The world's reaction to the wedding of the future King and Queen of the UK, Canada and 14 other nations has shown why monarchy wins hands down.
From every corner of the globe came back happy congratulatory emails and texts to Sky News, the BBC, The Sun and our other news media.
Two billion people worldwide watched the ceremony on TV, the largest TV audience in history. 34 million watched it in the UK, the largest UK TV audience in history.
TV crews from America, China, Australia, Japan, Russia, Brazil, South Africa and many, many more places fell over themselves to get the best views of the ceremony.
The Great British Pomp and Pageantry was watched by people who aren't even on planet Earth - astronauts onboard the International Space Station also marked the event as they passed over the UK.
Not only could no other country have attracted such a mass following to a royal wedding but, when it comes to pomp and pageantry, the British do it better than anyone else.
Constitutional monarchy is also the best system of governance in today's world and more interesting than boring republics (the wedding of a President Sarkozy or a President Obama wouldn't attract many TV viewers).
It separates the idea of the nation from the sometimes unpleasant hurly burly of politics.
Roger Scruton, a great living philosopher, describes it as "the light above politics".
And polls show that only a small minority of the British people want the monarchy abolished.
And the star of our monarchy? Queen Elizabeth II, of course, who, during her wedding in 1947, vowed to serve this country for as long as she lives. After being Head of State for 59 years, and hardly putting a foot wrong, she is keeping her promise.
We lost the empire, can't win the World Cup... but when it comes to a Royal knees-up, we're great, Britain
By William Shawcross. the Queen Mother's biographer
30th April 2011
The Sun
Sydney ... partygoers in royal fancy dress watch screen in Aussie hotel
NO other country could have attracted such attention to a wedding.
Two square miles in the centre of London were truly the focus of international attention.
The monarchy, Royal Family and British pageantry still show Britain at its best.
And, lest we forget, our system is the envy of the world - as two billion people proved by tuning in around the globe.
We may not win the World Cup (though we could and should) and we may no longer have an empire.
But, thank goodness, the monarchy still wins every time.
TV crews from America, China, Australia, Japan, Russia, Brazil, South Africa and many, many more places fell over themselves to get the best views of the ceremony.
Horrors, heartbreaks and political storms continued to rage elsewhere.
Space station ... space station engineers Cady Coleman, Paolo Nespoli and Ron Garan wave as they pass over UK
WENN
But in Britain there was a break in the clouds and the image of two young people pledging themselves flew around the world.
Astonishing.
From every corner of the globe came back happy congratulatory emails and texts to Sky News, the BBC, The Sun and our other news media.
It was a joyful day - a spring day of hope and renewal.
Two billion people watched Friday's wedding between the future King and Queen. One million gathered outside Buckingham Palace and along The Mall as the royal newlyweds appeared on the Palace balcony. Responding to chants of "Kiss, Kiss Kiss!" their lips met twice.
Yesterday was faultless - a perfect climax to a real fairy story of a young student who met a real-life prince at college.
None of the predicted rain dampened the joyous crowds, the new princess's dress was exquisite and the venerable Abbey looked ever more glorious with slim, tall trees soaring into the vaults.
The music and traditional words of the service moved us to tears.
Tokyo ... Japanese quake survivor gazes at TV in an evacuation centre
When the Archbishop joined Kate and William's hands, covered them and said: "Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder," great cheers came from outside the Abbey and far, far away.
The massive crowds - many young - who turned out for the wedding show that Republicans (who have about 20 per cent support in the polls) simply don't understand this country.
The Queen is cherished for her remarkable 59 years as head of state.
When she was 21, in 1947, she promised to serve this country for as long as she lived and everyone knows she's kept that promise.
Cape Town ... a family wonder at the pomp and splendour from South African home
She has provided constancy and certainty in a time of enormous social change.
She has been the centre which held. Monarchy is the work of imagination. It is romantic, but it is also practical. It separates the idea of the nation from the sometimes unpleasant hurly burly of politics.
Roger Scruton, a great living philosopher, describes it as "the light above politics".
Hollywood ... flags and tiaras for fans at British-themed pub on Sunset Boulevard
It is a kind system. People understand that.
And we like the fact that the Royal Family goes through all the same rituals as us - births, marriages, deaths and, sadly, divorces.
We are a far less deferential society than when the Queen and Prince Philip married almost 64 years ago. More cynical and intrusive too.
New York ... crowds cheer as they watch on giant screens in Times Square
Some claim that the Crown is tarnished and that support for the monarchy is only skin deep. But days like this show it still enjoys massive support at home and abroad.
This wedding will not overturn the cynicism but it stands out, with other Royal celebrations like the Queen's golden jubilee and her diamond jubilee next year, as a moment of joy.
Recently, I met a man who had been given the OBE by the Queen at Buckingham Palace for his work on the railways.
Munich ... reveller wears crown at German cinema screening
"This is the greatest day of my life," he said.
"Other countries would die for our system."
The monarchy survives only because it constantly evolves to change with society.
William and Kate are a modern couple in many ways, including their living together for years before tying the knot.
Antarctica ... British scientists at South Pole's Halley station brave freezing 40mph winds to hold tea party
Caters
She will be the first Queen to come from a family that is neither Royal nor aristocratic.
The Middletons, who are successful entrepreneurs, have behaved impeccably throughout. They have never leaked anything about the Prince.
Kate has been brilliant in never giving an interview - just like the Queen.
Auckland ... wedding hats at cafe in New Zealand
John Masefield, the poet laureate when the Queen married in 1947, described the Crown as "a gleam, a star to point men from despair".
The Queen has certainly provided that.
Yesterday's brilliant, touching wedding was another gleam, another star of hope.
Iraq ... a man positions the screen to get the best possible view in Baghdad
thesun.co.uk
From every corner of the globe came back happy congratulatory emails and texts to Sky News, the BBC, The Sun and our other news media.
Two billion people worldwide watched the ceremony on TV, the largest TV audience in history. 34 million watched it in the UK, the largest UK TV audience in history.
TV crews from America, China, Australia, Japan, Russia, Brazil, South Africa and many, many more places fell over themselves to get the best views of the ceremony.
The Great British Pomp and Pageantry was watched by people who aren't even on planet Earth - astronauts onboard the International Space Station also marked the event as they passed over the UK.
Not only could no other country have attracted such a mass following to a royal wedding but, when it comes to pomp and pageantry, the British do it better than anyone else.
Constitutional monarchy is also the best system of governance in today's world and more interesting than boring republics (the wedding of a President Sarkozy or a President Obama wouldn't attract many TV viewers).
It separates the idea of the nation from the sometimes unpleasant hurly burly of politics.
Roger Scruton, a great living philosopher, describes it as "the light above politics".
And polls show that only a small minority of the British people want the monarchy abolished.
And the star of our monarchy? Queen Elizabeth II, of course, who, during her wedding in 1947, vowed to serve this country for as long as she lives. After being Head of State for 59 years, and hardly putting a foot wrong, she is keeping her promise.
We lost the empire, can't win the World Cup... but when it comes to a Royal knees-up, we're great, Britain
By William Shawcross. the Queen Mother's biographer
30th April 2011
The Sun
Sydney ... partygoers in royal fancy dress watch screen in Aussie hotel
NO other country could have attracted such attention to a wedding.
Two square miles in the centre of London were truly the focus of international attention.
The monarchy, Royal Family and British pageantry still show Britain at its best.
And, lest we forget, our system is the envy of the world - as two billion people proved by tuning in around the globe.
We may not win the World Cup (though we could and should) and we may no longer have an empire.
But, thank goodness, the monarchy still wins every time.
TV crews from America, China, Australia, Japan, Russia, Brazil, South Africa and many, many more places fell over themselves to get the best views of the ceremony.
Horrors, heartbreaks and political storms continued to rage elsewhere.
Space station ... space station engineers Cady Coleman, Paolo Nespoli and Ron Garan wave as they pass over UK
WENN
But in Britain there was a break in the clouds and the image of two young people pledging themselves flew around the world.
Astonishing.
From every corner of the globe came back happy congratulatory emails and texts to Sky News, the BBC, The Sun and our other news media.
It was a joyful day - a spring day of hope and renewal.
Two billion people watched Friday's wedding between the future King and Queen. One million gathered outside Buckingham Palace and along The Mall as the royal newlyweds appeared on the Palace balcony. Responding to chants of "Kiss, Kiss Kiss!" their lips met twice.
Yesterday was faultless - a perfect climax to a real fairy story of a young student who met a real-life prince at college.
None of the predicted rain dampened the joyous crowds, the new princess's dress was exquisite and the venerable Abbey looked ever more glorious with slim, tall trees soaring into the vaults.
The music and traditional words of the service moved us to tears.
Tokyo ... Japanese quake survivor gazes at TV in an evacuation centre
When the Archbishop joined Kate and William's hands, covered them and said: "Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder," great cheers came from outside the Abbey and far, far away.
The massive crowds - many young - who turned out for the wedding show that Republicans (who have about 20 per cent support in the polls) simply don't understand this country.
The Queen is cherished for her remarkable 59 years as head of state.
When she was 21, in 1947, she promised to serve this country for as long as she lived and everyone knows she's kept that promise.
Cape Town ... a family wonder at the pomp and splendour from South African home
She has provided constancy and certainty in a time of enormous social change.
She has been the centre which held. Monarchy is the work of imagination. It is romantic, but it is also practical. It separates the idea of the nation from the sometimes unpleasant hurly burly of politics.
Roger Scruton, a great living philosopher, describes it as "the light above politics".
Hollywood ... flags and tiaras for fans at British-themed pub on Sunset Boulevard
It is a kind system. People understand that.
And we like the fact that the Royal Family goes through all the same rituals as us - births, marriages, deaths and, sadly, divorces.
We are a far less deferential society than when the Queen and Prince Philip married almost 64 years ago. More cynical and intrusive too.
New York ... crowds cheer as they watch on giant screens in Times Square
Some claim that the Crown is tarnished and that support for the monarchy is only skin deep. But days like this show it still enjoys massive support at home and abroad.
This wedding will not overturn the cynicism but it stands out, with other Royal celebrations like the Queen's golden jubilee and her diamond jubilee next year, as a moment of joy.
Recently, I met a man who had been given the OBE by the Queen at Buckingham Palace for his work on the railways.
Munich ... reveller wears crown at German cinema screening
"This is the greatest day of my life," he said.
"Other countries would die for our system."
The monarchy survives only because it constantly evolves to change with society.
William and Kate are a modern couple in many ways, including their living together for years before tying the knot.
Antarctica ... British scientists at South Pole's Halley station brave freezing 40mph winds to hold tea party
Caters
She will be the first Queen to come from a family that is neither Royal nor aristocratic.
The Middletons, who are successful entrepreneurs, have behaved impeccably throughout. They have never leaked anything about the Prince.
Kate has been brilliant in never giving an interview - just like the Queen.
Auckland ... wedding hats at cafe in New Zealand
John Masefield, the poet laureate when the Queen married in 1947, described the Crown as "a gleam, a star to point men from despair".
The Queen has certainly provided that.
Yesterday's brilliant, touching wedding was another gleam, another star of hope.
Iraq ... a man positions the screen to get the best possible view in Baghdad
thesun.co.uk
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