Editor's Note: Community leader Kathryn Rabinow, who chaired last fall's Children's Museum of Houston gala with her daughter, Sarah Pesikoff, is in London with her husband, Richard Rabinow, and her cameras and sends this first-hand account of her experience on the Royal Wedding day.
Richard and I had booked 10 days at the Mayfair flat we go to several times a year — but it was not until after we had gotten our plane reservations that THE WEDDING date was announced. We were going to be a part of the "hoo-ha."
Determined to make the best of it (days of closed art galleries, museums and restaurants; throngs of over-imbibing celebrants), I decided to send a journal to my daughter Sarah Pesikoff in Houston. Once in London, I have been caught up in the celebrations and, armed with my cameras, I have become a chronicler of "the scene." After I received several e-mails from Houston friends and friends of Sarah wanting m-o-r-e I thought that I would share what I have done with CultureMap.
I watched most of the service today from a fabulous spot — Hyde Park. Full of hundreds of thousands of incredibly well behaved "guests" all there to watch THE wedding on three large screens and to celebrate the festivities. I also rode a ferris wheel set up on the park grounds so that I could get aerial views of the crowds.
Whenever the Royal Family came on the big screen, the crowd uniformly rose and waved their flags and cheered. For the Queen, for Prince Phillip and Prince Charles and Camilla, great cheers for Harry and wild enthusiasm for William and Kate.
Costumes (most in good taste), champagne and strawberries and sunshine. I was interviewed by a person from the Associated Press who asked me my opinion of Catherine's dress, how it compared to my thoughts on Diana's dress, how it compared to the wedding dresses of my daughters (!) etc. He took my name, occupation, age (?!) and where I lived. Watch your AP releases.
This was s-u-c-h a happy, silly and fun filled celebration, which involved all types of people from all walks of life in a joyous celebration. The afternoon continues with concerts and picnics and crazy silly activities in the Royal Parks and it is a delight to see everyone being happy.
Costuming for the royal wedding was in good taste for the most part.
