William, Kate marry as 2 billion tune in across globe

I really do not understand all the hype with this event. It is just a marriage.

I'm sleeeepy. Yawn....

Soon it will all be over...and it will be about time! I have been sick of this so-called news for a long time now.

I hear that Kate asked the Queen wthe secret to a long, successful marrage to a prince is. The Queen replied "Wear a seatbelt and don't piss me off!".

The reactions of two English friends in the States: One laughed dismissively and the other responded with words that can't be repeated here.

You know, I am British, and I am not a big royal fan or anything like that, but this really is a piece of history happening right now, and they are two young people, in love and starting their lives together, so whilst I get that everyone has other stuff going on, I can`t understand the derisive attitude some people have towards it all.

I was 8 when Charles married Diana, and I still remember all the excitement, and the street parties. My daughter is now 7, and my boys are 5 and 1. This is THEIR heritage too, so I have decorated the balcony with Union Jacks and heart balloons for them, they are dressed up in red white and blue and we will be having a champagne party tonight. I hope one day when William and Kate`s son or daughter gets married, my daughter will be able to tell her daughter that she was here today, and remembers it all happening.

I would rather join in the wedding celebration of complete strangers in some small town than parasites who leech off the people and own great swaths of land that should be public. There was a time when local weddings were big celebrations. Too bad everyone only gets that feeling now once in a blue moon for these royal twits.

Got to agree with Miamum.

Like it or not we are part of history being made.

There are many events that we take part willingly or not that make history and we can tell our kids about from 1st-hand experience.

Don't even have to be big events, etc.

A piece of history would be dividing up the wealth between the "commoners" since they've been getting reamed for years.

All Brits are getting is a day off work. Talk about getting shafted! How much is this wedding costing the tax-payer?

Though I do approve of the choice of bride, William. She's cute...

Good thing I noticed this story, realized I forgot to post my "ironic" comment on my rabidly anti-monarchy English second cousin's Facebook page. Better go do that before I run out of time! As for me, I will probably watch at least some. It is, as said above, history being made, and it is pretty obvious that this wedding is being used to heavily promote the monarchy and influence (indoctrinate?)the younger generation. Don't see the point of it all myself, but clearly some people are keen on keeping the monarchy going and have their reasons.

Also, just my feeling, but they really seem to come across as decent and normal people. Not their fault if everybody else is nuts and going bonkers over their wedding.

Every other channel here have been showing the Royal Wedding for hours on end. British tourism could never have dreamed such caliber of "free" advertisements, not even with the next 2012 Olympics in London. ("Free" save for the cost of the wedding, but the cost of such caliber advertisements would easily trump that.)

Agree with Miamum -- regardless of what you think this is a piece of history. You want proof? well... go anywhere and try not to see some sort of coverage in newspapers or on the internet, etc. I've read all the posts on this thread and there seems to be a bizarre amount of disgruntled anger from American posters, but that aside I think we all agree it's a big deal.

Don't get me wrong, I'll be more than happy when it's done so I don't have to read about it all the time, but one cannot deny that it's an important event same as when a prince or princess here gets married (well, world-wide quite a bit less important, but still).

Congrats to the newly-weds! Hope the media don't ruin your life.

Well, every theme park needs an icon couple. Disneyland has Mickey and Minnie and now we Brits will have Willie and Katie to lead our theme park. Just a pity we're just a theme park and not a real country any more.....

Agree with miamum and I am an American.

I partook in a few events that got me in the newspapers and on TV(3 I didn't know about till pointed out). None major but they got added to the family album. Same way I was part of a few events that most people only heard about but were major events.

Not anything special but most people don't realise how many historical events(small and big) they are part off. You didn't have to be at the berlin wall coming down to be part of that historic event.

And I thought Harry Potter was the mascot of the British amusement park.

I agree with miamum as well, watching on TV and it's got to be the grandest wedding on earth. The royal princess looks very graceful and I wish her and William the best with their future together.

The only thing I will have remotely connected to royalty today is when I flush. Waste of money for a country needing every farthing it keep hold off.

Kate just knocked a billion of us on our arse... And William... well I just wish the lad had a full head of hair at 28- he looked sharp as hell. Congrats...now let's party with Harry.

It's just a fun little window into the world of how the other half live... I had no idea it was today. I just randomly went online to check email and there was a live stream right when they were saying their vows. So now I can say I saw it but I had zero exposure to the media circus that supposedly came with it. Job well (luckily) done on my part!

I’m half British and even though I reckon the royal family is a complete waste of money, they do this tradition stuff so damn well.

I hear many Americans are just jealous they can’t come close to this kind of pomp and splendor, in fact, isn’t Catherine Zeta Jones the closest to royalty America has?

Oh hang on, she’s Welsh – dang – that’s tough. :-)

I think many people in countries that got rid of their monarchy feel deep emotions watching this.

2000 million out of 6900 million,watching on TV,that's a lot of fans.

ramen,

"Heh, soon Brit commoners will have another royal mouth to feed."

They've been together for ten years mate.

The only people being fed are the trolls that have so little going on in their own lives, they need events such as these, soap opera's and/or Orpah to blissfully deny their own pitiful existence.

Heh, and I'm hardly pro-royal.

Romeo - "Heh, soon Brit commoners will have another royal mouth to feed."

Jealousy, mate, jealousy.

smithinJapan - "Hope the media don't ruin your life."

Was thinking the same thing myself. :-)

"Wear a seatbelt and don't piss me off!"

Ha!

There has been so much gloomy news this year it was refreshing to see a spectacular and feel good occasion. I was glad to 'escape' for a few hours watching CNN and the live HD stream on youtube. Must be tough to be so cynical all the time and not enjoy such an occasion. The hundreds of thousands in London, in Hyde Park sure looked like they were having fun.

Good luck to the pair of them, I say. And God Save the Queen.

Afro,

Do it today man, birds go all blubbery after an event like today!

@Engineer: Let us know how it goes.

Why did HNK have to spend so much of the 9PM news on this. There is more important stuff and problems here to report on. And what's with the hats?

You know, I am British, and I am not a big royal fan or anything like that, but this really is a piece of history happening right now, and they are two young people, in love and starting their lives together, so whilst I get that everyone has other stuff going on, I can`t understand the derisive attitude some people have towards it all.

I'm American, and while I tried not to pay too much attention to all the media hype leading up to this day -- which just ends up spoiling things through saturation -- I must confess how much I admire the British for their traditions and for the show of goodwill and support for this stunning young couple. I wish nothing but the best for them.

I had no idea William was balding as badly as he is. Didn't notice until they were driving away. He had better get the crown soon to cover that up!

Taka

That was a really good wedding.

The traditions and the uniforms that go back hundreds of years, the State Landau coach (built in 1902) that transported the couple and other royal couples on their wedding days, the same Palace balcony that the young queen stood on with her sister and parents way back in the 40s, the Lancaster bomber and 2 Spitfires (awesome!) that flew over the Mall and Palace....... that was real good.

I feel great. :-)

@SS: 'Hundeds of years'? No. No, mate. The Wetin Dynasty (Changed to Windsor coz Wetin sounded too 'German') started in the early 1900s. The uniform willy wore belongs to the Irish Guards infantry regiment founded in... 1900 on, ironically, April 1st! Enjoy the joke.

YongYang - can't you just be happy, perhaps for just a minute or so? :-)

I dont know, this royalty stuff is dated imo, when I watched I was have expecting Indiana Jones to come swooping through as the scene reminded me of that type of flick haha

I wish the couple well, but am no fan of this kinda stuff unless they can pay for it outta their own pocket

Watching the wedding made me feel sorry for republics.

Their ceremonies are limited to gatherings of middle-aged men in suits (with a smattering of equally plain and unmemorable women).

The Royal Wedding was colourful, vibrant, majestic and historic.

Well done Wills and Kate and best of luck to the both of you!

I hope they'll have a happy marriage. As far as the media circus is concerned, I don't get it. But then you know us Americans; we're revolting.

I'm pretty "Meh" when it comes to royal weddings, but I can see where it would excite others. This is, after all, the successor to the monarchy getting "hitched". While they don't have the governing power the monarchy wielded two hundred years ago, they are STILL the "face" of Great Britain - much more so than any Prime Minister ever will be.

ぼくには、my total investment in the wedding was watching a few minutes of the coverage this morning - apparently after the two kisses (the commentators were making a big fuss over there having been two kisses). I watched the vintage warbird fly-by followed by the current warbird fly-by, followed by everyone leaving the balcony. Then it was time for me to continue working.

Congrats to William and Kate. May they thrive and have many little ones to dote over.

My mom and girlfriend made me stay up to watch the wedding, it was a pain waking up this morning but between seeing how much those two liked it and how excited my niece was I'd say it was worth it. I'll leave it to the talking heads to argue about the cost, right now I'm just happy for them.

What a waste of money. Some people in the UK are less than happy about how much it will cost taxpayers at estimated $80 million and the bill for security is expensive. Money could've been used for people in England to give more opportunities. For a long time there have been arguments against the monarchy based on their cost. There are many people that are very anti-monarchy. In this day and age, it is very outdated. The money it’s costing the taxpayer far exceeds the income that they are generating from just being royalty.

I agree with Miamum. Why not join them in their happiness? They're so happy and so nice. And they're what will inspire our children, and they're a good example. I wish my sister would marry wearing a decent gown like hers, not half naked with shoulders and boobs jumping on-your-face, as we see in most weddings. Britain has something that is not much appreciated these days, but it's one of the most important heritages a country may have: tradition. That's what this wedding is all about, I think: you see history, past and present happening right before your eyes. I couldn't help but google the Royal Family history. It's fascinating. I was lost for hours reading about etiquette, gaffs and "do"s and "don't"s. Fascinating, indeed. May they live in happiness.

LostinNagoya at 06:56 AM JST - 30th April. Britain has something that is not much appreciated these days, but it's one of the most important heritages a country may have: tradition. That's what this wedding is all about, I think: you see history, past and present happening right before your eyes.

They should've gone to Las Vegas and got married on their own rather than spend $80 million of taxpayers money. How foolish the monarchy system.

Kate Middleton has spent her entire adult life molding a life to suit his. So for her especially, I hope it works out. :)

The overall cost to British taxpayer’s of keeping the Royal Family had actually gone up. Public's frustration over the economy and the resentment in high cost of supporting the monarchy. The large majority believe that the royals don’t represent value for money. Time to discontinue the monarchy system. What a waste of money.

afroamerican: Good luck, my friend. Make it sassy and memorable. Let us all know what she says (I'm sure it will be "yes").

Moderator: Back on topic please.

Saw printed on a wedding momento : "Don't Panic There Is Still One Prince Left". Ohhhh.... if only....

the Lancaster bomber and 2 Spitfires (awesome!)

just the one spitfire, the other was a hurricane. Must be quite an honour to get selected to do the flyover.

I have a hard time believing that 2 billion people watched the wedding. I know I didn't bother. I know a couple people where I worked watched, but most are too busy and can't be bothered. But maybe thats just where I work. Maybe other places people watched the wedding, or at least the coverage after the fact.

I am very happy for William and Kate and most of all of the good people of the UK and all of those who so love William s mother, Princess Diane of Wales. I am sure she would be so happy and proud of her son and now daughter in law, Kate. PS I just love his red suit!

I normally would care about royal weddings as much as I care about celebrity gossip. Zip all. But Prince William and Princess Kate look like they're in love and the world needs more moments like this. I do really hope their marriage work out better than Charles' and Diana's, I really hope so. Congratulations and best wishes to William and Kate and may the future bring you happiness and lots of kids.

The wedding ceremony was indeed beautiful. Westminster Abbey looked absolutely splendid and it was great to see the weather hold up. Hopefully this marriage lasts, and doesn't end up like so many other British royal divorces. Then again, you never know since Prince William and Princess Kate have broken up once already.

The wedding, the souvenirs, the coverage of it all over the world will bring in money to United Kingdom. People came from all over the world to London to see the wedding - some as far away as United States. Now isn't that good - for tourism and for the image of the royal family and UK as a whole?

dirisaya - I have seen estimates of one to two billion pounds in total spin off from this wedding: tourism, hospitality, merchandise, TV rights etc etc. Some people are whining at the taxpayer cost, but you gotta spend money to make money sometimes and Britain made plenty. You have to look at the bigger picture.

Friday was bank holiday, Monday is one too: a four day weekend on top of last weekends Easter. The British public must be a jolly good mood right now.

Thank God its over. Can we move on now?

To me, monarchies are a farce. I am only happy that a. Britons had a reason to celebrate given austerity measures and economic hardship b. As a nation or group of nations, probably economically benefit from the coverage, and that, c. Two young people, seemingly very down to earth, followed tradition for the sake of the people and probably would have kept everything simple if they were commoners.

Brits love their royals. I have never met one who didn't. Sure you can encounter many who claim otherwise, but it's a kind of act they like to put on, when among themselves as a way of getting back at whichever group in their class-obsessed country they feel 'oppresses' them, and in front of non-Brits in the attempt to appear thoroughly rid of the snobbery and arrogance long associated with being British.

In a way, it is sad that 2 billion people had nothing better to do than watch the ultimate display of snobbery live on TV...

it's a kind of act they like to put on, ......arrogance long associated with being British.

We British can't be blamed for feeling superior - what other country in the world could attract 2 billion viewers for a wedding

Brits love their royals. I have never met one who didn't.

hilarious, nice one. keep 'em coming.

A lot of inane comments from those who have little understanding of the importance of the monarchy in a Constitutional Monarchic system as applies to Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand et al, all operating for six decades under the same World respected Monarch. About a third of the world's population are members of the British commonwealth of nations - republics and constitutional monarchies all respecting the British Crown and the head Royal and comprising, Christians, Moslems, Sikhs, Hindus, atheists, agnostics and so on. Not bad really!

As a Canadain this was ANOTHER pile of Royality that gets in the neck of so many of us.

PLEASE NO MORE, yet the media will throw all they can at us.

Any time I see more on royality, thank goodness I have a MUTE button I use quite often.

William is an upstanding young man, I hope he and his bride live happily ever after.

"a dinner dance for 300 close friends"

They have only 300 close friends?

The wedding of the century?Well I think it will be MY wedding.Will make my proposal this weekend so wish me goodluck. :)

Guys, she gave me a two letters answer...she said "da"(da = yes in russian).yaay!i hope 2 billions will watch it.(hope won't be erased by moderators)