Friday 29 April 2011

The Greatness of Britain summed up in three images

  
I won't pretend that I was particularly looking forward to the Royal Wedding. I'm a dedicated monarchist for sure, but felt no great desire to sit through a wedding. Needless to say, I did and it was fantastic, perfectly capturing the importance of history, tradition and their power to unite people in the most positive way.

But while most reports are focusing on the ceremony as an example of what the British do well - the gorgeous dress, the tasteful grandeur of the event, the wave of flags and crowd cheering outside Westminster Abbey - for me, this country's real spirit was summed up in three images. The  first, a grumpy bridesmaid in the photograph of the kiss (see above). The second, a delighted veger caught cartwheeling down the aisle in his cassocks. Finally, the future King and Queen of Great Britain leaving Buckingham Palace in an Aston Martin with L Plates and a silly number plate. Because after hundreds of years perfecting all the pomp and circumstance, it's the accidental moments of silliness which humanise it and remind us that even while aiming for an ideal, life wouldn't be half as much fun if it all went by without a hitch or a touch of the eccentric.

Don't miss the video of the cartwheeling priest after the jump.
  


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