Royal Service

I watched parts of the royal wedding yesterday, mostly recapped through news features. While people focused on the bride's dress, how beautiful the wedding was, the many different parts of it, the important people that attended, I was focused on the groom's attire. I thought he looked a bit ridiculous but then a news feature talked about how he was wearing his armed services uniform and he will actually continue to work in the force for the first two years of their newlywed life together. Now, here is the prince of Wales, 3rd in line to the throne, proudly serving his country for just 40,000 pounds ($65,000) a year. Prince Harry, a partyer, is also in the armed services and he actually served in Afghanistan until the tabloids found out and made it unsafe for him to serve.

Why is it different in the U.S., where it seems like anyone of any importance to the media does all they can to avoid serving? Celebrities, congressmen and their families, sports figures -- few serve. It is the poor and the "ordinary" people in middle America who often serve. In New York City, it seems to me that the recruiting centers are often in impoverished neighborhoods and people have to be "bribed" with a free education to get people to serve. Is it because the "royalty" in the U.S. -- the Hollywood celebrities -- are all imported from Canada?

Speaking of our "royalty", and red carpet events, the UK just outdoes us completely. Talk about class and elegance. Hollywood celebrities and their celebrations just do not compare.