On the eve of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s 10th wedding anniversary, I would like to share my memories of the day. I’m no one special, just an ordinary Londoner, but that day was special for me for many reasons.

Thread (1)

#10YearsofWillandKate

2 months before the wedding, I’d split up with the guy who I thought was the love of my life. I was heartbroken. I was happy for William and Catherine, but it hurt so much to see all this talk of weddings and true love when I felt like I’d never be happy again. (2)

I thought I was getting over it, but the night before the wedding I ended up phoning the Samaritans because I couldn’t stop crying and everything felt hopeless. They helped me through a tough night, and I promised myself that I would enjoy the day itself no matter what. (3)

On the morning of the wedding, I briefly thought about going into town to try and get a glimpse of the royal couple. Then I remembered the pictures I’d seen the day before of people who were literally camping overnight to get their spot… there was no point. (4)

So, I got myself ready and put the TV on. It was just me and one of my housemates, who kept telling me how little he cared and what a waste of money it all was, blah blah. Still, he “had nothing better to do” & decided to watch ALL the coverage with me right from the start (5)

We set up our little breakfast picnic in the living room and watched every detail of the coverage with interest. Then, at the very point the bride was due to leave the hotel, we realised WE HAD RUN OUT OF TEA and being British this was quite the dilemma. (6)

I made the decision to run to the kitchen, make another pot & hope I didn’t miss anything. At that moment, Kate decided to make her appearance, as alerted to me by the Housemate Who Didn’t Care with SCREAMS of “OMG it’s her! She’s here! You can see her dress! HURRY UP!” (7)

When Catherine arrived at Westminster Abbey and I saw her dress for the first time, and how calm and beautiful she looked, it took my breath away. I felt a bit emotional, but all of the sadness of the night before had gone. (8)

The sheer joy that was in the air that day, with the whole of London seeming to come together to celebrate the happiness of these two lovely people, Made everything seem ok. I was going to be ok. (9)

The Housemate Who Didn’t Care proclaimed Catherine the most beautiful bride he’d ever seen, and (he was a real music lover) he got particularly invested during her procession up the aisle. He had been a choirboy when he was younger & happened to love the hymn “I Was Glad”… (10)

…so he decided to *sing along* in places

“I WAS GLAAAAADD… Yeah, good choice. they obviously have good taste. I’m really impressed. This is a banger” (11)

It made me laugh so much, but I was also swelling with emotion at the beauty of the music and the sight of Michael Middleton walking his daughter up the aisle to meet her prince. That music is still my favourite piece on the royal wedding album. (12)

I had a message during the service from a friend who was alone & wanted to do something to mark the day. So I arranged to meet her at 1.20 (just before the bride and groom were due to appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace) in Spitalfields Market… (13)

…where a screen had been put up so the public could gather and watch the wedding together. Time wise, this was going to be a squeeze. I wanted to watch the whole of the service, and see the newlyweds leave the Abbey and begin their procession back to the palace… (14)

…but I only had about 45 minutes to make the journey, from the other side of London, and when I tell you there were a lot of people out and about that day I mean there were A LOT (15)

I left the flat and went as fast as I could, passing tipsy strangers with glasses of champagne shouting “HAPPY ROYAL WEDDING DAY!” at me from their balconies with such joyful abandon as I made my way to the tube station. (16)

The streets were rammed. The tube was rammed. People were waving flags and covered in bunting and singing. It was happy, happy chaos. I remember smiling to myself as I hurried through the crowds, because there had been a real media push from certain publications…(17)

…who were trying to convince everyone that the royals were irrelevant and outdated, that nobody cared about them anymore, that it was a waste of money, etc. etc. Sure, I thought. Whatever you say (18)

Finally I made it to Spitalfields, & found my friend just in time to watch W&C appear on the balcony and kiss - twice! Watching that & the RAF flypast on the big screen with hundreds of people around me cheering is something I’ll never forget in my life. They are so loved. (19)

(These were taken in Covent Garden a couple of days before, but there were similar decorations up in Spitalfields & all over London - in all of the places where screens were to be put up for street parties etc. EVERYONE wanted to be able to celebrate this amazing day!) (20)

When it was all over, my friend and I got fish & chips and went to sit in a park just off Brick Lane. We sat in the sunshine and talked about what a wonderful day it was, how happy we were for them both, and how happy Diana would be to know her son married for love (21)

Then, something unexpected happened. I got a text from a guy who I hadn’t seen in a couple of years. We’d worked together as teenagers and had been great friends but had grown apart. I should also disclose that he remains the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen in real life… (22)

…and I’d previously had an enormous crush on him, which I tried desperately to conceal because I didn’t want to ruin our friendship. Did I want to hang out that evening? Yes. Yes I did. (23)

When I said goodbye to my friend in the park, I headed to his neck of the woods and we went for a drink. Then we had another drink. Then he took me to a burger joint. We got a little drunk and laughed so much I actually got the hiccups (24)

To say my mind had been well and truly taken off my ex was an understatement - it was like God had taken me by the hand and said “He was not for you, but look! There is so much happiness out there. You will be ok” (25)

At the end of the night, he walked me to the train station. The barriers were open, so he offered to come onto the platform and sit with me while I waited for my train. After a few minutes, the train pulled up. “Well, I guess that’s me”, I said, and stood up. (26)

He took me by the hand and gently sat me back down on the bench. “Get the next one”, he said. And then he kissed me. And I swear every sad feeling melted away and all was happiness. I don’t remember the journey home. I was walking on air. (27)

I cried my last tears for my ex the night before. Felt the immense joy of the people of London as together we celebrated the love of these two wonderful people; a true love we all knew would stand the test of time. Seen the effect it had had on someone who “didn’t care”. (28)

I’d spent time with my friend, laughed till it hurt, and been kissed by someone wonderful who I never thought would look at me that way. It was the start of a whole new chapter of my life, and a reminder of all the good in the world, the happiness, the love, and the hope. (29)

It is a day I will never forget, and for all those reasons I continue to celebrate the couple who, for me, symbolise all of that. So here’s to you, William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Wishing you all the joy in the world. Happy Anniversary (30)