The royal wedding show didn't get much attention around my house. When the endless previews began appearing everywhere I looked, I looked away. I just wasn't interested in wallowing in the hype for days and weeks before the actual event. I planned to record and view the spectacle at my convenience like a rational adult.

But then last night my daughter and I watched the Lifetime movie , "William and Kate."  Though not an Oscar worthy masterpiece, it was very sweet. After filling her in on all the history with Lady Di, Prince Charles and the royal sons, my eight year old kid went gaga over the story. As much as I tried to resist, the excitement proved to be infectious.

Having slept with the TV on (as usual), and tuned to MSNBC (in anticipation), I awoke naturally at 6:00 am to the image of the lovely Ms. Middleton walking down the aisle. I immediately went to the recording, which had started hours earlier, to find the moment when the bride first appeared to get a good, long look at 'the dress'. The whole pageant ran a little long for me. Thank goodness for the fast-forward button. My daughter popped in about 30 minutes earlier than normal at 6:45 am and we watched the nuptials together.

After sending Sophie off to school, I again searched the recording for the big moments...the carriage ride, the balcony kiss, the Queen's appearance. After all the hype, the smooches were kind of boring. If you ask me, Wills could have laid that kiss on her with a little more flourish, but on the whole, the newlyweds did not disappoint. Despite all I'd said before about the Royal wedding being a trifle--an insignificant, over-blown hype fest-- having just watched I have to say, it sure was a kick! 

As for the young couple, the royal prince was not the draw for me. I've never been such a big fan. Brother Harry always seemed more interesting. It was Kate Middleton who captured my fancy this day. The new Duchess of Cambridge happens to be my favorite kind of girl-next-door pretty. There are no buttery blond highlights or anything that looks unnatural about her. I like that she doesn't look like a model. She's not Hollywood-- just an educated, middle class, grown-up babe who happened to capture the heart of a prince. While he looked stiff and awkward at times in all his dapper duds, she was perfectly poised, smooth as the flowing silk in her gown. It was she, the commoner with the winning smile who made the future King of England shine.

Cheers to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge! Oh, and if you must divorce (it happens), please do it with the same dignity you displayed on your wedding day.

       Photo Credits: The Telegraph, BBC, Associated Press