2 billion viewers. Sensational reviews. In a room containing Muhammad Ali, Barack Obama, Elizabeth, Qaddafi, Lady Gaga, and the Pope......the handsome new couple would upstage the lot! :(

If you include the economic cost of making yesterday a national holiday it was around $7 billion pounds.Mark.

Whilst that costing is true, and trust me I'm something of a republican personally, even I would have to admit that when you add up all the benefits of the event and its legacy, i.e. the trade it drums up, in both business and tourism, the effect on the UK's image, that fly by (which was nailed on perfect in timing and arrow straight down the Mall), the fashions and such, and the fact that such an event went off without a hitch, it all demonstrates that the UK is professional and politically stable enough to have that kind of thing happen in its capital city. So it is probably a pretty cost effective marketing exercise for the UK. Having a glamourous young couple in the Royal Family won't hurt either, because it will mean they continue to be valuable ambassadors for the UK for quite a long time. After all, I don't think anyone would deny that Kate Middleton is a bit of a looker, and William is a pleasant young chap who does fly a rescue helicopter, which is a fairly noble enterprise, so they are certainly a couple that foreign governments will welcome on trade missions etc. You only have to have a wander around London to see how much trade even the long-dead Princess Diana still drums up in souvenir shops, which is just a small indication of what the Royals mean for UK businesses. It is difficult to put a price on how much all that kind of stuff brings in terms of benefits, but I'm betting it'll be a lot more than 7 billion in the long run. That's how you have to view the Royal Family to understand what they are really about; they are a marketing tool.Personally I couldn't give a toss about the Royals comings and goings, but there can be no denying they're pretty good for the UK in terms of the world stage, and if them getting hitched means I get to see the BoB Memorial flight on another outing, then even a republican like me has gained something from it LOLThere were over 5,000 street parties in the UK yesterday, including a very noisy one just near me, plus numerous other large events. Can you imagine how much that made in sales of booze and such? And that's just one small aspect of the thing. We may have lost a day's work, but I think we'll gain in the long run.So again, good luck to them.Al

You are spot on, Al. Don't you think every state in the US would love to have just one event like that a year? Of course we do have Mardi Gras in New Orleans, New Years Eve in NY, the Super Bowl, etc., but only you Brits can pull off something as elaborate as yesterday and still keep it dignified. And I got to see and hear those great planes on TV. Great show.Howard

Guys, we all have views and opinions but it is wrong to change the O.P's thread into a political greivance, so please don't pursue it any further otherwise it will be locked or deleted. We must restrict it to the 'Fly Past'.I have to admit that she is the most stunning looker ever to be admitted into the royal family.

First your asking people to not talk about what is the biggest news story of the decade....then you follow up with a comment that is completely not related to the "fly past' and related to the wedding...I'm just saying

When I think the budget of this wedding could give food to half Somalian for at least 6 month, it make me sick <_<Ben

I assume that when your family has cause to celebrate it doesn't but sends all the money it would have spent to feed somalians?

I assume that when your family has cause to celebrate it doesn't but sends all the money it would have spent to feed somalians?

No, of course notBut the budget was, far, very far from 60M $

I've have always had this view....If you win a lottery, you could give a million dollars to charity OR you could invest your lottery money into a company that earns 10 million dollars a year and give 1 million of those dollars to a charity every year. Which is better. A million dollars to charity or a million dollars a year, every year to charity.Truth is this wedding gave such an enourmous boast to London, England and they have had a few bad years. This was the sort of thing they could use (as well as the upcoming Olympics) to give them the sort of boost they need to turn around their economy around.2 Billion viewers watched London streets and architecture and you can bet a percentage of that is thinking travel plans in the coming years. 10 years from now the costs will be pailed by the tourism and merchandising dollars that has created a new industry worth billions.How many people on here can get married and can earn billions in merchandising from your wedding day??????? answer: NO ONEYou can bet that these two will be donating a percentage of those merchandising dollars from their wedding to Somalia or whatever other cause they see fit every year for the rest of their lives.

I've have always had this view....If you win a lottery, you could give a million dollars to charity OR you could invest your lottery money into a company that earns 10 million dollars a year and give 1 million of those dollars to a charity every year. Which is better. A million dollars to charity or a million dollars a year, every year to charity.

Off subject onThis is a big debate on philanthropy. For exemple the Bill en Miranda Gates foundation have stocks in the China Petroleum "which supplied weapons, used against the Darfour refugies".Off subject off

You can bet that these two will be donating a percentage of those merchandising dollars from their wedding to Somalia or whatever other cause they see fit every year for the rest of their lives.

Truly hope so

No, of course not

Then why presume to suggest that other people should do do what you're not prepared to do yourself?

Then why presume to suggest that other people should do do what you're not prepared to do yourself?

Don't you think 60M $ is a bit conspicuous

Don't you think 60M $ is a bit conspicuous

Why don't you answer my question? In answer to yours, no I don't - the Royal family is conspicuous. In the UK alone, they were 5000 street-parties, a miilion people turned out to watch it on the streets of London, 24 million watched it on tv (possibly a billion worldwide), and we got a day's holiday."A cynic knows the price of everything and the value of nothing" Oscar Wilde

As a unashamed Royalist it's interesting to note the comments about the estimated £20M cost of the wedding but none regarding our annual membership of the European Union which is currently circa £10Bn. :angry:That's enough to pay for 500 Royal weddings PER ANNUM and the last time I checked the Royal Family weren't telling the British Government how to run the country under pain of huge fines if we don't do as we're told.Rant over. I've probably broken the adminstrator's guidance so I won't be responding to any comments posted. :(

There were over 5,000 street parties in the UK yesterday, including a very noisy one just near me, plus numerous other large events. Can you imagine how much that made in sales of booze and such? And that's just one small aspect of the thing. We may have lost a day's work, but I think we'll gain in the long run.Al

I gained alright. I was on medic duty and got covered in vomit... :( :( Personally, I think he should have been allowed to wear his RAF blues - which he's really earned - instead of that ridiculous chocolate soldier outfit.. :( And she is an absolute doll, of course. B) God bless you ma'am etc. Ian