Filed under: Wedding Ceremony

Written by Jack Mirkinson

Anderson Cooper is usually known for reporting from the latest war zone or disaster. But for the past few weeks, he has been busy trying to figure out who the Earl of Wessex is, researching hat makers and treating wedding dresses with forensic scrutiny.

Yes, it's royal wedding time, and Cooper has been sent by CNN to London to cover the union of Prince William and Kate Middleton. He is one of a small army of anchors, reporters, fashion mavens, resident Brits and technical staff to descend on the British capital to deliver wall-to-wall, moment-by-moment documentation of the event.

"I was here covering the funeral [of Princess Diana]," he told The Huffington Post on Thursday. "It's nice to be here for a much happier event."

Some, of course, might see the explosion of coverage as a bit much. But Cooper defended the amount of coverage the media is devoting to the wedding.

"We're a global news-gathering organization," he said. "This is something of great interest to people." He acknowledged that the "fairy-tale mystery" that used to envelope the royal family had been ruptured by the Charles-and-Diana years, but said that he could feel a "huge amount of excitement" in the English air. While he couldn't quite gauge the amount of interest the wedding is getting in the States, he said he thought Americans were naturally curious about the monarchy.

"There's this fascination that people have with the whole idea of a royal family," he said. "It is this odd, anachronistic system and yet it has great relevance."

Cooper is co-hosting CNN's coverage with, among others, lifelong British person Piers Morgan. Has his colleague's famous cockiness reached new heights now that he is on his home turf?

"I actually haven't seen him," Cooper said. "I don't know where he is!... He certainly knows this story backwards and forwards."

He is not, however, without more helpful U.K. natives. He said he was turning to them to get a hang of royal etiquette -- he still doesn't quite understand how you are supposed to pronounce "ma'am" when you meet the Queen a second time -- and of British slang.

"I just learned 'cheeky monkey,' which is my favorite so far," he said.

And what of the wedding itself? Cooper said he is looking forward to the "pomp and ceremony" of the event, but that, in general, he is "not a big fan of weddings."

"This is something I would enjoy far more than a regular wedding," he said. And why is that?

"I think I get stressed out at weddings," he said. "They're always such a big event, and I always feel like the bride and groom are so stressed." He said that the weddings he's been to and enjoyed tend be smaller and more intimate. And could he ever see himself tying the knot?

"Sure, I guess," he said. "Who knows?"

More Royal Wedding News:

Photos: Royal Wedding Balcony Moments of the Past

Photos: Royal Wedding Dresses, The Bad and the Beautiful

Photos: The Royal Family Tree

Who's Who in the Royal Wedding Party

Video: Prince Charles Break Dances (Sorta)

Follow the Royal Wedding Route

Prince William and Kate Pay Emotional Visit to Princess Diana's Grave

Prince William and Kate Middleton Look a Little Sketchy

Who Was Crowned the Most Beautiful Royal of All Time?

Women Don't Envy Kate Middleton

Could Prince William's Future Daughter Be Queen?

Permalink | Email this | Comments