British react to royal wedding plans

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Big news in Britain: Prince William is to marry long-time girlfriend Kate Middleton sometime next year. Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with the BBC’s Paddy O’ Connell about British reaction to the wedding news at a time when Britons are reeling from news of their government’s fiscal austerity programs. Download MP3

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Lisa Mullins: I’m Lisa Mullins, and this is The World.  It’s just what Britain needed during austere times and a gaping budget deficit; a wedding.  The announcement came today.  Prince William, son of Charles and Diana, the second in line to the throne, will marry Kate Middleton next year.  The couple’s expected to live in North Whales.  Prince William is going to continue to serve there as copter pilot in the royal air force.  Paddy O’Connell hosts the BBC’s Sunday news Broadcasting House, he is now in Birmingham.  Paddy how is the prospect of a big royal wedding going over against the current British climate of austerity and privation?

Paddy O’Connell: This is something that has set the radio and TV airwaves alight. People are also swapping information on the street. We are hearing the news, which, although great for two people in love and has been predicted for a long time. They’ve been going out, practically for a thousand years, so people did expect something. Here it comes and its a lift from what otherwise it’s a pretty glum time at the moment.

Mullins: Here’s a clip from British prime minister David Cameron and his own reaction to the news now that the first son of Charles and Diana has decided to tie the knot.

David Cameron: To put it straight, to have a piece of unadulterated good news that everyone can celebrate and be happy for them and thats how me and Samantha feel, and I’m sure that that’s how the whole country feels. I’m sure it will be something when the country will come together. I remember I was young when Williams’ mother got married.  I sat on the [???] that night and joined in on the celebrations, I’m sure lots of people will want to celebrate in lots of different ways. But let’s remember as well, its two young people who love each other, who made this decision and its a fantastic, important, and exciting moment for them to.

Mullins: Strikes us Paddy that this is a good news for David Cameron, politically speaking?

O’Connell: Yes. It is a great distraction from unadulterated gloom. The whole place is covered in gloom wherever you look. [???] Europe’s talking about the currency.  It’s a very difficult climate, but the other part of this is the British people do not think that the royals live a fairy tail life. Kate Middleton is headed for one of the most difficult jobs in the world; which is to be a princess in the modern United Kingdom. It’s not a fairy tail royal family, she’s not headed for a fairy tail life; but the prime minister went on to say, when you take everything else away remember; they are two young people, they are in love, and please give them a bit of space.  That is a sign that he knows full well how things are in this climate how hard things are for people in the public eye.

Mullins: Is there actually, though, an economical boost from a royal wedding?

O’Connell: It’s certainly a boost, the royal family are estimated to bring hundreds of thousands, possibly millions of tourists to the U.K. each year. The other thing to bear in mind its Americans they [???] her when Jackie married into the Kennedy family, we spoke of the Camelot White House. After the war in the 1950s’ the British people were living in very straiten circumstances and the Queen got married.  You can still meet people who remember the dress, the glamor, they hadn’t seen anything like it. I think there wont be fore some people, it’s sort of an uplifting feeling from seeing a bit of pageantry and a bit of escapism. For ordinary British subjects of the queen, this is a very, very testing time. There’s a loss of fear about the economy. So, there will be some people who would be sniping on the sidelines; but others cheering from the sidewalks

Mullins: Paddy, the British bookies Ladbrokes, apparently has paid out a fortune to people who bet on a November announcement. The engagement happened apparently last month so Ladbrokes said: “We’re delighted for the happy couple; but we’ve been caught with our pants down. There’s nothing much we can do except grit our teeth and pay out”. Sounds like another stimulus for the British economy?

O’Connell: [laugh] Well, good luck to anyone who makes money in betting, on no matter what it is because the odds normally goes the other way. I think the other soothing thought for everyone is that this wedding will take place next year. That would’ve been the 30th anniversary of Williams’ parents Charles and Diana.  This is a Britain that has much changed in those 30 years. Not just the economy, not just our view of the royal family, but the royal family themselves have changed in many ways, beyond recognition.  When you look at it, its a big day; but, where will it be not i suspect, the electrified Britain of 30 years ago; but none the less one that can take pleasure for a piece of simple news when so much bad stuff is around it every time you open the window.

Mullins: BBC journalist Paddy O’Connell, host of the Sunday News program Broadcasting House. Thank you Paddy

O’Connell: Thank you.

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