Fotografo de Bodas, Santiago

June 3, 2011

I can recognize that these are not the most interesting travel photos I’ve ever taken. They’re more snapshots to help us remember our time in London.

So with that out of the way, let’s talk about something pertinent — the Royal Wedding.

It’s still everywhere here — on the street, in a “commemorative” metro card with Kate and Williams’ faces on it, in the newspapers — everywhere.

And I was really interested to see how it was portrayed in the media. Almost every single person I’ve talked to here has said that the Middletons are social climbers, that this wasn’t really a marriage out of love, so much as it was a power play on behalf of Kate, that now her sister Pippa is trying to scale the social ladder and is using Kate’s position to further her own interests, etc.

And in the U.S. people seemed to view the Middletons more as a hardworking family that came from a background of less money and have managed to put the pedal to the medal and make their millions, so good for them! And now their daughter married a prince, so even better for them!

Prior to coming to England, the thought had never even crossed my mind, but now I wonder — would Kate have waited so patiently for William if he weren’t a prince?

Anyway, Kate Middleton’s true feelings are something we’ll never know, so it really doesn’t matter. It’s just interesting to see how two different countries/cultures’ medias portrayed this marriage. Of course there were some stories in the U.S. news about the Middletons rise to fame and there were plenty of stories in England, I’m sure, about Kate and William marrying out of true love. But on a whole, the perspective of the U.S. and England on the Royal Wedding was definitely very different.

Even though the U.S. has more than it’s fair share of inequality, I think the portrayal of the Royal Wedding just goes to show that we still believe (or want to believe) in the American Dream, even in other countries. Whereas in England, if you overstep your class boundaries, watch out, the media may turn on you!

What do you think?

Sooooo. Photo time.

I like taking pictures of vending machines. They always seem so exotic without the typical Snickers and Lays in them.

Don’t worry, we have better graveyard pictures from Scotland coming up!

I like how Seba looks to be having a staring contest with Christian Bale on the red bus.

Look right or you’ll die.

This is the Tower of London. It’s undergoing a ton of construction, a renovation project, I believe, so it wasn’t easy to get good pictures. It was swarming with tourists and we didn’t feel like fighting the crowds (or paying 30 bucks per person) so we didn’t go in. Looked cool from the outside though!

That’s not the London Bridge behind me.

This is the London Bridge. Far less impressive!

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8 Comments

I mean let’s pretend prince William wasn’t a prince- I still think he’s hoooooooot as helllllll so I could see marrying him prince or not. But yes I’m sure Brits are more uptight about class than Americans – or at least we PRETeND we are all for rags to riches (I tend to think its more hoopla than reality, but at least we pretend to want that) How was London compared to NYC or Paris or other big cities you’ve visited? Curious to hear. Also looks like it was cold and gray- seems like a big downside to living there. Have fun and make sure to go to top shop!!! Xo

Comment by KMinNYC — June 3, 2011 @ 7:41 am

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This made me miss London so much! It’s such an awesome city. And will you please bring me one of everything in that vending machine? I think my mouth started watering with that photo.
In general, the British press is ruthless, so I think that plays into the media perception as much as any differences in thinking like classism vs. American Dream.
Oh, and KM, I used to think Wills was gorgeous, but the man has not aged well!

Comment by Emily — June 3, 2011 @ 8:54 am

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Really nice pictures of London. I’ve seen most of europe but London is a place I am still missing and I hope to go there this summer. Thanks for sharing this!

Comment by Sebastian — June 3, 2011 @ 9:15 am

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I loved vending machines in Europe! So interesting and they had kinder cholocates!!! I will send u a pic of one in Venice with condoms! Haha Italians want to be prepared 24/7!???

I also took pics of the look right/left while we were there. I really needed those pavement markings Bc I forgot which was to look. I did go inside the tower of London. I love history and being in the same place where ana Bolena was decapitated was a great feeling. The crown jewels were also here and it was very impressive. There was also an armor museum that was very interesting. They also had guides around to tell you stories of the tower and of London

About the royal wedding… I could care less about them! Didn’t watch the wedding and I think England uses their royalty as celebrities and a way to attract tourist to spend more on souvenirs. If I was English I would b mad to support the royalty and their excessive luxury with my taxes!

Comment by Cata — June 3, 2011 @ 9:27 am

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No, no, no, no, no. Believe me, Kate Middleton was not a poor girl who found her prince. She comes from a private education (one that the majority of the country could only dream of affording) and upper middle class background. The only reason people say she’s not from the same ‘social class’ as William is because the royal family generally tend to marry lords, ladies and other royals. But Kate Middleton is by no means from a different kind of class.

Anyhoooo … moving on from that.

Seriously, Kyle, seeing pictures of you in places I know so well and the fact that you’re here in the UK is so uber exciting!!!

Comment by Ceri — June 3, 2011 @ 2:48 pm

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That is so interesting the different perceptions of both worlds. Thanks for the enlightenment. I would have never known otherwise. I just don’t seem to believe in celebrity love anyway so only time will tell…Lucky you! London is one place I haven’t been that’s on my list.

Comment by Vivian — June 3, 2011 @ 3:07 pm

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I hadn’t heard anyone talk about how the two countries were portraying the wedding so differently (I was only just getting home when it happened so I had other things on my mind!) but I guess it does sound about right. I guess only time will tell — I can’t imagine faking a marriage for my entire life if that was the case but some people can and do!

And what do you mean just snapshots?! Fun and different and well-done. Wouldn’t expect anything less

Comment by Heather — June 3, 2011 @ 5:25 pm

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Oooh I like the William Blake tombstone – we named our Blake William after him in part. I’ll add that on my places to visit list. I hadn’t heard that view on the Middletons – very interesting.

Comment by Lindsey — June 7, 2011 @ 2:54 pm

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