BethGL

If you want to watch it on tv, it should be on your local spanish tv station beginning anywhere from 2 am (pre-wedding shows) to 4 am (beginning of wedding festivites) EST.

Tere

Living in Portugal, we are going to see it this morning alive. Our tv network has been doing the coverage from Madrid since yesterday. Within 2 hours I have to be ready to watch it relaxed on my couch. That's the advantage of being neighbors

Queenie

Do you see those hats? Simply gorgeous. The fashion contrast between this wedding and the Danish wedding last week is amazing.

So glad its not raining.

Can't wait to see the bride.

Chatters

Queenie--- you spoke to fast!! The moment the bride got into the Rolls Royce on her way to the Cathedral de la Almudena, it poured. Her dress is fabulous. Madrid was espectacular to see, all monuments adorned with lights and color.

Tere

She was lovely, the bride. The dress was fabulous!

ninasdream

I completely missed announcements of this event. I live in a Spanish community and just saw footage on a commercial break from Caliente, a Saturday afternoon dance show. (like a Spanish American Bandstand at the beach) I will have to watch the Spanish news tonight- thanks for the heads up! Didn't the bride look lovely!

ninasdream

I just found the broadcast of the wedding, and I am listening to the service in Spanish right now. It is humid and pouring rain out. Lo Mejor de la Boda Real. Now there is commentary and I cannot follow the service any longer, but everyone looks very serious. The bride turned to the Prince and sought eye contact he turned ad asmiled, but she did not smile. He looks very composed and handsome. Is she happy with this union? Just nervous? I hope I do not offend with this question. Maybe it is a high mass and a bit difficult to be composed through a quite long religious ceremony...

BethGL

Nina-

I am watching the same thing you are watching. I think she looks so serious because she is nervous. I just got married in August and my brothers walked me down the aisle. In my wedding pictures I look petrified and it really looks like my brothers are dragging me down the aisle instead of walking me down the aisle! I can only imagine the extra pressure on Princess Letizia.

The commentators were saying that she had to learn a lot of extra protocol for her new role in life. And what I thought was the most interesting was that the King and Queen originally did not approve of Letizia. Felipe had a couple of serious relationships when he was younger, one with a Norwegian model (can't imagine why they wouldn't approve her as his wife...) and the other was the daughter of Spanish Dukes, Isabel Sartorius. The Queen did not approve of Isabel because her parents were diviced, so Felipe did not marry her.

When the Queen dissapporved of Letizia because her parents were divorced as was Letizia, Felipe told her "well this is it. I am going to marry her. You take it or leave it, or I will leave this alll." They promptly approved.

BethGL

sorry about my typos. diviced = divorced.

BethGL

Oh yeah, and for you fashionistas on the board... they said that Letizia was wearing 5 inch heels because Prince Felipe is so tall - 6'5"

ninasdream

Beth GL - I know it's a shame we don't have an edit function here to clean up our own posts. I meant to say it was pouring rain here where I am, and the broadcast was keeping me company while working on the computer.

Thank you for your explanation. I couldn't catch all the commentary as it was in Spanish and competing with the audio of the actual ceremony. I am pleased to say that shortly after I posted my question, they were asked to join hands, and you saw an affectionate exchange, and later smiles during the vows. It is the first time I have watched a royal wedding.

rex

Why does all the press keep calling this the first royal wedding in Spain since 1906? Didn't Cristina's wedding (in 1997) count?

http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9710/04/spain.royal.wedding

Best wishes,

Rex

BethGL

Hi Rex,

Actually they've been saying its the first Royal Wedding in Madrid since 1906. It also happens to be the first wedding of a Prince of Asturias or King that has taken place in Spain since 1906. King Juan Carlos married Queen Sofia in Athens in 1962.

The Prince of Asturias is traditionally the next in line to the throne, much like the Prince of Wales is the next in line for the throne in England.

Oh, and one more thing, the Infanta Elena got married first in 1995 in Seville, two years before her sister,the Infanta Cristina, married in Barcelona in 1997.