Royal Wedding - too much!

[Marguerite]

Is anyone else Royal Weddinged out? We've got daily coverage on all networks. Reporters from all breakfast TV shows have been in London for days and report constantly on the most inane topics, in lieu of real news.

So much for a country heading towards becoming a republic...

Or is it just us?

Marg

 

[Malika]

You have Royal Wedding fever - in the States??? Holy Moses. What did you fight that war of independence those centuries ago for
The wedding fever William and Kate seems to me like, in the words of Mrs Patrick Campbell, "the triumph of hope over experience"... They'd just better not get divorced after all this, is all I can say.
We are blissfully free of all this silliness in France... I think the French are too tough and unsentimental to go gaga about ANYONE'S wedding!

 

[Malika]

Oh sorry... just realised... Marguerite is in AUSTRALIA! Now it all makes sense...

 

[lovemysons]

Hey Marg,
I am curiously fascinated while at the same time thinking to myself...This is just ridiculous! lol
I mean why do these people get to live this way in this day and age. It's 2011 not 1611 for goodness sake!
But I guess the Brits love it...certainly feeds the tabloids and is their own "royal" reality show.

Tammy

 

[hearts and roses]

Malika, yes, the states have royal wedding fever too! Lol

I will admit that I am a bit fascinated and watched a great bio on Middleton the other night on PBS. I will probably watch some coverage on Friday, but I'm not steeped in it as some are! My mother, for instance knows British royal history like no one else I know and, even in her dementia, is following the fairy tale very closely...but then again, she's in a wheelchair all day long at a nursing home-what else is there to do? Her roommate has her TV on incessantly! Look

 

[Andy]

I am not seeing much news on this in my neck of the woods. I do know of a person who will be setting their recorder to record the wedding (3:00 am our time) but will most likely be up to watch it. I will wait for news coverage during the day.

We still hear people asking, "What day is the wedding?" leading to believe we have not been overrun with news coverage.

Our family had the discussion on the royal family this weekend. They do not have any real power and are really expensive to maintain so why does their country keep them set up? I believe it is because they are a beloved living icon. Most countries only have landmarks that set them apart and perhaps proclaim their worth, England has living icons - royalty. Very cool! Their landmarks have a different significant because the royal family is still alive and recognized.

Imagine that country without their royalty. I would think their tourism industry would take a huge hit. How they promote their royal family is very unique to the world. What would they look like without them? Would the changing of the guards still take place or be of such significance if the royal family were not in place?

Even with their lack of real power, they still are the strong foundation of England.

One thing I do like about the wedding (and many other events of world interest) are the documentaries aired around them. I half watched biographies of Kate and William the other night while doing other things at home. It is a great chance for t.v. stations to bring out shows that give some back ground of the family.

It does get to be much when it reaches the point of overtaking the news. With all the stations we have available to us, I always believed that only one or two stations should have the continous coverage so that we can choose to take it or leave it and continue with our lives. I am sure we will get the same overrun of news coverage on the day of the wedding.

 

[HaoZi]

I'm so wedding'd out I dreaded opening this thread!

 

[Malika]

Actually, I say we are blissfully free of the mania in France... I may be out of touch! I don't have TV, don't see a paper regularly and, believe it or not, talk about other things with friends when we meet... I have an awful feeling the Royal Reality Show might be getting big TV coverage here too..
It may seem cynical but I am untouched by what seems to me meaningless media hype. Oh dear, I sound very curmudgeonly! Actually I am very moved by weddings when I have attended them, by the celebration of love... Seriously, I would be more interested to hear about and watch the wedding of completely unknown people chosen entirely at random... I appreciate that that view is not commonly held!!
But then I can't even get into the Christmas thing... I shocked some family and friends by telling J, when he asked who Father Christmas was, that he was a story made up by grown-ups to tell children... Bah, humbug!

 

[AnnieO]

LOL - I thought twice about opening the thread, too.

I'm glad they're finally getting married. It's not quite the same as when William's parents got married. Thank goodness. But - still. It's berserk. I am a news junkie (online), and I read very few of the articles.

There was a slideshow on the royal crowns that I enjoyed. And I do like the history. The hoopla needs to go away, though.

 

[dashcat]

I don't normally watch TV, so I've not been subjected to too much wedding fever. I will, however, be watching it live (4:00 a.m. here in the EST zone in the states). My difficult child is coming and spending the night and then we are getting up and driving (short distance) in our PJs to a friend's house whre there will be a small group of crazed women enjoying scones, biscuits and - in deference to these American tastes - very strong coffee! There will also be mimosas! I'll not be partaking of those because I have an early a.m. appointment that day ...also probably a good idea to abstain with difficult child there.

Say a little prayer that I don't get pulled over on the way! I'm really looking forward to it, but I'll ber done when it's done. I won't be buying any magazine special ediitions or anything like tht.

Dash

 

[muttmeister]

Actually, I'm enjoying it. Just think of it as another silly reality show. LOL Of course, my TV does have an on/off switch so when I get tired of watching I just turn it off and go bury my nose in a book, which is what I usually do with TV even when there is no royal wedding. I do plan to have it on in the background on the day, although I probably won't be glued to it. It will be kinda like watching a football game. I have it on but I'm doing something else at the same time because if anything really great happens, they run it over and over.
If you're sick of it, think of this as a good time to go read a book, take a walk, call a friend, etc.

 

[Mattsmom277]

I've been avoiding the hype as much as possible. Being a news watcher I've seen the sheer volume of the hype but usually click to remote to another channel to avoid the bombardment.

In reference to the lack of power of the royal family along with the sheer cost of maintaining them, I read a disturbing article the other day. Here in Canada the royal family was kept as a symbolic head of state when we finally detached from British control. However, it turns out that part of that agreement included our tax dollars contributing to the royal coffers yearly! I can't believe I was never aware of this. And worse, it turns out that we here in Canada give more per capita to the royals than British people do! I find that so unreal! No wonder it is rarely spoken of. If Canadians truly knew that information it would certainly become a huge issue at election time.

My cousin is home here from London for 2 weeks and we spent the day together for a family get together this past Sunday. She brought us all little presents as she always does, including a commemorative mug of the upcoming wedding. Had to chuckle as I'm so not into it!

 

[Marguerite]

Mutt, it's not the reality of it that bothers me, it's the "let's manufacture some stories about this to justify our hanging around outside Buck House for a week" rubbish we're getting.

This morning while trying to get a decent weather report, I watched the various news crews (all struggling with half second delay due to satellite transmission) trying to extract every drop of interest. And failing. The weather girl was testing the hysteria of memorabilia by drawing pictures of Wills & Kate on some paper plates, some disposable cups and even toilet paper ("for the Royal Flush," she said). They had filmed her trying to flog the stuff - and failing. Although I think some idiot bought a roll of toilet paper, it may have been someone put up to it. That is the level of television reporting we are getting for three hours every morning on every TV station. They started on MOnday, which was Anzac Day here. And they were being so idiotic about their royally stupid antics that they entirely missed reporting that it was Anzac Day, let alone screening the various marches! Oh, the Aussie news crew did do one short interview with organisers of an Anzac Day dawn service in Queensland. But it was pitiful, compared to the usual media coverage of something as important to us here, as Anzac Day. And instead we got rubbish about the Royal wedding. "We're standing here overlooking Tower Bridge and Parliament House, we're here in London where in a week's time there will be the royal wedding. We're killing time and trying to justify the expense of sending so many reporters and crew here, so we've got to make it look good." They may as well say all that and be honest.

Marg

 

[DDD]

I'm very unsophisticated in worldly ways. Guess I'm a product of parochial schools that focused our geography, history,... come to think of it our math, physical education etc. etc. on the impact of Our Lord. Never taught us about worldly lords and ladies to say nothing of world history etc. Sad but true.

So...I'm learning a bit about the Monarchy and Brits in general. My interests are in focused on strange areas. Primarily I cringe every time I see Charles. Just like a soap opera every time I see the man it chaps me off that he so blatantly married
a properly selected virgin Princess knowing full well that he was not intending on being true to his official word. (Maybe I watched too many years of As The World Turns in my youth!) Secondly I think it is terrific that this young couple has had years of living together and maturing together. There may be true love long into the future. Lastly I have often heard that British humour is a bit rowdy...even though the people act properly. So I found it to be very funny reading that they have a commemorative brand of condoms for sale and a newly (short run) line of beer called Viagra beer to celebrate the young couples wedding.

Gee......aren't you glad to know that you have a truly superficial member in the CD family. DDD

 

[Star*]

I am and have always been HUGE into the Royals. For me it's the reality with drama, and history. Not some drunk NJ girl with nowhere to go banging someone and cursing without any consequences. Henry the VIII was a tyrant, and to find out how HE came to power through feudal wars etc. and knowing that the Boelyn girls got sold out by their own Father and would eventually become Queen, then succumb to beheading? Better than Snookie if you ask me. More memorable too. This trash they serve us today on TV? Garbage. No history will ever become of it. The scandal that has plagued Brittian and it's Monarchy is regalia at it's worst and best. That it's survived and we are able to be a distant observer of it? To me is fascinating. I skipped school to watch Diana and Charles marry, and I'll be up at 4:00 to watch William and Catherine marry too.

Not that I didn't think it was beacoup tacky that GE made a side by side fridge, or the vomit bags were senseless - and all the improper things that have popped up like condoms, and plates, and such - but I will say one thing about the entire affair. William has turned out to be a wonderful human being. It was reported by the royal press that when he felt Kate was being plagued by poparatzi? He issued an immediate press release and he did it with dignity and a sincere authority like no other statement ever issued about poparatzi. Obviously due to the loss he suffered. But they backed off and then he offered pictures at times of him and Kate. So I think he has a lot of clout and class.

As far as this nonsense who will be king? William can't become king without Charles taking the throne first. The Queen has to corronate Charles now. I think that's what the hubbub is all about. Elizabeth has already lived longer than any monarch and actually cheated Charles out of his destiny somewhat, from how I beleive it's supposed to go. So Charles in essence would only get to serve maybe 10-15 years and then would have to crown William who would get a shorter reign too. Which is providing everyone stays alive, healthy and nothing happens. I'm not sure what would happen if something happened to both William and Charles, but I don't think Kate would ascend to the throne - unless William has a coronation for her. I believe Henry would take the throne at that time. It would have to be a blood Windsor.

As far as coverage of the media? Sigh - you know what? For a change, it isnt war - it isn't death ------it isn't sadness. And while it is grossly overdone? I'll take that over their OVERDONE coverage of shots of the horrors of the fallout of the tragedy of the Afghanistan wars, the death in Tripoli, The Sudan, The atrocities of genocide, The thousands lost in Japan, The millions trying to recover in India still - As a world, and a people? We havent really learned anything in thousands of years. We're still mean to each other, we're still hurting and killing each other. And I guess I get more sick of seeing things like war, death, and destruction than I do this wedding. Something nice.

I'll tell you what I Do get sick of - oddly enough - The birthing channel and women screaming in pain. lol - It's like - Did you NOT know when you laid down to make that baby that 9 months later something big would come out something small? Or did you just not plan THAT part? I think a lot of that screaming and growling and stuff is ridiculous. I was in labor 22 hours - and NEVER made any of those noises. And seriously? This is a series? You really want to watch this over and over and over? No thank you.

That and Swamp people. Okay - Redneck gets in a boat, redneck talks like Boomhower on King of the hill, Redneck fires up the boat, pulls string, shoots alligator. Pulls alligator into boat. Repeat. And we want to watch this MORE than one week? I'm stymied.

And while I find Las Vegas Pawn Stars interesting because there's always something new coming in to be hawked for casino throw away cash - WILL SOMEONE please tell that Rick guy to QUIT laughing at EVERYTHING he says? It's freakin' annoying. OMW he says I bough a guitar (snicker snicker snicker) ----he says The old man is gonna be man (Snicker snicker snicker) ......he says I really want this box of whatever (snicker snicker snicker) UGH.

I'm crabby for sure but our choices of tv shows and even news is about gargbage anymore.

 

[AnnieO]

I love your take on this stuff, Star!!!

I love Modern Marvels... husband watches Swamp People and Ax Men and Pawn Stars and Oddities. Woowoowoo. Yup, I'd rather watch the weddin'.

 

[shellyd67]

It just makes me feel OLD ! I watched Charles and Diana marry and now Prince William and Kate... 30 years have gone by in a blink of an eye !

 

[DDD]

Star I'm in awe. 22 hours and no noise! OMG! Thanks heavens I am from the generation that had medication as soon as it went past the "gee, this hurts" stage. I don't remember what the medication was but the funny thing about it was that you evidently did cuss and scream but had no memory of the process. My sister was like you..well, maybe not like you but she evidently was silent...and after her babies were born she would tell me "You know your lovely friend X? WELL, she isn't a lady at all! She cussed like a drunken sailor and 'everyone' heard her." I just laughed. DDD

 

[Suz]

I also watched Chuck and Di get married live and am taking the day off so that I can attend Will and Kate's wedding, too. I will wear my plastic (from Target) tiara with my nightie. Can't wait!

Since I'm at the office all day I'm not bombarded with royal hoopla and then at night I'm watching highbrow shows like Real World, Housewives of XXX, Bethenny, DWTS, AI, HGTV, and Survivor. lol

Suz

 

[Star*]

Suz -

I'm wearing a tiara too - Lol - TOO FUNNY! (I'm borrowing one of Caspers) He collects them. He has about 50 or more.