TOUCHDOWN: WILLIAM AND KATE PLUS TWO BILLION

This week's perspective from Joe Chidley: Killjoys that they are, Republican protesters at the Wedding of the Century called it a “PR stunt” for the monarchy. Now, we don’t necessarily think that’s an insult – as long as the PR is done well. And in the case of the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, it most assuredly was. We were particularly impressed with William’s performance. From shaking hands with well-wishers the night before the ceremony to driving away in an Aston Martin with his new wife – and the nice common-man touch of the vanity plate that read “JUSTWED” – William struck just the right balance between royal tradition and breaks from that tradition. (For instance, he had a best man, his brother Prince Harry. ) After all, he’s not just Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn, Baron Carrickfergus. He’s also the leader-to-be and visible face of a global brand and a major financial, political and cultural organization – the British monarchy. Under the intense scrutiny of an estimated two billion TV viewers, he pulled off his first major appearance as a future king with aplomb - a prince and a husband for modern times. That’s a PR stunt we have to admire.