For visiting Americans, royal wedding is bliss

Instinctively, Dalton, who is from Hudson, Mass., and her two travel companions — all in their “funny wedding hats’’ — raised their cameras to snap a horse-drawn buggy as it passed.

“It’s exciting to think that people get to live like this,’’ Dalton said as she arrived at the not-so-humble abode of Queen Elizabeth. “We just don’t have anything like this in America.’’

In this city, the royals are a part of daily life. Still, there is nothing blasé about a royal wedding, and as the nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton approach, there is a genuine excitement enveloping the city.

But some Brits are wondering if their own enthusiasm is any match for the mania that has been coming across the pond.

According to the Nielsen Co., the US media have given the wedding more than twice as much attention as the Brits have in terms of the percentage of overall news coverage devoted to it. On Twitter, 40 percent of royal wedding-related English-language tweets are coming from the States, compared with 31 percent from the UK, according to mashable.com, a website that examines social media trends.

In London, Dalton and thousands like her have descended on the city, giving this week a decidedly American feel, just as many Londoners move in reverse, taking advantage of the four-day weekend to escape what they see as a coming headache.

“People here are talking about the wedding, but it definitely seems like my friends back home are making a bigger deal about it,’’ said Kim Roche, an auditor in London who is originally from South Boston. She said more than half of her friends in London were planning to leave the city this weekend.

While the familiarity may breed a bit of contempt for the Brits, it is the opposite — the sheer novelty of royalty — that is often listed as the chief reason why so many Americans are fascinated with the Windsors.

“How can you not be in awe?’’ asked Stephanie Fuhrman of California as she watched her 8-year-old daughter, Sydney, have her portrait drawn in Covent Garden, a popular open-air market. “It’s a fairy tale we’ll never have, and for little girls like my daughter, it’s amazing. For me, I’m just amazed that it still goes on, and people still respect it.’’

Nearby, as Janet Mancino strolled through the stalls selling William and Kate souvenirs — everything from tea towels and serving trays to solar-powered queen figurines whose right hand never stops waving — she had her tongue firmly in cheek when she declared: “I think the entire thing is ridiculous.’’

Over her shoulder was a bag filled with those very souvenirs.

A New Yorker, Mancino happened to be here for the funeral of the beloved Princess Diana in 1997, and was so moved by her story that she vowed to return for William’s wedding in her honor.

“I think we’ve become very cynical in this world,’’ she said of those who are not getting ramped up for the big day. “It’s silly, sure, but it is a celebration, when running for cover is the norm.

“Plus,’’ she added, “we don’t have to pay for it.’’

Money is at the top of the list of things Brits gripe about when it comes to the royal family.

“They bring in tourism, but they’ve got all these random fifth cousins who get all these ridiculous privileges while we’re in a recession,’’ Amanda Simms, a 22-year-old Londoner said.

The royals-related tourism, this and all weeks, is unquestioned. Many Americans interviewed on the streets of London said they have always wanted to come over to do the royal tour, and this week seemed like the perfect opportunity to go all out.

“I have a fascinator,’’ Leanne Stoj of Buffalo said as she toured St. Paul’s Cathedral, referring to the floral hairpiece worn by British women at weddings.

“And we’re going to high tea at Harrods to be as corny as we can,’’ said her sister, Kelly.

Back at Buckingham Palace, the crush of wedding tourists made the area into an international log jam. Media from around the world blanketed the crowd; workers scrambled to install barriers and Porta-Potties along the route of the wedding procession; and every now and again, the paparazzi would stampede through, chasing Range Rovers down the road.

The brave Londoners who attempted to pass through the area, including many joggers trying to cross between St. James and Green parks, which bottleneck at the palace, threw up their hands in frustration.

Dalton and her friends strolled the grounds taking photos, considered possible spots to watch the procession, and generally shook their heads at the sheer awesomeness of this very British institution.

Some people thought they were a little crazy when they booked their trip the day after the engagement was announced, said Michelle Michela, also from Hudson. “But we don’t care.’’

She also did not care that they had not seen any non-Americans in funny hats.

“We’re having a good time,’’ Dalton said, “and after a few drinks tonight, it will be ‘God save the queen’ from us.’’

Billy Baker can be reached at billybaker@globe.com.