She seems a nice enough girl - but who in their right mind would want to walk willingly into a prison cell of continual public scrutiny and tedious royal duties? No, this is definitely no fairy tale, despite the attempts of the media to construct one. What I came away with, after the admittedly beautiful wedding service, was not the sight of the frocks and the fascinators, the pop stars and the football stars, the waistcoated diplomats and the louche aristocrats, the stunning bride and her nervous, royal groom - but the sound of Archbishop Rowan Williams's richly reverberating voice and the message of Kate's brother's reading from Romans Chapter 12:I APPEAL to you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect. Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
I'm not a royalist, but I'm sure others are wiser than me in such constitutional matters.
