Community Corner

Royal Wedding Watching: Get the No Doz--or some good espresso

If you're crazy like me and intend to watch the nuptials of Prince William and Catherine Middleton--you've got a long night ahead of you. Here's a schedule and a list of the stations covering it

If you're wedding weary, pay no more attention to this article. If you're wedding excited, here is both a viewing guide and a schedule of events for for the Friday morning wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. I've adjusted them for West Coast time. 

There will be several times that you should have your eyes glued to the screen-or have your DVR set. The first would be 3 a.m West Coast time. The wedding starts at 11 a.m. London time. This is when Catherine Middleton arrives in The Much-Anticipated Dress. We're all hoping it will be fabulous in whatever form it takes (perhaps conservative enough to please the Firm and the Royal standards of the occassion and modern and sleek enough to show off her 21st century sense of style and gorgeous bod).  

The fashion industry is be eager for a hit, and will be ready to get their knock-offs ready in time for all the brides who want to dress just like like Kate for their June nuptials.

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An0ther key moment could be when Catherine (she doesn't like to be called Kate, ya know) attempts to speak out Prince William's full name when taking the vows. William Arthur Philip Louis. Princess Diana cutely fumbled on Charles Philip Arthur George, during her wedding in 1981and we all forgave her 'cause she was so young and we all kinda knew she was such a lovely innocent sacrificial lamb in this whole royal spectacular.

Key moment No. 3 will be at 4:15 a.m. when William and his new wife emerge from the abbey and depart in a carriage, traveling to Buckingham Palace, followed by the queen.

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Key moment No. 4 will be at 5:25 a.m. when William and his his new princess, accompanied by the queen and their families, appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

In between there will be lots of media nattering by what the Brits called presenters, as well as what Americans call expert analysts. Tina Brown? Tina Brown? Where are you?

And just remember, realiable sources, say that the Ghost of Diana will hover over the entire event. She's still alive, you know. 

Through the entire day, 5,000 British police officers on duty will have their hands full looking for any number of wedding crashers with political agendas that could include property damage or violence: Irish dissident terrorists, Muslim, extremists, anti-monarchists, anarchtists, and ordinary riff-raf who might "blight the spectacle," according to an AP report.

In any event, here's a rundown of the TV coverage coverage, courtesy of Chuck Barney with the Contra Costa Times

--I supposed to if you want to be authentic about it, try BBC America if you get it through your cable system. According to Barney, the cable network will offer a direct and commercial free simulcast of BBC One's coverage, beginning at midnight. 

--With regard to the three networks, you can either watch Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters leading ABC's the coverage from Buckingham Palace beginning at 1 a.m.; Katie Couric starts coverage at 2 a.m. with a reporter stationed at Buckingham Palace. Anchor Brian Williams and the entire "Today" team will be in London for coverage that kicks off at 1 a.m.  

--At CNN, Brits Piers Morgan and Cat Deeley will join Anderson Cooper in London for coverage that begins at at 1 a.m. Over at Fox News Channel, Shepard Smith and Martha MacCallum co-host the coverage beginning at 1 a.m. Among their analysts are Princess Diana's former butler Paul Burrell, and Joan Lunden, who covered the wedding of Charles and Diana for ABC.

And, here's the Schedule (pronounced across the pond as "shedule"--with no hard "c" sound)

—12:15 a.m Guests begin arriving at the Great North Door of London's Westminster Abbey. Look for Elton John and David and Victoria Beckham. Wondering what she's gonna wear? 

— 1:50 a.m. Governors-general and prime ministers of realm countries, the diplomatic corps and other distinguished guests arrive at the abbey.

— 2:10 a.m.: Prince William and Prince Harry leave Clarence House for Westminster Abbey.

— 2:15 a.m. : The princes arrive at Westminster Abbey.

— 2:20 a.m. Members of foreign royal families arrive at Westminster Abbey from Buckingham Palace.

— 2:27 a.m. Middleton's mother, Carole, and brother, James, arrive at the abbey.

— 2:30 a.m. Select members of Britain's royal family arrive at the abbey.

— 2:40 a.m Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, leave Buckingham Palace for the abbey. Prince Andrew and daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie; Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie; Princess Anne and her husband, Timothy Laurence, arrive for the ceremony.

— 2:42 a.m. Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, arrive at the abbey from Clarence House.

— 2:45 a.m. The queen and Prince Philip arrive at the abbey.

— 2:51 a.m.  The bride, accompanied by her father, Michael, leaves the Goring Hotel for the abbey.

— 2:55 a.m. Bridesmaids and pages arrive at the abbey from the Goring Hotel.

— Around 3 a.m. The bride arrives. Marriage ceremony, which will be relayed on audio speakers along the wedding route, begins.

— 4:15 a.m.  William and his new wife emerge from the abbey and depart in the 1902 State Landau, a carriage, and travel to Buckingham Palace, followed by the queen.

— 4:30 a.m. The bride's carriage procession arrives at Buckingham Palace, followed by members of Britain's royal family and other foreign royals 10 minutes later.

— 4:40 a.m. Guests for the wedding reception arrive at Buckingham Palace.

— 5:25 a.m. William and Middleton, accompanied by the queen and their families, appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

— 5:30 a.m. The royals watch a ceremonial flypast from the Royal Air Force and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight before returning inside for the queen's reception for some 600 guests.

— 10 a.m. Private reception begins at Buckingham Palace for 300 guests.


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