Church of England issues prayer for William and Kate
The Church of England has published a prayer for Prince William and his bride-to-be Kate Middleton to be read out during Anglican services between now and their April 29 wedding.
The prayer asks God to look on favourably on the couple's marriage, deepen their love and strengthen their wills to keep their promises to continue in lifelong faithfulness.
The British tabloids have noted the use of the word faithfulness. Three out of four of the Queen's children are divorced and both of William's parents admitted there were others in their marriages.
Another interesting religious development is that the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has issued a prayer bestowing a blessing as the couple prepare for the wedding.
As Catholics are not allowed to become Queen or King, the Catholic Church is being seen as being very generous wishing the couple well.
In other royal wedding news, Middleton will not have to declare she is a virgin.
A generation ago, Princess Diana's uncle made a public statement before her 1981 wedding to Prince Charles to clear up the matter : Yes, she was a virgin.
However, today, few people seem concerned that Prince William and his fiancée have been living together off and on since their university days.
Some historians say it's about time the royals shed the prudishness they exhibited at the time of Diana's marriage, which came years after the pill and the Summer of Love made casual sex more socially acceptable even in traditionally uptight Britain.
The modern-day tolerance of William and Middleton's living arrangements, many say, just brings the House of Windsor in line with the times. Part of the change may have to do with the very public infidelities that played out in the disastrous marriage of Charles and Diana, which rocked the royal family to its core.
Meanwhile, Prince Charles and Camilla celebrated their sixth wedding anniversary Friday.
As a fellow commoner who has had to learn to negotiate the often complicated world of royal protocols, Middleton regards Camilla as a bit of a role model. The two have been spotted together having lunch and Middleton has chosen Camilla's granddaughter to be one of her flower girls.
