The course of true love never did run smooth

The title was a line from "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" by William Shakespeare. And it's how the newscaster on TV introduced the piece.

After 30 years, he finally wed his true love. They were in love but he sailed off with the Royal Navy. In his absence, she married another. In 1981, he married Lady Di. But years later, Diana announced, “There were three of us in this marriage. It’s a bit crowded.”

Mama and I were discussing the wedding.

Mama: Why did he marry Diana then?
Me: Because according to Royal tradition, he could only marry a virgin. She wasn’t able to wait and married another.

So, did he really love Diana or did he just use her so that she could give him a handsome heir and a spare? But if he did not marry Diana, then we wouldn’t have a Prince William and a Prince Harry. We wouldn’t have known Diana and she probably wouldn’t be able to do her charities, would she?

When reports came that the Queen wasn’t attending her son’s wedding, (according to her, to honour her son’s wishes to keep it low-key; according to the tabloids, she wasn’t in favour of the bride) I was brought back to my own wedding in 1991.

While we were planning for my wedding, my mother-in-law announced that she wouldn’t come because she would be the one babysitting my then 16-month old son. Before I could say that I wanted my son to be present at the wedding, my then 10-year old sister-in-law blurted out, “Nanay, kapag ako ang ikinasal, hindi ako papayag na wala kayo duon.” (Mother, when I get married, you HAVE TO BE there.)

Yes, she did change her mind. She was at my wedding.

And so was the Queen at her son's wedding.