I know everyone says this - whether it's true or not - but I was chilled and repelled by the wedding of Charles and Di. Di (like Obama) is almost exactly my age - born within a few days of me - and in 1981 I was a young student, leading a free and easy life, and there she was, her life almost closing down around her. I pitied her. The feminist slogan at that time was 'Don't do it Di', and I've got to say it was good advice. Though I guess many women in my generation ended up on a similar life route - two kids, broken relationship, and it worked out OK for most of us.
I did not get bad vibes this time. Kate M seems to be mature and strong-minded (this is just from looking at her for half an hour on the telly so take it as you wish) and I got the impression she was the top dog in her relationship. Nobody will pity this one.
In respect of the Monarchy, it doesn't do much for me - I'm not very interested in ceremony, I think I'm a bit unusual - and I dislike the overall crappy incompetent upper class who tag on to this business. However, the use of living human beings as symbolic icons is powerful, and when the process is handled competently, as it was yesterday, it is impressive and defiant. I think, if people like it, and it builds communal feeling in the teeth of capitalist misery, then all to the good.
