Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
With the British Royal Wedding just a few days away, fever over the coming nuptials has truly travelled far and wide. Around 23 million people watched Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton in 2011 but many more are expected to tune in when Harry and Meghan tie the knot at the weekend.
Meghan’s acting career and bi-racial background has the US networks enthralled and bursting with excitement. They will be streaming the occasion and will fly in dedicated live news teams to the UK to watch transfixed as Meghan Markle becomes the first American royal bride since Grace Kelly married into Monaco’s house of Grimaldi in 1956.
This year the Brits won’t be alone in planning a royal wedding street party with Morris Men dancing and decorated bone china pieces galore, the Americans are buying everything from Wedgwood to bunting.
And, while Donald Trump and Teresa May won’t find a coveted envelope on their doorstep anytime soon, there will be invites for 2,640 members of the public including 1,200 people who have demonstrated strong leadership in their communities.
Then, for the rest of the public, 100,000 are expected on the streets of London and if your invitation was lost in the post, like mine, that leaves the rest of us watching it on TV, iPad or smart phone, thankful for modern technology.
I shall watch the ceremony with a few friends, munching on Lemon Elderflower cupcakes, trifle and a few cucumber, egg and cress sandwiches with the end crusts cut off. I have been engrossed in the whole fairy tale romance angle and have ignored the spoilsports who like to rain on the parade.
I find it terribly romantic that Harry proposed during a cosy dinner at home, on bended knee, proposing with the ring, two stones which are from Princess Diana’s collection and the other from Botswana, a country that Harry loves.
Tens of millions will be glued to the screen, that like me, are not usually suckers for romance, but at this point in time happy news is a great distraction, a contrast to the cruelty and stupidity that has recently dominated the headlines.
I shall gasp at the dress, the fashion, the guests, the music, the history in making and cheer for love and the happily-ever-after. It is sure to be a magical moment in royal history.
But if you couldn’t give a hoot about the impending wedding, avoid all social media for 24 hours, turn off your phone, camp out in the desert, go for a walk, read a book and if you are a football fan, just stay focused on the FA Cup Final later in the afternoon.
