8. The Royal Wedding
Wednesday, July 29th, 1981. Prince Charles of Wales & Lady Diana Spencer With everybody going online for their entertainment it's easy to forget just how much of a big deal television was and still is. Nothing epitomizes the all encompassing power of sweeps like having the British Royal family bow down to the torrential force of the Nielsen ratings. And now top television weddings list would be complete without the crowning of at least one or two newly minted princess, so here we go... After about six months of yachting, polo, meeting the Queen Mother in a lodge and other forms of run of the mill foreplay, the crowned prince of England proposed to Diana on 3 February, 1981, at Windsor Castle in the nursery. Because even a prince sometimes needs to fall back on cheap tricks like "I love of babies" to impress chicks. Two million spectators lined the streets to witness Diana's procession from Clarence House. 4 thousand police and 2 thousand 2 hundred military officers managed the crowds surrounding St Paul's Cathedral. The royal affair presided over by the Most Reverend Robert Runcie (who's so much more reverend than your reverend) was watched by 750 million people worldwide and rumors say over a billion were tuned in if we factor in radio broadcasts... It was the beginning of the world's first post-modern era, true life fairy tale. In true post modern fashion it ended in betrayal, slander, divorce and "involuntary" manslaughter, just 1 year after said divorce (conspiracy theorists look into it). I'm certain Don DeLillo chuckled slightly before feeling really bad, while Bret Easton Ellis wished he'd written it himself from the Prince's point of view.
Guillaume Parisien
Contributor
Unpublished author, unproduced screenwriter, un-enacted playwright & director for higher (currently waiting by the phone), Guillaume Parisien sometimes writes puff pieces for the pop-culture indulgent in order to support his vices; of which there are many.
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