Not just one Royal Wedding kiss but two!

Prince William and Kate Middleton came out onto the balcony of Buckingham Palace smiling and waving along with the rest of the Royal Family. Greeted by cheers from a sea of people in front of them, the cheers very quickly changed to a chant in unison, 'KISS' 'KISS' the crowds began to roar. 

The couple looked at each other and then moved in for a very brief kiss on the lips, which lasted just a couple of seconds. Kate seemed very comfortable and William had a typical English gentlemen's awkwardness about him (actually very charming).

However, as the planes flew overhead and most peoples eyes were averted upwards, the Royal Couple moved in for a second kiss that lasted longer and seemed far more natural than the first. Prince William seemed much more comfortable the second time around.

The first time a newlywed Royal Couple kissed on the balcony of Buckingham Palace was in fact William's mother and father, Princess Diana and Prince Charles in 1981. 

It is sad that Princess Diana was not physically here to witness the day but there can't be any doubt that she would be very proud of Prince William and the way he has conducted himself. Diana would also be hard pushed not to be happy with his choice of bride, aside from looking fabulous, Kate conducted herself with a confident elegance and grace befitting of any Royal bride, let alone a commoner. 

In Diana's absence Prince Charles and The Queen deserve credit for raising a fine young man who will no doubt make a very fine future King.

Young girls around the world are in no doubt today that fairy tale dreams can come true and that said Prince Harry will not be short of female attention until he is safely wed himself. In fact his security may well need to be increased in the meantime.

William and Kate are now enjoying their reception in Buckingham Palace whilst millions of people from around the UK and the world are celebrating in their own special way.

The legacy of Diana, the people's Princess

I watched the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton with tears of happiness for them, and for their very evident love for each other, but also tears of regret that Diana was not there to bear witness to this love. 

William powerfully reminded us of his mother’s eternal presence by giving Catherine his mother’s sapphire engagement ring.

It was also lovely that Carole Middleton wore a Catherine Walker dress: Catherine, my neighbour in Sussex, who died last year, was Diana’s favourite designer, and is much missed by all her friends, as well as the world of fashion.

However, for me the most moving moment was seeing Prince William and Prince Harry leaving Clarence House together to go to Westminster Abbey. Their role as Princes means that, in a certain way, they belong to the nation, yet they are also Diana’s gift to us. How very, very proud she would have been of them, of their achievements and their obviously unbreakable bond with each other.

Diana fought hard to give her sons as normal a life as it was possible for them to have within the constraints of their position. She did not want either of them to feel as trapped as she did, and particularly wanted William to be strong enough to bear the burden of kingship. She expected him to be in touch with his future subjects, to understand the day-to-day realities of their lives, and to be in a position truly to understand those realities, rather than merely to observe them from afar.

It is something that she often talked about with me, and she made it her business to steer them along a common path of empathy with the most vulnerable and troubled in society. Her own painful feelings of inadequacy gave her an intuitive understanding of others’ plight.

Royal Wedding vows - a break from tradition

Kate Middleton will not promise to 'obey' Prince William in her wedding vows. The couple have apparently decided on their own vows which instead will see Kate promising to 'love, comfort, honour and keep' Prince William for as long as they both shall live.

I am sure this will be far less of a controversial issue than it was when Princess Diana refused to use the word 'obey' in her vows back in 1981 but then that was around 30 years ago now and I think it's a good thing that Kate Middleton and Prince William are writing their own vows for the right reasons.