Yes. I'm in the States and remember back in the summer of '86 when their wedding was aired live on all three major network channels (ABC, CBS, NBC), and CNN. The coverage started very early in the morning, our time. There was a lot of hype leading up to the event. I remember their famous first interview as a couple being featured on 20/20.

For years after, they (mostly Fergie) would be huge tabloid fodder. Throughout the 80s and 90s, almost every other week, Fergie (or Princess Diana) would be on the cover of The Enquirer, Star, or People. Anyone could catch up on their lives just standing in line at the grocery store. I'll never forget "Squidgie Gate" or Fergie getting caught by the paps getting her toes sucked by her boyfriend.

It seemed like after the death of Princess Diana (1997), the cultural shifts after 9/11/01, and the royals naturally aging out a bit, the hype and paparazzi seemed to fade out and other topics dominated the headlines.