And just as with the World Cup Final, both channels put their own commentators and summarisers in place. Unfortunately no Clive Tyldesley however. Huw Edwards (BBC) and Phillip Schofield (ITV) were our anchors.
Considering the shared pictures - the comparison of the two styles was intriguing.
The BBC went with a formal approach of the historical importance and an narrative arc of humble, could be any one of us, commoner Kate pupae transforming into the beautiful regal Princess Catherine before our gawping, tear dripping faces. Of course, aside from the semantics of the term "Commoner", this was massively contrived.
From just the humble background of a family worth an estimated £30 million, Kate's life was just like yours and the BBC was at pains to underline it. Dr. Schama sat in the studio to talk about how William, in marrying Kate, was looking to unify the country: Commoner hand in hand with Royalty. Huw Edwards was soon referring to Kate's Father as: "A humble son of an airline pilot" which was stretching the point just a little. Hardly a miner's son.
This was eerily reminiscent of a comment piece by Stewart Lee who, in turn, I will spookily paraphrase when I say that Kate was being made out to be the Susan Boyle of Social Class Movement.
Kate - naturally - is not common. Actual common people don't look that good. Cheryl Cole is the exception that proves the rule. Actual common brides don't have sisters who arguably look hotter as their Maid of Honour. Research the quickly emerging Facebook groups about Pippa if you don't beleive me. Actual common girls don't marry the most eligible member of Royalty in the world. Ask the numerous students at St. Andrews who tried to catch the eye.
When Huw Edwards told us that Commoner Kate asked for Paul Mealor's Ubi Caritas et Amor as it was "a favourite of hers" surely he even new the jig was up. A true commoner would have had chosen Enya's Orinoco Flow.
Throughout the day the BBC sent forth presenters and Radio 1 DJs into the crowds to ask them how they were enjoying the day. Here too, the idea that Kate was one of them and could be emulated was pervasive. BBC journalists described how they were getting "tingles" seeing Kate becoming every girls' dream: becoming part of a Royal family from nothing. The lady presenter from the ONE show asked a bride-to-be: "Have you picked up any tips from Kate for your wedding day?"
Really - what sort of question is that? Why, yes. I have decided I will wear the Queen's tiara as my somethings borrowed too.
In the end the poor girl cheerily went with: "I will do my own make-up, just like Kate did."
No such false hope springing on ITV. I changed to its coverage just as Phillip Schofield spoke over a scene of lavish grandeur: "There will be many weddings taking place this weekend. None of them will be anywhere near as good as this."
Jeezus, Phil - break it gently why don't you? There is a woman on BBC right now thinking doing her own make-up will at least bring hers up on par.
So ITV decided to go with the bitter coverage of an evening guest's plus one, then. This was most apparent when they cut to their outside correspondent for the day, Mark Austin.
Mark looked bedraggled when I first saw him. Jacketless, tie askew and hair ruffled he blustered: "I have just been unceremoniously kicked off the Mall. We had a great vantage point - but what can you do? I must admit I thought there would be more people here. It's quite disappointing."
Later Mark could be seen talking to the folk in the crowds. Not that he particularly wanted to: "I have been... caught... in the crowds... I can't... seem to get out... there is no... way... There are scouts all around me!" He pleaded as if on a hostage tape posted to Phil. It was true. A scout group, sensing fear, had surrounded him and was trying to put a neckerchief and woggle on him: "I don't... I can't put this on! Alright, if I put the woggle on, then will you let me go?"
Phillip linked to Mark - Our eyes on the ground - Austin 20 minutes later: "I still can't get out the crowd. There are people trying to climb barriers to jump the queue. The police should... just over there! Good, the police are moving in. Forcing them back..." Good work, Mark.
For someone disappointed in the size of crowd - he seemed fairly perturbed by it.
He was last seen shouting at 2 elderly women to: "face the camera, not me!"
Thing was, I kind of empathised as he stood with crazy eyes screaming directorial instructions and flailing his arms at those two old ladies. The wedding, for what it was, was fine. It was very colourful to watch. Nothing went wrong. But it was the public that spoiled it.
We were introduced to various banner weilding oddballs and flag waving fantasists by the single virtue that they had stayed up for 8 days to get to the front of the barriers. We heard what they thought of the day. Invariably that Kate was "stunning" and a "Princess for the people" and "It was the best day ever" and from one couple who had been married on the same day last year: "When we heard the date, we knew we just had to be here. We won't ever forget our wedding anniversary now!"
This is something both BBC and ITV shared more than any camera angle - a belief that the viewer wanted to see other people who could have been viewers too if only for a slight difference in motivation. Not only see them, but listen to their prosaic opinions. I don't need to have the quasi-experience of standing next to these nutters. I don't need to be told that I am basically marrying Wills through Kate to engage with the event.
Tuning into a Royal Wedding I kind of want to see right posh folk and the Royal Family more and Commoners less. I can see commoners out my window any day of the week. Actually - I better go check to see if commoner Pippa Middleton is standing at the bus stop waiting for a bus to ASDA, you never know.
[Channel 5 went with a themed Wright Stuff and a film called William and Kate: the Movie - which was hideous and featured Arizona as St. Andrews - in case anyone cares]
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