With two billion people watching around the world, Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton became the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge today. Among very few surprises were two kisses instead of one a white dress on the bride's sister and the Prime Minister's wife attending without a hat. Some British leftists are refusing to celebrate the marriage of the future King and Queen Consort. There's even a button with the image of a small crown and the slogan, "Stuff the wedding, fight the cuts." What's the attraction of an event with only symbolic importance? With record austerity measures just setting in, was it worth some $80 million? We hear from supporters and skeptics about the British monarchy and the echoes of empire in the modern world.
A Royal Wedding in an Age of Austerity
Credits
Guests:
- Sarah Lyall - author of "The Angle Files: A Field Guide to the British,” and New York Times reporter
- Barbara Hay - Her Majesty's Consul General
- Jonathan Freedland - Guardian newspaper
- Peter Whittle - New Culture Forum