I just thought I'd take a moment and offer my congratulations to William of Wales and Kate Middleton, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, on their marriage today at Westminster Abbey in London. I was up at 3am local time to watch the ceremony and thought it was very elegant and warm. Nice to see two people who seem truly in love start their married lives together. I wish them, the Royal Family and all of Britain the best of luck in the future.
I listened to BBC World News a bit ago and the question was asked by a roving reporter near Buckingham Palace "do you think the British Monarchy still holds purpose and relevance in the 21st Century?" There were varying opinions offered. From my point of view (as an American outsider) ... the wedding today brought about a million people (locally) and several billion people (worldwide) together to share an uplifting experience ... I think that alone demonstrates the purpose and relevance of the British Monarchy. Very few institutions in the world promote that kind of nationalism and unity for its own people, let alone the wonder and interest it still does worldwide. I hope the British Monarchy will adapt to the changing times and remain as important to the British people as they are to the rest of the world ... even if it's just for quaint curiosity's sake.