VIC:Royal wedding fever hits Melbourne

AAP General News (Australia)
04-29-2011
VIC:Royal wedding fever hits Melbourne

By Mariza O'keefe And Belinda Merhab

MELBOURNE, April 29 AAP - Hundreds have cheered and applauded in Melbourne's Federation
Square as they watched Prince William and Catherine Middleton become husband and wife.

Men and women, young and old, crowded around the Square's open-air television screen
to watch as the young couple exchange vows.

Some came prepared, wearing paper crowns and sparkling tiaras, while others brought
the essentials, like blankets and chairs.

The crowd erupted with cheers, whistles and applause at the first glimpse of Catherine
stepping out of the limousine in her highly anticipated gown.

One spectator, Cheryl Templeton, 49, said the ceremony was beautiful.

She said she still remembered how she felt watching the wedding of Prince Charles and
Lady Diana 30 years ago.

"I remember being a kid and watching Diana get married thinking: `Oh wow, this is brilliant',"

she said.

She gave the Duchess of Cambridge, and her dress, the tick of approval.

"I love the dress. I think she's lovely and I reckon they will last," she said.

The nuptials were also broadcast at the Windsor Hotel, where a life-size cut-out of
Will and Kate in the foyer may have been the most photographed attraction in Melbourne
this week.

Windsor Hotel CEO David Perry estimates that 5,000 people had had their photo taken
with the cardboard pair since they arrived a month ago.

"It just brings a smile to everyone's face," Mr Perry said.

Its appeal could be a metaphor for the wedding fever that has hit Melbourne - and the world.

"I think the world is so thankful after such natural disasters and terrible things
going on in the world this year that there's a good news story," he said.

A lovely end to the fairytale for the Windsor Hotel - given its name after a visit
by the Prince of Wales in 1921 - would have to be a honeymoon visit by the royal couple.

"I can't confirm if we're holding any reservations for any Windsors in the next month,
but there are bets about Australia being the preferred destination for their honeymoon,"

Mr Perry said.

Hotel visitors appeared unable to walk past the `royal couple' without pulling out
their cameras and taking a picture.

One, Dot Begley, said the royal romance seemed like the real thing.

"I think it's a true love story. They're well-suited," she said.

"You can tell by the way he looks at her and how she at him."

Her friend, Jane Orford, said a lot had changed since Princess Diana's time.

"She's been well-initiated into the royal family and more aware of what she's in for
than Diana was at 19," she said.

AAP mok/pmu/bm/cdh

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