Marriage and Monarchy Project

Looking both modern and traditional, Middleton recalled another commoner who became royalty, actress Grace Kelly, who married Rainier III, the Prince of Monaco, and became The Princess of Monaco.

But in the months leading up to the wedding, the expenses involved were being relentlessly researched and the royal family was under pressure to put forth a sophisticated but relatively modest wedding. Those who believe the existence o

As for the wedding venue, the use of Westminster Abbey was free of charge

This economic cost naturally begs the question of whether a state-funded monarchy, the recipient of approximately $60 million per year from taxpayers, should still exist and continue to be funded. With 3 billion viewers worldwide, the wedding certainly indicated a degree of both domestic and international interest in the royal family

The cost of providing security alone for the nuptials is expected to run into millions of pounds at a time when police budgets are extremely stretched.

It is not for the taxpayer to pay for any part of this event - the Windsors must cough up.

If people are being told to tighten their belts,

The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton may have captivated television viewers across the globe, but it wasn't a ratings blockbuster in the U.S. An average of 22.8 million total U.S. viewers tuned in to watch the royal wedding live from 6 a.m. to 7:15 a.m. Eastern time Friday, according to Nielsen Co. That's about as many people who watch a top-rated prime-time show, such as a typical episode of "American Idol," and a fifth of the people who tuned in to this year's Super Bowl. The viewership appeared low, considering estimates in April that about two billion ...

Newser) – Good news for the British: They'll be getting an extra day off to celebrate the royal wedding next year. The bad news: That extra day off will cost the country $7.9 billion, according to calculations by the Telegraph. Business groups expect the day off to result in $9.48 billion in lost productivity, which will be offset by some $1.6 billion in extra spending by tourists and in sales of memorabilia.

The Queen and the UK

be seen as having two roles: Head of State, and 'Head of the Na

The British Sovereign c

BRITISH royalty reigns but does not govern.

Elizabeth's actual rights as a Queen are only three: the right to be consulted by the Prime Minister, to encourage certain courses of action, and to warn against others.

What She Must Do. Personifying the authority she cannot wield, the Queen has duties that far exceed her powers, and must sign thousands of papers. She enacts laws by and with parliamentary assent, appoints judges and magistrates who act in her