# British Weddings **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 2, 2005, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-weddings/287972 "2005-02-02T13:10:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2005, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-weddings/287972/161 "2005-02-10T12:41:38Z")
> [@CBCD](#): > > Will there be Commemorative Plates issued? You just try and stop 'em. Mind you the Franklin Mint might find that the Royals aren’t answering the phone to them after their little local difficulty over Diana. ---
**Author:** ![CBCD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@CBCD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBCD)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2005, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-weddings/287972/162 "2005-02-10T12:47:47Z")
Is it true that Prince Charles’ affectionate nickname for Whats-Her-Name, soon to be known as Duchess of Corinth, is **‘Crackers’**? And that William and Harry are obliged to address her as **‘Auntie Crackers’**? ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2005, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-weddings/287972/163 "2005-02-10T12:52:23Z")
Dunno about that but I do know that William and Harry call money “grannies” as it’s got granny’s picture on it ---
**Author:** ![CBCD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@CBCD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBCD)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2005, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-weddings/287972/164 "2005-02-10T12:56:07Z")
The Times this morning published a highly informative [timeline](http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1478223,00.html) of Prince Charles’ longtime romance with Camilla Parker-Bowles, soon to be known as ‘Auntie Crackers, Duchess of Corinth.’ Not many people know they originally met in the Marianas Trench. In 1960. But just for 20 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Marvel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marvel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvel)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-weddings/287972/165 "2005-02-18T01:16:30Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > There’s a pretty good historical difference for the two approaches. Marriages were an essential part of English (and in a wider sense European) social structure for many centuries - they defined who would inherit land, etc. So it was necessary for the procedures to be specific and easily-monitorable. For example, wealthy heiresses needed protection against being forced into nonconsensual or otherwise-dubious marriages. The bureaucracy that supports such a system disappear overnight, nor over decades. In America, however, there wasn’t anything like this necessity - and there was also the constantly-expanding territory in which such marriages would take place. So the regulations allow more flexibility over what constitutes a valid and official marriage. Ah! Thanks for that insight! Patty [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-weddings/287972.md?page=8)