Prince William and Kate Middleton - The World Loves A Fairy Tale

We love fairy tales. Stories that begin with once upon a time and have happy endings. Disney themed plots that include beautiful princesses, a handsome prince, and enchanted castles add to classic tales we have all grown up with. That is perhaps part of the phenomenon we have with the upcoming wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
The invitations have gone out and as they await the responses, they are also preparing for one of the biggest days of their lives. Based on the press and the hoopla surrounding their nuptials, it appears to be one of the biggest days for the world too.
As the day approaches and Prince William takes his long time girlfriend, Kate Middleton as his bethrothed, the world awaits with anticipated desire to witness a royal wedding once again. By all accounts, April 29, 2011, the day of the wedding is set to be one of the biggest television viewing events. It is expected that there will be over a billion people watching the wedding from their tv sets and electronic devices.

In 1981, when Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer, it was one of the highest watched television events in history. This wedding may even be a bigger television event. The world has seen Prince William grow up, from those first baby pictures to his mother’s funeral to his engagement, there is a fascination with a young prince and his bride.
There is something different about someone who carries the title of prince. There is something different about a royal getting married. There is something different about the invitations, which are emblazoned on a white card which is beveled and guilded, and went out in the name of ‘Her Majesty The Queen’ die stamped with her initials in gold below a crown. The invitations were sent out in a pale brown envelope. The invitation reads: "The Lord Chamberlain is commanded by the Queen to invite [name] to the marriage of his Royal Highness Prince William of Wales KG with Miss Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey on Friday 29 April 2011 at 11.00am." The guests are asked to dress as “uniform, morning coat, or lounge suit”.
All responses are sent to Lord Chamberlain’s office who is handling the details of the wedding.

A wedding is a wedding. So just who has been invited:

• The Royal Family and their friends
• The Middleton Family and their friends
• Friends of Prince William and Kate Middleton
• Members of Foreign Royal Families and dignitaries
• The Defence Services Representatives
• Representatives from Prince William’s charities
• Church representatives and members of other faiths and Armed Forces
• Select members of the Government, Parliament and Diplomatic Corp
• Members of the Royal Household
There will be about 1,900 people who will attend the wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
About 600 people are invited to the lunchtime wedding reception hosted by The Queen at Buckingham Palace. Where canapes and champagne will be served.
About 300 people will attend to the formal dinner given by The Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace that evening. The reception is set for 7 p.m.
The majority of guests are made up of the bride and groom’s family and friends, which numbers approximately 1,000 people. About 50 people from The Royal Family and 40 plus members of the Foreign Royal families make up this part of the guest list. 200 people from the Government, Parliament, and Diplomatic Corps. About 80 are from Prince William’s charities, which include a homeless organization, a wildlife conservation group, Tusk Trust and the Royal Marsden Hospital. 60 dignataries from other nations, and 30 members of the church and other faiths and members of the armed forces.
President Obama, was not invited due to security reasons and The Duchess of York is not on the invite list either. But David and Victoria Beckham are invited, as well as Elton John.
Kate Middleton’s sister, Philippa is her maid of honor. Harry is William’s best man. In addition, other people in the bridal party include:
The Lady Louise Windsor
(Aged 7 – daughter of The Earl and Countess of Wessex)
The Hon. Margarita Armstrong-Jones
(Aged 8 – daughter of Viscount and Viscountess Linley)
Miss Grace van Cutsem
(Aged 3 – daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh van Cutsem)
Miss Eliza Lopes
(Aged 3 – daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lopes)
Master William (Billy) Lowther-Pinkerton
(Aged 10 – son of Mr. and Mrs. Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton)
Master Tom Pettifer
(Aged 8 – son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Pettifer )
Miss Grace van Cutsem and Master Tom Pettifer are godchildren of Prince William.

When the wedding ceremony is over, there will be a five coach procession carrying the bridal party, Kate's parents, Prince Charles and Camilla, and the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh.

Kate Middleton will arrive at Westminster Abbey for the wedding ceremony by car.

The 11 a.m. wedding service will be lead by The Dean of Westminster. It is the Archbishop of Canterbury who will marry the royal couple. The Bishop of London wil give the address. In the front rows of the Church, Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry, will be seated The bride’s parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, Phillipa, Kate’s sister, and her brother James, will of course be in attendance also. After the wedding there will be a procession in a carriage to Buckingham Palace, where an afternoon luncheon reception will be held. Not everyone who is invited to the service will go to the reception. Prince William invited many people to his wedding ceremony only. Some people like soldiers who were injured in Afghanistan and Iraq, some of the homeless, people he has come in contact with through his charities are on the guest list for the ceremony. In the evening there will be a dinner, and dancing afterward at a private reception held by The Prince of Wales for close family and friends.

Special guidelines have been established for use of the Royal Arms, and emblems, photographs, and other souvenir related items for the wedding. Normally the use of these items is prohibited unless members of the Royal Family have given permission. Some of the rules have been temporarily relaxed to commemorate the celebration of their marriage. To qualify they must be in good taste, not be a form of advertising, and carry no endorsement from the Royal Family. There is an exception regarding merchandise packaging. The rules state the following “Containers or Receptacles of Merchandise
As a special exception, containers or receptacles of merchandise will, on this occasion, qualify as souvenirs provided that:-
(a) They are permanent in nature- i.e. metalware, ceramic or other semi- indestructible material and specially made for the occasion.
(b) They comply with the requirements of paragraph 3. With particular
regard to paragraph 3(b), the name of the manufacturer and details of the contents may only appear on the underside or interior of the container or on the stopper.
(c) The Royal symbols used on containers or packaging are limited to
approved photographs of Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton.
The use of Prince William’s Coat of Arms is specifically forbidden on containers and packaging.”

The royal family is allowing commemorative coins, as long as they are not currency, to be produced as souvenirs for the wedding day.
Other rules include Prince William’s Arms are not permitted to be flown as flags, nor can they appear on any souvenir packaging. No souvenirs about the wedding can be manufactured after October 1, 2011.

Kate and William will live in North Wales and he will continue his service in the Royal Air Force.

Fairy tales are filled with stories of princes and princesses and living happily ever after. But in real life, even royalty has to deal with the nitty gritty details of preparing for big events in their lives, and the complications of protecting the royal couple from over commercialization. Fairy tales don't really happen, but on Kate Middleton and Prince William's wedding day, we will all do our best to pretend they do.