Much of the world's attention will be directed towards an ancient cathedral in London today, where Prince William and Kate Middleton are to be married.
There will be hours of television coverage, the globe's press has descended on Britain's capital, and the moderate monarchists who make up a majority in this country will be following events closely and with some pleasure.
Prince William has excelled as a junior representative of the House of Windsor, seemingly universally admired, and his bride-to-be has similarly appeared not to have put a foot wrong: both appear to be sensible, well-educated young people, very much exemplars of their generation.
As with all marriages, their lives will change after today's events, but the additional burden of being a very public couple, in due course with heavy constitutional responsibilities, is one few young people would - or could - face with equanimity.
It has been somewhat surprising that in all the attention focused on the Royal Family , and particularly on Prince William and his fiancée, one individual in particular has been almost completely overlooked: the Heir to the Throne, Prince Charles.
He is both father of the bridegroom and, should he succeed his mother, the Queen, he will be the next King Charles. It is to his credit he has demonstrated, by his caring actions and by Prince William himself, his dedication to being as good a father to his sons as has been possible, given his public duties, following the death of their mother and his first wife, Princess Diana.
He has given Prince William the love and support so conspicuously lacking in his own upbringing, and of which he has sometimes spoken with horror.
In Britain today support for the monarchy has increased markedly, accordingly to opinion polls, after the various personal crises in the aftermath of Princess Diana's death. There is no mood for republicanism, it appears, and a large majority considers the monarchy still relevant to contemporary life: it exists and will continue to exist through democratic consent.
The general mood towards the Royal Family, however, has changed, as it has in this country. Whereas at the time of Princess Diana's wedding there was almost a sense of hysteria, today there is much more scepticism - but a tolerant skepticism underlying a greater degree of respect and appreciation.
Prince Charles, especially, has earned a level of consideration for his position and his environmental views unheard of even a decade ago. If anything, support for the Crown in Britain, as it is here, is stable and may be even growing. Across the Tasman, where the republican movement has greater strength, it is still very much a minority opinion.
Republicans tend to think the monarchy reinforces the class system, but that is an outmoded belief today. Commoners, as the British call them, have become a part of the Royal Family and Miss Middleton, as even her surname suggests, is decidedly middle class.
She faces a daunting prospect few surely would envy: inevitably she will be the focus of much media and public attention for the rest of her life; the precedential marital history of several of her Royal peers is a matter of record; and one day she will be Queen - a distant prospect, no doubt, but one that must sometimes haunt her thoughts.
Possibly the most important personal factor in the couple's relationship is that it is already of relative long-standing. It is obvious Miss Middleton and her family, and Prince William, have been provided with excellent professional advice, and that support will continue. The monarchy needs constantly to be modernised if it is to survive with continued public support and funds.
Weddings should be cheerful occasions and the world can certainly do with some happiness at the present time. There will be much to entertain enthusiasts for the monarchy, from the bride's dress to the design of all the new hats, to what Sir Elton will be wearing. Close attention will be paid to the vows - will they contain anything other than the usual prescription?
Alas (in the minds of some) the cameras will not be permitted at the after-match function, so there will be no public broadcast of the speeches, let alone the jokes, at the reception. But as with all weddings, every participant, including all the millions without an invitation, will wish the happy couple every possible blessing for their union.
