The day of the Royal Nuptials has arrived and I must admit to being staggered at the claim on the BBC that they expect two billion people to watch it. What’s that, a third of the people on earth? It seems an extraordinary number. Indeed they were describing it as the biggest television event ever.

I’ll be watching, of course. I’ve a professional interest in weddings and it’s important to keep up with what builds expectations around such events. I’ll also be tuning in for cope and gaiter spotting. Could this really be the day for the public restoration of gaiters to the Scottish hierarchy? It seems the best chance for a generation.

But why such extraordinary interest around the world? Is it that we all secretly hope that one day our prince will come?