William and Kate's Wedding

The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton is fast approaching.

On April 29 2011 the happy couple will celebrate their vows at the ancient and magnificent Westminster Abbey in London. King Henry I and Princess Matilda of Scotland were the first Royals to get married there when they tied the knot on Nov. 11, 1100. And of course it was the venue for the heart-rending but ultimately inspiring funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997

The Middletons are respectably middle class. Kate's father, Michael, is the son of a former airline pilot, and himself started as an airline steward for British Airways (where he met his future wife Carole Goldsmith) before rising to the rank of flight dispatcher. They made their money in the party ware business, and their company, Party Pieces, is as far as anyone can tell, thriving. It even features Royal Wedding items in its stock.

The family home in the small village of Bucklebury in the Royal County of Berkshire (not that far from Windsor Castle) is where Kate has spent most of her formative years. Of course as is perfectly normal for people of her class and income in England, she had a privileged education at the prestigious private boarding school Marlborough College.

Interestingly, a former school friend has described her as ordinary, hard-working, athletic and easy-going. Perhaps it is these down to earth qualities which not only attracted her to Prince William in the first place, but which will help keep both their feet firmly rooted in the real world for the rest of their lives.

What is certain is that their lives will be on display, even more so than Diana's. How they cope with the ups and downs of life, the paparazzi, the inevitable press intrusions, the whiffs of scandal, will be a big test for their maturity, wisdom and love. While they are still young they have the benefit of their more experienced elders, but in some cases they will be flying alone. Good luck to them.(Barry Kinnerton)