Jolly Well!

I'm going to tell you one of my biggest secrets...I love the British Royals - always have!  Yep it's true, me the tom-boy am totally obsessed.  Now if you knew me in elementary school this would come as no surprise.  Here are a few more secrets that I trust you will not hold against me:  In elementary my best friend, Lori, and I would pretend we were Princesses.  We walked around the school yard talking in British accents and practicing our waves (twist from the wrist!)  I'm pretty sure we even demanded people address us as such.  Now I would like to point out that we had friends in school and we've both grown into well-adjusted adults.

I've been thinking about why I love them so and thinking about it has brought back some great memories.  I don't remember Princess Diana's wedding, I was only 4.  However, images of her wedding have always enthralled me.  My Gramma liked Princess Diana too and starting with her first trip to Canada my Gramma and I collected news-paper articles about her and pasted them in an artist's sketch book.  I still have that book!  My Gramma bought me the "official" Prince William book when he was born and I spent a lot of my allowance on "Majesty" magazine. 

When I went wedding dress shopping I wanted a huge puffy ball-gown, I think this was why!

I remember being disappointed when I heard Charles and Diana were divorcing, but I was actually heart-broken when I heard he had never actually loved her, and had only married her for the "look of it all." 

Today I read they were the first couple to kiss publicly.  The only reason it happened is because Diana forced it.  Apparently Charles said something to the effect of "They want us to kiss, I'm not going along with that charade."  She asked, "Why not?" and leaned in.  She was a 19-year old in love, unfortunately with someone who didn't love her back.

I was genuinely sad and angry when she died.  Admittedly nothing worth swooning over has really happened in the British Royal Family over the last 14-ish years so my obsession has taken a bit of a back-seat to growing up, getting married and having baby's of my own...Until today!

THE DRESS

LOVE IT!  Oh wow, so not what I expected at all but so much better than I hoped for.  Designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, it was perfect for a fairy-tale wedding.  I loved the neck-line and sleeves, the skirt was much "puffier" than I thought it would be, which I think is perfect for a princess.

THE TIARA

All that glitters...I think this tiara was a perfect choice for her.  Not too over-whelming and just sparkly enough.  The tiara was created in 1936 by Cartier.  The Queen's father bought it as a gift for the Queen Mum, and it was given to Queen Elizabeth on her 18th birthday.  The earrings were a gift to Kate from her parents. I love them too!  Described as, "stylized oak leaves with a pear shaped diamond set drop and a pave set diamond acorn suspended in the centre."  The earrings were a inspired by the new Middleton coat of arms.

THE MAID OF HONOUR

How to be nice to your maid-of-honour?  Let her wear a dress almost as beautiful as yours!  I actually gasped when Pippa stepped out in her dress.  It was closer to what I envisioned Kate wearing.  The form-fitting column with a cowl neck was also designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen and looked perfect on her!

THE GROOM

Not to be out-done, William looked "dashing" in his uniform.  Although William is an active search and rescue helicopter pilot with the Royal Air Force in Wales his position as Colonel with the Irish Guards is the highest military position he holds (not to mention the best looking uniform) making this uniform the obvious choice.  Plus it has 3-leaf clovers on the collar - how cool is that?!

THE KISS

Congrats!