Kate's Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen dress, with Pippa Middleton holding the train and also wearing Alexander McQueen

Okay, serious question here, people: what do we call Kate now? I’ve read countless articles and tidbits on royal protocol over the years, and even I’m a bit confused. Half the articles I’ve seen today called her “Catherine Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge,” but that Middleton should be stricken, methinks. She should just be Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge…or is there a “The” in there, as in Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge? (I think her real title is actually styled Her Royal Highness Princess William, The Duchess of Cambridge. But she’s also Countess of Strathearn and Baroness of Carrickfergus…so…yeah…)

This article from the Montreal Gazette says that Kate–Catherine, la Duchesse, Mrs. William, whatever her name is–will never be Princess Catherine…even though, eventually, she’ll be The Princess of Wales, and is now (technically?) Princess William of Wales.

Catherine did her makeup herself; impressive! Here she wears a 1936 Cartier tiara borrowed from Queen Elizabeth (Credit: Reuters)

To further complicate matters, William uses “Wales” as his last name, since that’s the name his father used as Prince of Wales, and William had no bestowed title of his own. Now that his style is Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge?), however, you’d think he’d start going by William Cambridge (as on his RAF suit, etc). But since he’ll one day be The Prince of Wales, he’ll probably keep “Wales” emblazoned on his suit. At least, that’s what I was able to find after extensive Google searching. I’d be interested to hear if anybody knows differently…

Oy. It all makes my head hurt. I shall henceforth refer to Kate as Duchess Catherine and ignore everything else until I learn otherwise.

Anyhow…today was kind of like my SuperBowl, even though I wasn’t able to properly watch the ceremony until repeats aired this evening. On first watch, at 6am, I was bleary-eyed and foggy-brained. While watching it tonight, however, I actually cried tears of joy for Kate, William and especially Kate’s parents. Don’t judge me. Maybe it’s that time of the month. (I didn’t cry a whit for the stony-eyed royals, however. They really are a strange lot, aren’t they…?)

Kate's second Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen dress of the day, for the evening reception and post-reception party

Later in the afternoon–after the kisses, the waves, the RAF flyovers, the Aston-Martin joyrides and the staid Buck House “breakfast” reception–Kate, Pippa and the rest changed into their gowns for the evening reception and party. Kate chose Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen a second time, with a cashmere shrug, but I think Pippa stole she show in her low-cut green Temperley number.

Pippa Middleton and Margarita Armstrong-Jones (who I saw in Chelsea just 2 weeks ago with her mother, Lady Sarah Chatto)

Pippa’s always been cited as the sexier and flashier Middleton sister, and she really shone today. (If you forgot, here’s my own Pippa run-in, back in June at Harrod’s in London.)

Maid-of-honor Pippa Middleton wearing Temperley

Kate had 6 stylists from Richard Ward Salon tending to her soft waves: salon owner Richard Ward, her longtime stylist James Pryce, and 4 other assistants. As for her makeup, she did it herself–sticking to her normal smokey-eye look, just slightly amped-up–but first took bridal makeup lessons from Arabella Preston. I love the fact that Kate just went for it and applied her own damn eyeliner.

Richard Ward Hair salon, in Duke of York square. Kate was there for 3 hours the day after this photo was taken!

And then, of course, there was that kiss…two of them! I think we’re going to see a lot of surprises out of this couple over the years–maybe nothing considerably bigger than little discarded bits of protocol here and there…but still massive shake-ups to The Firm and those grey men nonetheless.

Carole Middleton, the Queen, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. Thirty years ago, palace courtiers would have shot you immediately if you dared to dream of such an in-law scenario. (Credit: Tim Rooke/Rex)

Meanwhile, in other news, Prince Harry is still hot. I know. It really came out of nowhere.

Prince Harry and Lady Louise Windsor

PS: remember Chelsy Davy, Harry’s on-again, off-again? She was there. On again. I find her adorable and fun, but she does always look a bit…messy.

Chelsy Davy in Alberta Feretti on her way to the wedding

Do I smell a potential Fergie to Kate (sorry, I mean Duchess Catherine)’s Diana…?