The happy couple has already broken one rule by living together before their wedding, so what's one more? No other member of the royal family has signed a pre-nuptial agreement, which are far more rare in the U.K. than they are in the U.S. Then again, look at how many of those marriages have failed. There's been a lot of chatter that Kate Middleton may sign on the dotted line so William can protect his noble assets—yet this rumor looks unlikely. One royal contributor says she "highly doubts" there will be a pre-nup between the couple, as a divorce would be "catastrophic" to the monarchy—and to William's fortune. He inherited part of Princess Diana's $34 million estate when she died— $27 million of which she reportedly got from Charles after their divorce.
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While the snobbier elements of the British establishment have sneered at Kate Middleton's parents and their self-made millionaire background, there is no denying that the future Queen Catherine had an extremely privileged upbringing. She and her siblings, Pippa and James, were sent to the prestigious Marlborough College, which costs $47,000 a year. It's a far cry from the life her grandmother Dorothy Goldsmith lived. A carpenter's daughter who descended from mining folk, she was considered "a bit of a snob" by some for her efforts to boost her family out of poverty. On the other hand, Kate's father, Michael Middleton, is descended from lawyers and mill owners, and his family tree goes all the way back to King Henry VIII. If you trace the family line a little further back, say some 500 years or so, it turns out that Kate and William are in fact related through controversial Elizabethan aristocrat Sir Thomas Leighton. They're "12th cousins, once removed"—just as most people are if you trace their histories back far enough. Nevertheless, it does prove that Kate's historic move into the royal family isn't as far-fetched as some would have you believe.
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Retailers have been reveling in merchandise sales for months, and countless documentaries, gossip exposés, and other wedding-themed shows have sent advertisers to majestic matrimony-themed heaven. Pubs, bars, and restaurants up and down the country will benefit from Will and Kate mania, but let's not forget the nation has been given a day off. Britain's less-than-steady growth trajectory is teetering on a double-dip recession. The wedding date has come at one of the last days of the financial quarter, and with Easter and other bank holidays falling at the same time of year, the country is going to be cruising at half speed at the end of the month. Britain is said to lose £6 billion ($9.8 billion) for every bank holiday, and manufacturing and other industries could be severely hit, with one report guessing economic growth could be 0.1 percent lower because of the lost work day. The jury is out on this one, yet for all the national joy at the party, it could be a nasty hangover.
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Well, isn't that impolite of you to ask. When Princess Diana was about to marry into the royal line, one of her uncles announced to the world she was a " bona fide virgin." Thankfully, Kate's avoided such a cringe-worthy moment, and the rules about such things have been relaxed in the past 30 years. Marriage expert Stephanie Coontz says, "Only really in the last 50 or 60 years, not only doesn't it matter whether a bride is a virgin, we no longer need to pretend that it matters. Finally, it has trickled up to the royals." Kate and William have lived together for years—and even romanced plenty of others before their epic relationship. In fact, no one batted an eye when Kate invited her "first love" (and William look-alike) Willem Marx to the wedding. Although Willem himself may mind the constant coverage—he did tell one reporter, "People like you should focus on the important events this planet is witnessing at the moment."
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The broadcast schedules have been revealed and, as expected, it's set to be blanket coverage across every single outlet in the U.K. But will anyone actually be tuning in? A new study by a dating website claims only 31 percent of Brits plan to watch the walk down the aisle, with a whopping 40 percent using their bank holiday as an extra day off to not sit in front of the TV. Many are planning to escape London and the royal fawning. The lucky timing right after the Easter holiday and before May Day will give millions the chance to take an 11-day long vacation if they play their cards right with their employers. For those staying in town, the anti-monarchy group Republic is planning a "Not the Royal Wedding" street party in London, and these barf bags are handy for people nauseated by the whole affair.
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No secret is more closely guarded than what Ms. Middleton is wearing. With many names thrown around—Alice Temperley is the latest, after Kate and her maid-of-honor Pippa were spotted at her London showroom—it's anyone's guess, but it's unlikely she'll dare to sport a gown by an interloper. A source says even close friends don't even know who is designing the two dresses (one for the wedding, another for the Buckingham Palace reception, of course). Kate's style usually trends toward classic looks. She's a fan of British designer Katherine Hooker, and Brazilian-born designer Daniella Issa Helayel, whose royal blue stunner sold out after Kate wore it to announce her engagement. Another designer on the short list is Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen's label. Burton denied she's designing the dress, but with so much pressure, she wouldn't be foolish enough to spill the beans. "Kate's dress will be an important dress, one that will be talked about for the rest of time," says Millie Martini Bratten, editor in chief of Brides magazine. No pressure there.
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There will be no grand carriage ride to the ceremony for Kate Middleton—she's rolling in the Rolls-Royce that recently carried Prince Charles and Camilla through wild student protests—but that doesn't mean Prince William is happy with sneaking in quietly. A "close friend" tells the Telegraph, "William is going to arrive on a white horse with Guards officers past and present. It is going to be quite an entrance." The palace is trying to bust that myth and says it's untrue. Meanwhile, the rest of the royal family is trucking it to Westminster Abbey in buses. Posh buses, surely, but buses nonetheless.
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Somewhere along the last few years, the royal family has picked up a technological edge. The engagement was announced via Twitter, the wedding has its own website where the ceremony will be streamed live, Will and Kate have an official iPhone app, and lest we forget, the queen is on YouTube. (The Royal Channel—"the official channel of the British monarchy" with interviews about the royal wedding cakes and so much more can be watched here.) Monarchy-approved photos will be on Flickr. Please be advised though, guests are encouraged not to tweet from the ceremony. For all the modernity in this 21st-century romance though, one new trend hasn't caught on for William. He won't be wearing a wedding ring, but the British public don't seem too happy about it.
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After the vows are said, the cake is cut, and the party is long over, where will the newly married couple scurry away from the prying paparazzi? Prince William is having fun with all the honeymoon rumors. While visiting Queensland he mentioned his love of scuba diving and Australia, saying, "I will have to come back, maybe we'll have a honeymoon in Cairns?" though he was likely just pandering to the adoring crowd. Another report pegged their getaway to Scilly Isles, where William and his family vacationed when he was younger. There's also Kenya, where William proposed, or the latest—and most exciting—possibility, a secluded rented beach on the Greek island of Corfu. It's a favorite of royals, and far enough away from the barrage of reporters awaiting their every move. But this detail, like many others, will likely be revealed closer to the wedding. For now, their lips are sealed.
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