Royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton has created a new beginning for the monarchy, writes royal biographer Christopher Wilson

AND now they belong to us. After nearly a decade of living in the shadows, William and Catherine finally went public with their love and invited us in to their very private lives for the first time. The tears that brimmed in ­Catherine's eyes as she pledged "till death us do part". The loving looks exchanged at the altar. The way they tightly clasped each other's hands as they walked down the aisle. And finally the kiss. Nothing so ­touching has ever been seen on TV. "They just gave us their hearts," said someone in the crowd outside the Abbey. Their marriage marks a ­milestone, not only in the love affair between the newlyweds, but also the affair between the nation and its first ­family. We feel good about them again. While nobody can ever fault the Queen, other members of her family have caused disappointment in recent years. But not William, not Catherine. Their wedding has created a new beginning. Glamorous, ­assured and charming, the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge beamed out to two billion ­worldwide the most ­powerful advertisement for Britain and its people. They are two young people we can be immensely proud of. And on their wedding day they set down their marker, showing us what we can expect from them in the years to come. But the newlyweds must ­capitalise on it now. Wills and Kate can't walk away. They can't go back to their little ­hideaway cottage in Wales and pretend Friday never happened. With that kiss, with that pledge, they gave themselves to the ­public. And, with the greatest respect, we have a right to see as much of them as we want.