Our royal reporter, Nadia Neophytou, was in London these past few days, and gives us this report:

“Something old, something new,
something borrowed, something blue…”

Catherine Middleton, Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Duke, made true this Victorian lore, as her fairytale wedding unfolded in London yesterday. From the dress to her earrings and tiara, the details were carefully put together to bring the bride’s storybook romance come to life. But there’s one part of that tradition it seems was embraced by almost everyone that came out to witness the celebrations – the colour blue. And red. And white.

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Royal enthusiasts came from all over the world to experience the day as close up as possible. And they did it dressed in the trio of colours, and wearing anything that had a Union Jack, or Prince William and Catherine Middleton’s face on it. People set up camp in front of Westminster Abbey or Buckingham Palace to catch a glimpse of the happy couple, either before or after the wedding service. As South African Pulane Borotho, who was in London for Charles and Diana’s wedding, says, it’s magical even if it happens quite quickly: “Just to see them passing by, that tiny glimpse that you get is amazing. It’s a great occasion in that it’s a historic moment and has been going on for centuries. For this particular one, the emphasis is different because this young man, Prince William, lost his mother Diana. So people came here with Diana in mind.”

That Diana was in mind throughout the buildup and indeed the event is true, as seen in the spirit of a man known as the Queen Superfan, who set up his Union Jack tent in front of Westminster Abbey on Tuesday just to secure a prime spot. On the home-made t-shirt he wore were the words ‘Diana Would Be Proud’. “She would have just loved Catherine,” he said, as he laid out the letter he received from Clarence House thanking him for the engagement card he had sent to the couple, on his Union Jack blanket. “She’s just lovely, and very beautiful. I wish them the very best, and I wish that Prince Charles would step down and allow the young people to rule,” the 76 year-old added.

People like Terry, although not quite as enthusiastic as him (even his socks were Union Jacks) were responsible for helping to create a vibe in London that continued to grow and only intensified as the countdown to the wedding ceremony ticked down. The street vendors and stores, too, played their part – selling anything that could work in with the theme: umbrellas (rain had been predicted for the day), fridge magnets, thimbles, condoms, posters, flags, and, inside Hamley’s, Princess Catherine dolls.

For the real Princess Catherine, or rather the Duchess of Cambridge, fulfilling the Victorian lore, had a part to play in her weaving of old and new elements during the wedding preparation. Her dress was made to pay respect to the Arts and Crafts custom and British craftsmanship by featuring a long-sleeved lace overlay. The leaf-shaped diamond earrings she wore were a wedding gift from her parents, while the 1936 Cartier halo-style tiara that crowned her head has been in the Royal Family since it was purchased by King George VI for the Queen Mother. A hint of blue ribbon sewn into the dress completed the tradition.

In keeping an eye on the past, she is not alone in her quest to focus on the future too. Over the past few days, the blue, red and white colours have also come to represent the hope that many Britons have about Catherine and Prince William’s ability to bring together old and new, and exert a bit of modernity into the monarchy.

Two billion people worldwide saw the ceremony on TV, while millions more streamed it live on You Tube, a move that further highlighted the social-media-savvy of the couple. That Prince William and Catherine were able to weave together elements of tradition with a modern take on being in the Royal family in the 21st Century is further support to suggest the couple will be able to move forward confidently. And that’s something that Terry wishes for too.

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