Canucks flock to catch glimpse of newlyweds

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Canucks flock to catch glimpse of newlyweds

A young Royal Wedding fan has a yawn during a wedding party at Hyde Park in London, England, Friday April 29, 2011. (ANDRE FORGET/QMI AGENCY)

LONDON -- Next to the Union Jack, the Canadian flag seemed to be the standard of this regal wedding.

Loyal royal Canucks dotted the procession line to and from Westminster Abbey during the Friday service, and filled in any gaps among an estimated crowd of one million people who celebrated in London.

Made up largely of middle-aged royalists, they represented most corners of our country, and had no problem seeing themselves connected to the romance or another nation in celebration.

"Because he's our future King too, we tend to forget it," said Gus Panageopoulos from Bath, Ont., when asked why he made the trip. Carmel Kerr, from Toronto, figured: "This is a once in a life time opportunity, we are not gonna see the likes of this again.

"We are recording the whole thing and will watch it later with champagne."

They had earlier gone to the Goring Hotel -- where Kate Middleton slept the night before her wedding.

They drank tea, and pretended to be the now duchess.

For Wendy and Ken Matthews from St. John's, N.L., there was a natural connection to the global event.

"We are celebrating 16 years of marriage today -- we feel a bit overshadowed by the couple though," said Wendy.

"It's a lucky day -- it did us good," Ken added.

Carrie and Mark Mullins -- sporting Canadian flags hats -- travelled from Dundas, Ont., especially for the event and camped out the night before.

They were on the streets of London 30 years ago for Princess Diana and Prince Charles' wedding.

For Rosemary and Chris Brancaccio from Calgary, coming here was also symbolic, as they were married the same year Prince William's parents were wed.

Amy Beckham, from Niagara Falls, Ont., saw a more universal reason to be in London for this wedding.

"There is so much hate in the world, this is a happy day to celebrate," she said.

And standing next to two fellow Ontario residents, Geraldine Prouse summed up what most Canadians kept telling the world: "She's our Queen, too."

While her friend Joy Dagenais, of Toronto, chimed in, at least when it comes to the bride, she predicted: "She will be."

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