Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Are Prince William & Kate Middleton doomed?

Today, as I was buying yet another commemorative royal wedding issue, the clerk looked at William and Kate on the cover and asked, "how long do you think they'll last?"

She couldn't have been more than 19 years old. A mere babe when the War of the Wales' was at its height and possibly too young to understand the impact of Diana's death a few years later. But then I realized something. If a Walmart cashier can be so cynical, then what chance does William and Kate's marriage have if we're all timing when it will end?

William and Kate's relationship is no great love story for the ages. There was no public moments of being swept away, no fantasy, no star-crossed longing. Just a compatible couple taking a pragmatic approach towards the future.  This is not the stuff that fairy tales are made of. And no amount of commemorative issues about their 'love story' changes that.

Despite their inherent idealism, happy endings are boring. They elicit envy and jealousy that warrant tearing them apart to see if they're genuine. If it isn't, then so much better. Drama is entertaining when it doesn't belong to us. Would you watch a reality show where everyone got along?

So go ahead, set your timers. My money is on their marriage lasting.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

5 comments:

Hopewell said...

My money is on an iron-clad prenup with life-long confidentiality clause. I think these two are total Sloane Rangers--it's more that "glow" than passion, and their so "right" for each other. William IS dull--he may look like Diana but he's as dull as Daddy though probably a very decent guy. Kate's social-climbing parents have at least taught her to work and to stay together--huge improvement over the Spencers. Kate is too skinny to stay healthy thru more than one or two pregnancies so I hope it goes well fast! Princess Mary of Denmark seems to be the style she's heading for--Royal Yummy Mummy.

http://hopewellmomschoolreborn.blogspot.com/2011/02/very-modern-royal-wedding.html

Marilyn Braun said...

You know, I don't buy the whole fairy tale stuff, however I think that they've been dating long enough to know whether they can make a marriage last. They haven't jumped into this like some Hollywood couples.

They may not be very exciting but Kate does seem to be revitalizing if not the monarchy itself then at least an interest in it.

I don't understand the cynicism about this though. There was such a strong desire for them to get married, people rooting for them to do so.

So now that they are getting married, why is there such negativity about their marriage? Even before it's begun?

Rosso said...

I'm in agreement, I don't think this is some fairytale romance (then again I doubt anyone really experiences one of those!) but I do think that they've spent enough time together & been through enough, prepared & talked about their situation & any future they would have so as to make it work in the long term. I don't think either of them is going into this naive as to what they're doing or what is expected & both ahve had plenty of time to back out fo this relationship if wanted & yet they are now engaged so I think they are far more prepared for marriage than a lot of other people who jump right in after a few months of dating. Also I think a lot is being expected of them in terms of actually making this amrriage work, I think the RF really wants this to work & a lot has changed with regards to how newcomers into the family are treated & I think a lot of lessons learned which will hopefully make it easier on the both of them than perhaps it was for previous couples. Likewise because there may be extra pressure for William to have a marriage that lasts I think he would make sure he knew exactly what he was doing when he got engaged, he wouldn't jump into anything with haste or without really thinking it through & being sure for himself (& obviously he didn't, seeing as he took quite a while to propose!)

They seem quite well matched to me, maybe not the liveliest or most glamourous of people but comfortable with each other & obviously after however many years it's been they must have a fairly solid basis of friendship which I think bodes well for making a marriage last in the long term. Certainly far more chance than William's parents had!

Marilyn Braun said...

Very well said rosso_neri_7!

Yes, I don't think that William and Kate will have jumped into marriage after so many years together without being completely certain that they could make a success of it.

Given the Windsor marital track record there would be pressure on William to make the right decision and to try to make it work. You're right, neither one of them are naive with this.

I think they have a really good chance, even if some Walmart cashiers do not! ;)

Unknown said...

Their marriage will last. I think it's great that their relationship has remained drama free- in the public eye, at least.

Check out my post on Kate Middleton scarf styling!