kilometre 'long walk' to St. George's in the beautiful English morning.

At 6:26 I realized that I should probably get my youngest up to watch with me - by this time I knew the boyfriend would be awake and dressing, likely popping by a friend's garage sale very early. I drove back to his house, and nudged my twelve-year-old awake. My boyfriend's thirteen-year-old son was already awake and dressed, hoping to go with his Dad. By some miraculous turn, my youngest was up within seconds and joined me on the couch to watch.

As you have all heard by now, this was quite an unusual wedding for any royalty anywhere. Including a passionate pastor gripping the pulpit and storytelling with such ease and glee about how if humans can harness the energy produced by love, that it will be the second time that humans have discovered fire - how 'love is the way'. Meghan Markle's father suffered a heart-attack and was unable to fly - as a result, Ms. Markle would make the first half of the aisle a solo walk (a demonstration of her independence as a women) and the second half she would be escorted to meet her husband-to-be by his father, Prince Charles. There was something touching about that - an act I imagine he didn't think he would ever carry out, as the father of two sons. A gospel choir dressed in coordinating shades of pale grey and soft pinks and lilacs swayed and delivered a rich rendition of the song Stand By Me. Nineteen-year-old cellist Sheku Kanneh-mason managed what appeared to be a completely clear-headed performance while the bride and groom and witnesses departed to sign official documents.

All this I watched from the couch, with my pajama-ed twelve-year-old son curled up beside me, as I played with his hair.

People magazine reported that the following luncheon and party were equally representative of the newlyweds, and that Prince Charles (who hosted the evening reception) gave a speech, referring to his second son with great fondness as 'My Darling Old Harry'.

Of course, since we live in a time when complaining has become an armchair sport overwhelmed with neverending polarities, there is a predictable onslaught of poking going on, however, listening to or feeding that machine isn't a prerequisite of life on planet Earth.

This was a bit of history repeating. A parent and a child in pajamas, cuddled together on a couch in the Eastern Townships, watching a royal couple commit to one another, in front of a selection of the world's population, peering at them on screens.

Congratulations to the newly-wed Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their marriage. May they be happy and fulfilled, and may they make a difference in the world.