Monday, May 2, 2011

Royal wedding: Diana's spirit looms large but this is Kate Middleton’s day

Prince William and Kate Middleton (Pic:PA) Kate Middleton and Prince William

It was slightly scary – for me, if not for Catherine Middleton – when Prince William proposed using his mother Diana’s engagement ring.

To begin with I thought “how enchanting, how romantic, what a beautiful gesture”. Then I began to have doubts. That maybe a teeny, weeny bit too much of the mother in law Kate will never meet was creeping into this beautiful day.

My fears increased yesterday when I read the Order of Service, put out by St James’s Palace, in advance of today’s great occasion at Westminster Abbey.

The spirit of Diana was looming large on day one of the engagement announcement last November and it’s still here on the day of the marriage itself.

Great for William and his brother Harry who vowed never to forget their mother, but maybe not so great for the bride herself.

Of course, I feel sure Kate and Diana would have loved one another and got on like a house on fire.

I have no doubt that the Princess of Wales would have been immensely proud of the woman Wills has chosen to live with for the rest of his life.

But the opening hymn of the service at the Abbey today is Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer.

It’s a beautiful enough anthem that can kick-start any indolent heart.

Princess Diana (Pic:Getty Images) Princess Diana

But it’s also the very same hymn that was the final one at Princess Diana’s funeral – inside Westminster Abbey – in September 1997.

It was also played at The Guards Chapel at the service to mark the 10th anniversary of her death.

There will be other examples of the spirit of Princess Diana floating around us all today.

Kate’s bridal procession music as she walks towards the High Altar was also used in the 1981 marriage between William’s mother and father.

There is more. Three other pieces of music or hymns from Prince Charles and Diana’s wedding at St Paul’s Cathedral will also be heard to today.

Some may find it a wonderful tribute to a woman I personally thought was the bees’ knees. But surely there must have been some misgivings within the Middleton camp?

I know the two lovebirds thought long and hard about the make-up of today’s service, and intriguingly, Prince Charles himself is said to have had an input on the music.

Prince William, totally supported by brother Harry in thought and deed, is fulfilling the promise they made to the world a number of years ago – namely to think of their mother every single day and cherish and honour her memory until the day they die.

Laudable enough. And who could criticise such sentiments?

But I think it’s possibly getting a little tough on Kate.

It may be our day, the Royal Family’s day, the Middleton family’s greatest ever day. But surely, rising above all others, this has to be Catherine’s day – a woman we are learning to love more as each day goes by.

Download the Daily Mirror's 'Wills & Kate A Royal Love Story' souvenir mobile app for iPhone, iTouch, iPad or Nokia smartphone here

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Download the Daily Mirror's 'Wills & Kate A Royal Love Story' souvenir mobile app for iPhone, iTouch, iPad or Nokia smartphone here


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