‘Wedding Day’

The date is 29th April 2011. Today an estimated two billion people worldwide will pause to observe the wedding of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine Middleton, soon to be Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge, at Westminster Abbey in London, England.

And whilst the celebrations in Scotland are reportedly muted in comparison to those of England for the royal wedding, I find myself in the midst of an enormous party. In Glasgow.

Planned on Facebook by two students, Kelvingrove Park is suddenly home to thousands of partying young people; neds, students, hipsters, families – the feeling of celebration is omnipresent and the vibe feels intoxicating. A sound system, cries of ‘Here we, here we, here we fucking go’ and bare-chested teenage boys, wrapped in Union Jacks for decoration and for every other connotation bar the right-wing…this is not a political statement, it’s a representation of celebration and the right to have fun and revel. Pure enjoyment on a day when a large proportion of the United Kingdom stands still for the Royal nuptials.  Everywhere around there are girls in tiaras, picnic spreads and countless bottles of Buckfast, cider and energy drinks. These people have clashed together in the most perfect way, and the atmosphere is alive.

This is how young Glasgow celebrates; fearlessly, in totality and with the desire and need to incorporate as many people as they can cram into their heady surrounding environment. Later in the day there are clashes with police as horses and vans are brought to control and put an end to the party. But what is so clear early on in the day is the feeling of jubilation, friendliness and celebration. Some are here to celebrate a day of holiday, some are present in a friendly nod to the royal wedding itself, and others celebrating for celebrating’s sake. A gigantic party. With a gigantic atmosphere.