FINALLY it has come. After months of speculation and tireless preparations, what will culminate into the long awaited grand royal wedding in the hills of Fort Portal today, started yesterday, with Princess Ruth Komuntale introducing her American beau, Christopher Thomas.The function, which started on a low note as some items, including lunch and gifts, were delayed because of the downpour, was held at the home of Charles Kamurasi, the paternal uncle of Komuntale.Thomas’ entourage was led by Uganda’s Ambassador to Belgium, Kateenta Apuuli. The delegation pleaded their way into the home since they arrived 30 minutes past noon.In Tooro, a marriage cannot be allowed when the sun is overhead.The bridegroom was taken through the cultural rituals of the Tooro and introduced to the royal family by Apuuli."We are the Bakurungu-Basonde clan of Kayanja, Kitagwenda in Kamwenge District,” announced Apuuli when asked by the MC which clan the bridegroom belongs.Thomas was adopted into the Tooro community and given a pet name, Amooti, after Apuuli led him through the kitooro customs.He offered 12 pots of traditional banana wine (tonto), 12 crates of beer, and 12 crates of soda, among other gifts to his in-laws. He was later given the Tooro kingdom marriage certificate.The function was punctuated by Amakondere, a royal dance booming out of wooden flutes and drums.Other wrapped gifts to Komuntale came from President Museveni, and the kings of Buganda, Ankore and Bunyoro.Such a function last took place on December 18, 1965 during the wedding of Princess Elizabeth Mpanja, daughter to Komuntale’s grandfather, Omukama George Kamurasi Rukidi III, to Lt. Col. William Ndahendekire.Their story:Christopher Thomas, a young Missourian accountant with the Discovery Channel, fell in love with Ruth Nsemere Komuntale, a princess from the Ugandan kingdom of Toro, who was in America for her university studies.At first, Thomas did not know what he was getting himself into. His overtures of affection were rejected twice by the princess."He tried twice, but I was not ready at the time. The third time he tried, I said, ‘yeah sure, we can date’. We knew each other for about three years, before we started dating. I liked his character and great personality. He is outgoing and we just get along,” says Princess Komuntale."Beautiful” is the first word that would cross anyone’s mind after setting their eyes on the princess. And Thomas could not agree more. "Well, you see how she looks; it is hard not to say she is beautiful,” says Thomas."I think that is usually the first thing you see in a person if you do not know anything about them. Then when you have a conversation, you look at other things,” adds Thomas.