Prince William and Kate, that’s the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to you and me, were at the Atlantic Chip Shop in Brooklyn Heights – albeit in cartoon format but that did not stop a huge crowd made up of ladies dressed to the nines and men in mock wedding head gear from toasting the newlyweds. The atmosphere was loud, festive and decidedly English. Tiers of lemon chiffon cupcakes with pink icing sat alongside half-drunk pints of ale. Union jacks flags of various sizes dangled from ceilings and walls
For many this was the first glimpse at the morning’s wedding ceremony, which was now being dissected in blogs and broadsheets worldwide. “We weren’t able to do 5 a.m.,” said Jennifer who had come with another friend Clara. Both expressed surprise at having being sucked into the wedding excitement. They confessed to having prepared for the big day by watching both Prince Charles and the late-Princess Diana’s post engagement interviews as well as William and Kate’s. “Charles was super-awkward,” said Clara. “They seem so much older.”“I think they’re gonna make it,” said Jennifer before laughing at her presumed familiarity with the royal couple. “We are totally not obsessed,” she added, before leaning in to discuss how the couple met.
A table down, Susan Scout of Crown (how fitting!) Heights was midway through her second viewing. Donning a feather hair piece ($2 wholesale) she had been up since 4 a.m. She was quick to insist that her early rising was due to her being a “light sleeper.” “I thought it was beautiful, the dress was beautiful,” said Susan as she finished tucking into a plate of sausage and chips.
“I’ve already cried once,” said Lorraine an Essex transplant eyes fixed on the ceremony being played out on the television screen. Despite what she described as her socialist leanings Lorraine was enjoying the whole affair. “Who doesn’t like a show?” She was hopeful that the couple’s marriage would succeed. “They actually seem to like each other. They are doing it on their terms.” She thought for a moment before betraying her socialist leanings, “I hope they find something useful to do with their time.”
Back at Jennifer and Clara’s table the excitement was mounting as they were preparing to see the dress for the first time. “I think its perfect,” said Clara when at last Kate stepped out of the car ending weeks of feverish speculation.Jennifer was less convinced, “I don’t see any splash of awesome,” she said.
Aside from a group of five men sitting at the bar in homemade net fascinators the crowd was decidedly female. Theodore, a Spanish NYU student living in Red Hook was one of the few exceptions. “Now the British are on par[with Spain]. It ‘s a competition,” he said approvingly comparing Kate to Spain’s Princess Letizia. He had already seen the wedding which had much hyped in the Spanish press but the hype was all about what Princess Letizia would wear to Westminster Abbey.
Doing brisk business behind the bar was the assistant manager, Diane Pisani, who had made 15 hats and the many cupcakes on display. These could only be eaten once the couple were wed. Pisani who had been instrumental in putting the event together was hopeful that the celebrations would go on through the night. A second screening was scheduled at 6 p.m.
At around 12.45 p.m. a huge cheer went out when the ring was placed on Kate’s finger. A waiter scuttled out with free champagne and Diane led the crowd into a toast partially drowned out by the onscreen ceremony. After the champagne Susan Scout started to leave.“I hope they stick it out,” she said. She paused, and recallingthe morning’s ceremony added, “the kissing was a little short.”
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