6 Unique Facts about the Royal Wedding

I know, I know… the Royal Wedding has come and gone. Many of us, myself included, were up early with eyes glued to the screen.  It was our moment as women, to live out the little girl dream of a princess marrying her Prince Charming, who was in actuality, a real life royal!

I have yet to plan my wedding, but having planned events, I appreciate the logistics that go into a 500 person event.  I can’t fathom the details of a 1900 guest wedding! Let’s take a look at some of the lesser known, behind the scenes pieces that went into making April 29, 2011 a day to remember for 8 billion people.

1. Kate opted out of riding in the carriage to the wedding, as both Diana Spencer and Sarah Ferguson did for their nuptuals, and decided to go with a car.  Why? She and William wanted to downplay the “Fairy Tale-ness” of the wedding, and felt the automobile was a better option.
2. The Middleton’s offered to help pay for the wedding.  No word on whether the Royal Family took the up on their offer.
3. The Royal Family always sit on the right side of the Abbey (as you are facing the alter).  This is a constant, and is not dependent on whether it is the bride or groom who is Royalty.  The Middleton family was seated on the left side.  For Diana’s wedding, Earl Spencer was given 30 invitations. I wonder if the Middleton’s were allotted a larger number of invites?
4. There is a man who stands in the back of the Abbey, known as the “brusher-down.” His job is to ensure no one enters covered in dog hair (as Prince Andrew did for Prince Charles wedding) and to attend to any articles of clothing that do not pass his judgement. He is not there as Fashion police, but is there to ensure everyone is looking as crisp and clean as possible.
5. Two registers must be signed – the “regular” and the Royal.  The Queen must approve of the marriage, and after a meeting of council, she will sign off.
6. The Today Show reporters had to know information and familiarize themselves with facts that were given to them in a binder.  The binder was 4 inches thick and full of Royal knowledge and a “Who’s who” of British society. 4 inches!

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The Heritage behind the Hunter Boot

photo by Frank Mayne

As I get older, I find that I want to accumulate only things that I love. I enjoy the thrill of finding a good bargain, but have come to realize that it’s only a GREAT bargain if I love the item and would be willing to pay full price for it. Otherwise, even if it’s $5, that is $5 wasted if I’m buying it only for the low price and not for the fact that I will go to any lengths to obtain said item! Which brings me to the Hunter Wellington boots…

While many look at the boot and say “it’s just a rubber rain boot!” I look at them and see more. They are well-made, nostalgic, functional and classic.

The creation of the Wellington boot came before the Hunters, making its appearance in 1817. Men were swapping out their knickers for longer pants, and were in need of shoes that would accommodate the change.   Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington instructed his cobbler to modify the current wares and ta-da, the Wellington boot was born, named aptly after the man who commissioned the creation.

The North British Riding Company, which later became The Hunter Boot, Ltd., began in 1856 and was launched by an American, Henry Lee Norris in Scotland. During World War I, the company was approached and asked to create and produce a boot that would keep the soldiers feet dry while in the flooded trenches.  The once fashionable boot created for the Duke of Wellington was now created purely for function, and carried the soldiers through WWII.

My coveted favorite, and the most popular Welly, is the original Green Hunter, the first orthopedic boot made by the company.  In 1977, after supplying boots to the Royal Family for over 100 years, the company was awarded a Royal Warrant from Her Royal Highness (HRH) the Duke of Edinburgh.  A few years later, in 1986, the company was once again bestowed a great honor, when a Royal Warrant from Her Majesty (HM) The Queen was given.

The heritage and craftsmanship of the company goes back years, but the company continues to create new designs to meet the demands of all ages, demographics and needs.  The Hunter boots comes in different colors, heights and sizes to accommodate workers in the field or city-dwellers on a rainy, wet day. The company has added bags, leather boots and children’s wares to its line over the years.

While some may find the price point high for rubber boots, remember that they are created with the durability to last a lifetime.  And for me, personally, I have enough “stuff”… I want pieces that are classic and sustainable, and ones that I’ll enjoy for years to come… like the Green Hunter Welly!