Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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THIS WEEK WITH MARGARET by MARGARET DICKSON Maybe it is because one summer morning nearly 30 years ago, I got up early to watch the lovely, 20-year- old, virginal Lady Diana marry the 13-year older, more worldly Prince of Wales in the Wedding of the Century, and because I know the ending of that sad story, that I fi nd news of the engagement of Kate Middleton to Prince William a trifl e underwhelming. Everyone loves young love, of course, and it is always more interesting when the young couple are both gorgeous, as are Kate and William, rich and famous and long pursued by the world press. We, the citizens of the world, have known the Prince since he was a chubby, well-dressed infant snuggled in his mother’s loving arms, and we all wish him only the best in his much- awaited marriage. It is diffi cult, as well, not to admire Kate, his college sweetie of long-standing, who has endured his occasional forays off the romantic farm with grace and dignity. She seems to be a rare bird, indeed — a lovely young woman blessed with perfect skin, perfect posture and perfect legs who has resisted becoming her own best cheerleader. Despite being a commoner, Kate does seem to be the perfect wife for the man who will be the king of England and Defender of the Faith among his many other titles, and they have clearly had the opportunity to get to know each other well. I am struck, though, by how truly modern this marriage is and by how much all of us have changed. The academic paper I remember most fondly from my college days was written for an outstanding professor of English history and was entitled, not originally, The Wives of Henry VIII. I loved this paper and this period of English history so much that I still read books about it, and my three Precious Jewels know who Catherine of Aragon and Katherine Parr were, wives numbers one and six. They also know how many wives lost their heads — two, Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard. The other wives WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM were divorced or died, and one who, inexplicably, went from wife to “sister.” Go fi gure. Kate Middleton and Prince William are a thoroughly modern royal couple. They met in college and at some point moved into an apartment with several other students. Bazillions of students around the world do exactly the same thing for many reasons, including economic stresses, and it is no surprise when romance ensues. Kate and William, like couples worldwide, have had their bumps in the road. They have weathered them and are forging ahead to their marriage in Westminster Abbey, and as a thoroughly modern pair, they are the fi rst royal couple in English history to have, as we say nowadays, “cohabitated” in William’s royal digs with the acknowledgment of the Queen and the Prince of Wales. This totally unremarkable living arrangement would not raise an eyebrow today with most any other young couple, but I cannot help but remember from my English history that King Henry VIII defi ed the Pope and launched the Church of England so that he and Anne Boleyn could cohabitate. Less than a century ago, William’s own great-grandfather, King Edward VIII, actually abdicated the throne of England for the “woman he loved,” the twice-divorced American, Wallis Simpson. Wonder what Henry and Edward would make of Kate and William and their royally sanctioned and much anticipated nuptials? Lady Diana and Prince Charles married amidst the excesses of the 1980s, puffy sleeves and all. Kate and William will marry a bit more sedately during a worldwide recession, but it will still be high drama and great entertainment. The world wishes them only the best and Godspeed. MARGARET DICKSON, Contributing Writer COMMENTS? 484-6200 ext. 222 or editor@upandcomingweekly.com. A Baby Changes Everything Friday, Dec. 3 • Saturday, Dec. 4 Performances: Sunday, Dec. 5 All shows at 7 p.m. Admission is free, but if possible, please bring a canned food item to bene t the Gray’s Creek Chris an Center. Enjoy the music and then join us for refreshments in the fellowship Hall. Children’s Christmas Musical BCK O MG Ch Sunday, Dec. 19 6.p.m. Christmas ve Candlelight Service Friday, Dec. 24 • 6.p.m. Chris GREEN SPRIN BAPTIT CHURH 1095 . Green Springs d. • 425-8602 www.greenspringsbaptistchurch.com DECEMBER 1-7, 2010 UCW 5 THIS WEEK WITH MARGARET Here Comes the Bride GREEN SPRIN BAPTIT CHURH BAPTIT CHURH’’ Singing Christmas Tree presents