It sounds a little pretentious, but stay with me: I once ran into Prince William and Kate Middleton on a beach in Mustique that had just been named among the most beautiful in the world. I was leaving, and they and a group of impossibly good looking friends were arriving. I’ve always had the impression that someone was watching that beach – waiting for our departure so a signal could go out for a royal arrival. It was just a day or two after paparazzi had spoiled Will and Kate’s idyllic getaway; taking long lens photos and splashing them across the pages of British tabloids. The Prince and I exchanged stunned hellos – I don’t think he was expecting to see ANYONE and I certainly was not expecting HIM. I remember thinking that for all the benefits of being in such an elevated position (taking a vacation on an island where granny’s picture is on the currency, say) there was an equally high price to pay. I wondered if their relationship could survive the scrutiny and intrusions – the constant knowledge that around every corner, even a beautiful one like this – a stranger with a camera could be lurking.
I saw that same happy couple – a few years and a breakup and make up later – at the Royal Wedding. Their joyful union with all the pomp and ceremony that the Brits do so very, very well turned out to be not so much about those traditions or the beautiful weather or the huge crowds, as much as about the simplicity of an internationally shared joy that this young couple had found true love. It must be a lot of pressure to deliver a happy ending to millions, even billions of people who see your life as a fairy tale. But we were rooting for them. And on that day as now, watching the pregnant Kate, it seems they wear the weight of the hopeful world well.
“Flashback Friday” is a meander down memory lane of stories I’ve covered over the years that may just spark some memories of your own. My team has worked hard scouring our archives and we hope you like them. Tweet me at @jansingco and let us know what you think!
Chris Jansing