As another young Royal marries – Zara Phillips – BBC ALBA broadcasts in a week’s time, Monday 8th August 2011, a programe checking out the influence of and attitudes to ‘the Royal wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton.
Trusadh – The Big Day (Trusadh La Mor Na Bainnse), airs tonight at 9.00pm.
Taking its usual and refreshing left field angle, BBC ALBA focuses not on what we all know was takign place at Westminster Abbey on 29th April this year, but what everyone else in the country was up to on that day – althoug they do focus on folk either immersing themselves in or consciously rejecting the event.
It would ave been interesting to check out those working on the day in jobs far removed from the great spectacle of London en fete, from the complex emotions of watching the son of a young woman who had been sacrificed to archaism and, in her own way triumphed over it, take what is clearly his own way to a life that has learned positively from hers.
Billed as an insightful and touching documentary, this finds out what a very diverse groups of people across the country were doing on the royal wedding day – and, in doing so, gives a snapshot of modern attitudes towards the royals.
After several months of media frenzy, the big day arrived and Prince William married his university sweetheart Kate Middleton. However, a number of others had also marked the 29th April to be their special day and after months, and in some cases, years of planning, found themselves sharing their wedding day in a way they could never have imagined.
One such couple were Finlay MacDermid from Scalpay and Anisha McNicol from Inverness.
During the run up to their big day in Inverness, as wedding fever gripped the nation, the documentary follows their journey from the dress and kilt fittings, to the nerves and excitement of the big day itself.
Anisha wasn’t at all bothered about sharing her big day with William and Kate. – and her mother had a canny Scots take on the coincidence. ‘I think it’s quite a nice thing, and Mum said that maybe in 50 years time when they’ve got their 50th wedding anniversary we might be invited to Buckingham Palace. So that might not be a bad thing’.
Margaret MacMillan from Lewis has been an avid collector of royal memorabilia for many years, and feels that the Royal wedding is all about family. ‘It draws people together into family units, and makes them feel family orientated – and that’s the good thing about it at this downturn time. It gives people a boost and will give the economy a boost.’
Others though don’t agree. Amongst them, media commentator, Iain MacIver said: ‘There are huge costs involved – not just for the wedding,which they say will cost £50 million, but it will cost the economy £5 billion. Whereas at the same time there are public service cuts including home care services. It makes no sense.’
While there were street parties happening across the length and breadth of the country to celebrate the big day, there were few happening in Scotland.
The anti-monarchy group, Republic, also held their own ‘not the royal wedding’ alternative street party in London. Marjory Smith and Maureen Wallace travelled from Nairn to make their feelings know. ‘Republic decided they didn’t want to give ground to the monarchists and said this is our country as well’, explained Marjory. ‘And we’re not going to let you take the place over and say Britain loves the monarchy because Britain doesn’t’,Maureen added: ‘For a lot of people it’s just another celebrity wedding.’
However, as the events of the day unfolded, many took the opportunity to celebrate in their own way at home in front of the television.
Amongst them were mother and daughter, Anna MacLeod and Maryann MacIver in Lewis, who got dressed up especially for the occasion. Maryann explained that her mother had always been fond of the royal family and that has influenced her too. She also feels the lack of street parties in Scotland wasn’t indicative of the true feelings in the country and that there were lots of small events like theirs happening in people’s homes. ‘I think that in our hearts, especially the younger generation, that they like this a lot. But they don’t want others to know how much they like this family. We’re like that as Scots too.’
Scotland also did the ‘alternative’ approach with more eclat than most.
A community group in Harris in Leac a’ Lì took the opportunity to have their own colourful, alternative mock wedding and party with over 100 attending and raising funds for their local hall. Local character, Archie Gillies, who had the rather unusual role of bridesmaid to play, said ‘We had a great day! It was just as good as theirs, and our soup was better than they had in Buckingham Palace’.
NOTE: BBC ALBA is available on the following platforms:
- Freeview channel 8 (from 8th June 2011)
- Virgin Media channel 188
- Sky channel 168
- Freesat channel 110
- Live on BBC iPlayer
- 10 hours of content per week is also available to view on demand via the BBC PC iPlayer and the BBC iPlayer on Virgin Media
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