I got a little teary when I woke up to the news about William and Kate's engagement this morning. Did you? No, not because I thought he'd pick me (ha ha). But because I remember so clearly 30 years ago, when his parents got engaged, and I was an eight-year-year girl listening to the news on the radio (unlike today, when I read their son's news via Twitter). Back in July 1981, I woke up at 5am to watch Charles and Diana's fairytale wedding on TV, and I was hooked from that moment on. Princess Diana was my childhood idol all the way up until the time I was 24 years old (in 1997) when her life ended suddenly. I met her several times during the years between. I should scan some of the photos in for you to see- it was before digital cameras, of course. I saw Prince William a few times too, when he was very young. Although I don't really follow the British Royal Family so much anymore now that Diana is gone, I felt close to this family for many years. I know it sounds silly to say. But my family and friends know what Diana meant to me- the night that she died, I must have had 3 dozen messages on my answering machine from people from every part of my life, offering their condolences.
When I heard the engagement news this morning, I also thought back to all the images of a proud Princess Diana with her eldest son, and her famous quotes saying how hard she tried to give him a "normal" upbringing and wanted him to make smart, sensible choices. He was only 15 years old when she died. Now as he embarks on his own marriage (wisely having waited to make sure he picked the right partner), I bet his mom would have been very proud.
Congratulations to the happy couple!
0 comments:
Post a Comment