http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1330151/Prince-William-Kate-Middleton-engaged-marry-2011.html

What I want to know is this: how on earth is Kate's family going to pay for this? 2,000 people? They will share the costs, although I'm not sure what percentage exactly. If it's something like 5%, it's OK, I guess. Then again, it's not like the Queen is doing brilliantly financially.

I don't think the Middletons will be spending a dime on this wedding. The Queen's going to pick up the tab. And she can afford to. The Queen's wealth is very hard to ascertain, people like to suggest that because she gets Civil List payments she "needs" the money...but people...she's CHEAP. She'll take everything she can get her hands on. The Queen's wealth is greatly underestimated, her assets have never been formally revealed. Sure, she pays income tax, but that's on what she makes, not what she has.

Cheap and greedy, all of them are, except Princess Anne.

Frugal, not cheap. Frugal. Good aristocracy is always frugal, it's one of the their clearest trademarks.

Perhaps precisely because of that I really did believe they will share part of the cost.

Forbes estimates her personal fortune at $650 million including property in England and Scotland, fine art, gems and a stamp collection built by her grandfather.

It's really amazing to see how these estimates shift and the fortunes oscillate. Not so long ago, Queen Beatrix of Netherlands was the richest European royal, a billionaire, but now Queen Elizabeth surpasses her. Queen Beatrix apparently lost a lot of money in Madoff's scheme.

The richest European royal is Hans Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein: $3.5 billion.

And the richest world royal is the King of Thailand.

Edited February 20, 201114 yr by Sylph

Frugal, not cheap. Frugal. Good aristocracy is always frugal, it's one of the their clearest trademarks.

Perhaps precisely because of that I really did believe they will share part of the cost.

The Queen isn't frugal, she's CHEAP. She's stingy. It's Prince Phillip too, utterly tight.

The Queen isn't frugal, she's CHEAP. She's stingy. It's Prince Phillip too, utterly tight.

I find all rich people to be that way! LOL It's also amazing to me that so much of these people's wealth is on paper, and one drop in the the market will dissolve it. unless it's money in the BANK, in my book, you ain't got it. Real Estate also counts as wealth. Although much of it has been overvalued. That commercial is a SCREAM. 20 bucks? I wonder of the "faux sapphire" is even made of glass, or is it plastic?

Here is how they look in a TV movie:

http://www.dailymail...yal-couple.html

And the route.

Edited February 21, 201114 yr by Sylph

Here is how they look in a TV movie:

http://www.dailymail...yal-couple.html

Wow. Could those two look any more plastic?

No, bellcurve. It's appalling.

Prince William will travel to New Zealand and Australia next week after the countries were hit by a series of natural disasters.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Prince-William-Is-To-Visit-New-Zealand-And-Australia-After-Natural-Disasters-Struck-Both-Countries/Article/201103215948585?lpos=UK_News_Top_Stories_Header_4&lid=ARTICLE_15948585_Prince_William_Is_To_Visit_New_Zealand_And_Australia_After_Natural_Disasters_Struck_Both_Countries

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How much will this wedding cost in full?

<span style="font-size:18pt;">Middleton's £97k inheritance windfall to help pay for big day</span>

<span style="font-size:120%;">Kate Middleton's family are in line for a cash windfall of almost £100,000 – just in time to help fund the Royal wedding.

The money is from the estate of her 90-year-old paternal grandfather, Peter Middleton, who died last November.

Like Prince William, Mr Middleton was an RAF pilot who got his wings at RAF Cranwell. He later became a civilian pilot.

His father was a solicitor while his mother was from a Yorkshire family who built up a fortune as wool merchants and mill owners before investing in property and railways.

Details of his will show the widower, a father of four and grandfather of five who lived in Vernham Dean, Hampshire, left an estate of £647,758 gross.

The net sum after settling outstanding affairs and debts was £432,121.

His wife Valerie was named as beneficiary, but as she died in 2006, the sum is to be shared between the couple's four sons.

Of the total legacy, £325,000 is exempt from inheritance tax. The remaining £107,000 will be subject to 40 per cent death duties.

That will leave the brothers a share of £97,300 each from the £389,2000 remaining after tax.

Kate's parents, Michael and Carole, want to chip in with up to £50,000 for the wedding.

Andrew Kidd, a lawyer of City firm Silverman Sherliker, said: 'It is unusual for someone of 90 to have debts of £200,000. It suggests there may have been some soft family loans.'

Mr Middleton was expected to have left a greater legacy but it is thought the money he inherited from his ancestors is in a trust.

The Daily Mail</span>

Edited March 13, 201114 yr by Sylph

I won't be waking up early to watch it live, but I will DVR it starting at 5am.

Royal wedding schedule

All times are ET. The wedding ceremony takes place between 11 a.m. and noon in London.

Arriving at the Abbey: 3 a.m. ET / Midnight PT / 8 a.m. London

3:15 a.m. to 4:45 a.m. ET: The general congregation will arrive at the Great North Door of Westminster Abbey.

4:50 a.m. ET: Governors-General and Prime Ministers, diplomats and other guests arrive at the Abbey.

Royal family arrivals: 5 a.m. ET / 2 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. London

5:10 a.m. ET: Prince William and Prince Harry leave Clarence House for Westminster Abbey, arrive at 5:15 a.m.

5:25 a.m. ET: Members of the royal family leave Buckingham Palace for Westminster Abbey.

5:35 a.m. to 5:40 a.m. ET: Queen Elizabeth II and members of the royal family leave Buckingham Palace by car.

5:48 a.m. ET: Bridesmaids and pages leave the Goring Hotel for the Abbey, arriving at 5:55 a.m.

5:51 a.m. ET: Kate Middleton and her father, Michael, depart Buckingham Palace in a Rolls-Royce Phantom VI for Westminster Abbey. They will pass the Horse Guards Parade, the Cenotaph war memorial, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.

The wedding: 6 a.m. ET / 3 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. London

6 a.m. ET: Kate Middleton arrives at Westminster Abbey. The hour-long wedding service will be attended by about 2,000 guests.

Wedding procession: 7 a.m. ET / 4 a.m. PT / 12 p.m. London

7:15 a.m. ET: The newly married couple leave Westminster Abbey and travel the same route in reverse to Buckingham Palace, this time by horse-drawn carriage.

The newlyweds ride in a 1902 State Landau, specifically built for King Edward VII in 1902. If it rains, they will make the journey in the Glass Coach.

The second and third carriages will carry Prince Harry, Maid of Honor Pippa Middleton — the bride’s sister — and the bridesmaids.

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip will be in the fourth carriage. The fifth will carry Prince Charles and Camilla and the bride’s parents, Michael and Carole Middleton.

7:30 a.m. ET: The procession arrives at Buckingham Palace

7:40 a.m. ET: Queen hosts champagne reception at Buckingham Palace for about 660 guests. Official wedding photographs will be taken.

Presenting the couple: 8 a.m. ET / 5 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. London

8:25 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. ET: The royal newlyweds appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony and are expected to kiss for the cameras. The Queen will also appear at the balcony. William's Royal Air Force colleagues stage a flyover.

10:30 a.m. ET: Wedding reception ends.

2 p.m. ET: Some 300 close friends and relatives return for an exclusive dinner and dance at Buckingham Palace.

I'm fascinated by this whole thing. I love it

As a French man, I loved watching the whole ceremony. Queen Elizabeth and the Royal family do have a special place for me. Probably because France is not lucky enough to still have its own Royal family (we have one more or less but still )

Just think what it would have been like if Washington hadn't said no when they they wanted to make him King LOL

I laughed at the little girl beside Kate on the balcony. She looked like she wanted to die. You can even see Kate kneel down to her and probably telling to her look more happy and to wave to the crowd.

<iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/c38lPvrPuT4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Edited April 29, 201114 yr by Y&RWorldTurner

The ceremony was very enjoyable, IMO.

I've never been a hardcore expert on all things British royalty, but I've always been very familiar with them (Biography Magazine was OBSESSED with them in the late 90s, and I was a dorky kid who read every issue), and to be honest, call it bandwagoning or whatever, but this whole thing's just made me that much more interested in the whole...the whole damn thing.

I know nothing about fashion, so I just kinda rolled my eyes through all of the comments on her dress. "Oh, there's a bit of Princess Margaret's dress in there, with the straight line--" "Oh, it is so like Kate to have a V-neck--" I don't get it lol. So she chose to wear a V-neck. That must speak loads about her character. I liked the dress, I just haven't the knowledge of what it's supposed to mean.

Beatrice and Eugenie were where it was at, though, with those hideous hats. I don't find Bea all that pretty to begin with, but that hat! They looked proud as hell of those ugly things.

The Queen always looks so cozy and sweet in whatever she wears nowadays. I loved her little lemon-colored grandma outfit. Kate's mom also looked pretty good. I actually loved Pippa's dress, regardless of whether or not it should have been white. She looked stunning. Harry's squeeze looked like she'd been drained of vital fluids.

James Middleton was looking FIT as he read that Bible scripture like Alexander Scourby.

The Abbey looked gorgeous. The trees were a great, great touch and made it look very breezy in there. Everything scenery wise was perfect.

I didn't think the kiss was all that, and I didn't realize there was a second kiss (I thought it was an instant replay of the first). Wills blushing after the first kiss was adorable! LOL at Harry cracking jokes with grandpa.

I can't wait to see the Monaco wedding in July.