From the royal wedding to riots, a swift downturn for the UK

The World

In April, the climate in the United Kingdom was jubilant, as Prince William and Kate Middleton wed at Westminster Abbey. Afterward, one million people lined the route from Westminster to Buckingham Palace, and citizens threw parties and rejoiced in the streets. Four months later, the atmosphere across the pond is the complete opposite of celebratory, as riots and civil unrest spread and violence continues. Paddy O’Connell, presenter of Broadcasting House on BBC radio, speaks with us about the stark change in mood in the U.K. over the past four months. He talks about how the royal wedding and the riots are somehow part of the same culture.

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