William and Kate might have little to do with us, but there's no denying South Africans - and the rest of the world - are fascinated with the wedding, writes Shanthini Naidoo

Ten thousand kilometres away, a couple announces their engagement, and sends the world into a flurry.

Prince William and Kate Middleton's engagement may have entered the foray a mere six weeks before the end of 2010, but it is set to be the story of the year.

Two days after the announcement, there were 829million Google search results about the event, social networks were going mad, and every mainstream television and radio station was covering it and it was in all the newspapers.

It begs the question: "Who cares?" The answer of course, "We do! We all do."

But, why?

Why would people all these kilometres away, who have never had a sniff at the Queen of England - and with our very own royalty - care about the British royals?

E! Online blogger, Leslie Gornstein explains: "A future king getting married. That happens - what? Once in a generation? (I'm not talking about Danish royals or the people in Monaco. The only royals that exist ... are the British kind.)"

Africa correspondent for the Guardian newspaper in the UK, David Smith, agrees: "But there are a few reasons the British royal family remain famous worldwide.

"People admire the monarchy. It is seen as something typically British and old fashioned, in a charming way as opposed to the Greek royals getting married.

"Americans seem to be going crazy about it. The whole business of kings and queens ... they don't have that there and want a piece of it," Smith adds.

Royalty blogger Ella Kay adds: "That William is Princess Diana's son is more important than the fact that he is Prince William himself."

Others say the obsession stems from Kate's modern-day "Cinderella story".

Royal obsession is however, not new. Princess Diana's marriage to Charles was watched by 750million people worldwide. Her tragic death sent shockwaves around the world and women worldwide exuded a deeply felt scorn when Charles married Camilla.

What is clear though, is that the obsession is going to get progressively stronger.

In the information age, it took mere seconds for the entire world to hear that Kate was given Diana's ring, and by the morning after the engagement was announced tabloids were predicting a guest list and who was footing the bill. Some had worked out the menu (one even included Windsor swan!).

And then there was the health story on how skiing had brought the couple together - suddenly, for anyone else trying to mend a relationship or formalise one, the answer is: go skiing.

A CNN blogger reported: "More than three British papers or tabloids and the BBC are live-blogging the announcements, with up-to-the-minute reaction, columns and reader comments.

"The Daily Telegraph is asking readers to offer their own tributes to the couple."

South Africans may not be buying memorabilia (think commemorative plates, thimbles and spoof gifts, many of which are already ready for shipping) but we're definitely interested.

Smith says this is because South African links to Britain are obvious. In some parts of the country, such as Kimberley, people feel even stronger links to the former empire because the Queen once visited there.

"At the same time, I don't think every South African will stop their lives for it. William is not a megastar, but he is enough of a star to create interest," he says.

Gornstien predicts the craziness will last till late 2011.

"Put it this way: William and Kate are going to re-enact your favourite childhood fairy tale, Cinderella, probably live, probably on TV, and probably for free."

Perhaps Harry de Quetteville, of The London Telegraph, describes it best: "Reaction to the royal engagement from the world's media shows that our traditions still have a magnetic appeal.

"Britishness is once more billowing across the map, like the pink cartographical shade of imperial yester-century," he said.

"Love us or loathe us, you can't ignore us. Not when we've got a royal wedding on."