Following the wedding, the couple intend to continue residing on the Isle of Anglesey in North Wales, where Prince William is based as an RAF Search and Rescue pilot.
Below here are some pictures of the royal wedding
Engagement announcement
On 16 November 2010, Clarence House announced that Prince William, elder son of the Prince of Wales, was to marry his long-time girlfriend Kate Middleton "in the Spring or Summer of 2011, in London".[1] They were engaged in October 2010 while on a private holiday in Kenya; William gave Middleton the same engagement ring that his father had given to William's mother, Diana, Princess of Wales[2]—an 18-carat white gold ring with a 12-carat oval sapphire and 14 round diamonds.[3] It was announced at approximately the same time that, after their marriage, the couple will live on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales, where Prince William is based with the Royal Air Force.[1][4]The Prince of Wales said he was "thrilled ... they have been practising long enough",[5] and Queen Elizabeth II said she was "absolutely delighted" for the couple,[2] giving her formal consent to the marriage, as required by the Royal Marriages Act 1772, in her British privy council on the morning of the engagement.[6] Congratulations also came in from the Queen's prime ministers,[7][8][9] including Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard, who has moderate republican leanings.[10] Further, Pete Broadbent, suffragan Bishop of Willesden, who has known republican views, published his reaction to the wedding announcement on Facebook. He later acknowledged that his words were "offensive" and subsequently apologised,[11] but his superior, Richard Chartres, Bishop of London, instructed him to withdraw from public ministry "until further notice".[12][13]
Following the announcement the couple gave an exclusive interview to ITV News political editor Tom Bradby[14] and hosted a photocall at St. James's Palace.[15][16] On 12 December 2010, Buckingham Palace issued the official engagement photographs; these were taken on 25 November, in the state apartments at St. James's Palace, by photographer Mario Testino.[17][18]
The original engagement announcement stated simply that the wedding will be "in the spring or summer of 2011". On 23 November 2010 the date of Friday 29 April 2011 was confirmed. It was later announced that the day will be declared a public holiday throughout the United Kingdom,[19][20] formal confirmation being made by the Queen in Council on 15 December 2010.[21] The wedding date has also been declared an official public holiday in Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey, the Falkland Islands, Montserrat and the Turks and Caicos.[22][23][24]
As 29 April falls six days before elections for the Scottish Parliament and the Alternative Vote referendum, this has attracted political comment.[25][26][27][28] John Curtice, a professor of politics at the University of Strathclyde, stated for the Scottish elections that the date was "unfortunate" and was "likely to see the Royal Family getting caught up in political debate".[29]
Couple
Main articles: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
Prince William is the elder son of Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales, and grandson of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. As such, he is second, behind his father, in the line of succession to the throne in 16 independent states known as the Commonwealth realms. William was educated at Ludgrove School, Eton College, and the University of St Andrews, after which he was commissioned as an officer from Sandhurst in the Blues and Royals regiment of the Household Cavalry.[30] He later transferred to the RAF and went on to become a full-time pilot with the Search and Rescue Force at RAF Valley, Anglesey.[31][32]Catherine "Kate" Middleton is the eldest of three children born to Michael and Carole Middleton. She was educated at St Andrew's School in Pangbourne, Marlborough College,[33] and the University of St Andrews.[34] After graduating, she worked in retail and then as an accessories buyer/catalogue photographer at her parents' business.[35] She is primarily of English descent, but with a few distant Scottish and French Huguenot ancestors.[36] Her paternal family came from Leeds, West Yorkshire,[37] while her mother's maternal family, the Harrisons, were working-class labourers and miners from County Durham.[38]
The couple met while undergraduates at the University of St Andrews, where they both lived at St Salvator's Hall during their first year,[39] after which they shared accommodation in the town for two years.[40] They are fifteenth cousins—having Sir Thomas Fairfax and his wife, Agnes, as common ancestors[36][41]—and are possibly twelfth cousins once removed, circumstantial evidence suggesting that they are both descended from Sir Thomas Leighton and Elizabeth Knollys.[36][42]
Planning
- Note: All times are in British Summer Time (UTC+01)
It was also announced that the costs of the wedding itself will be met by the Royal Family and the Middletons themselves, while the costs of security and transport will be covered by the British treasury.[48][49] The couple have also asked that donations be made to charities in place of traditional wedding gifts;[50] to that end, they established The Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton Charitable Gift Fund, which focuses on assisting charities such as the New Zealand Christchurch Earthquake Appeal, the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and the Zoological Society of London.[51]
Timings
At 6.00 am roads in and around the processional route were closed to traffic. From 8.15 am, the main congregation, governors-general, prime ministers of Commonwealth realms, and diplomats, all arrived at the Abbey. Princes William and Harry then left Clarence House at 10.10 am in a Bentley State Limousine, and arrived at 10.18 am, followed by representatives of foreign royal families, the Middleton family, and, lastly, the Prince's own family (the Princess Royal, the Duke of York, Princess Beatrice of York, Princess Eugenie of York, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall). By tradition, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were the last members of the Royal Family to leave Buckingham Palace, arriving at the Abbey for 10.48 am. The bridal party then left the Goring Hotel in the former Number one state Rolls-Royce Phantom VI at 10.52 am,[52] in time for the service to begin at 11 am. The service finished at 12.15 pm, after which the newly married couple travelled to Buckingham Palace in a procession consisting of other royal family members, the parents of the groom and bride, the best man, and the bridesmaids. At 1.25 pm, the couple appeared on the balcony at Buckingham Palace to watch a fly-past consisting of Lancaster, Spitfire, and Hurricane aircraft from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, followed by two Typhoons and two Tornado GR4s.The route of the couple
The route of the bride and groom went between Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey, by The Mall, passing Clarence House, by Horse Guards Road, Horse Guards Parade, through Horse Guards Arch, Whitehall, the south side of Parliament Square, and Broad Sanctuary.[53]Wedding service
St James's Palace announced on 5 January that the ceremony was to start at 11:00 local time and that the bride would arrive at the abbey by car rather than by carriage (the latter is the traditional transport for royal brides.) The route was along The Mall, through Horse Guards Parade, and down Whitehall to the abbey. After the ceremony, the bridal couple returned along the same route by carriage to a reception hosted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace. The Prince of Wales is to host a private dinner in the evening.[54][55]In a break with royal tradition, the groom had a best man—his brother, Prince Harry—rather than a supporter, while the bride chose her sister, Pippa, as maid of honour. There were four bridesmaids—Lady Louise Windsor, the seven-year old daughter of the Earl and Countess of Wessex; The Hon. Margarita Armstrong-Jones, the eight-year old daughter of Viscount and Viscountess Linley; Grace van Cutsem, the three-year old daughter of the couple's friend Hugh van Cutsem; and Eliza Lopes, the three-year old granddaughter of The Duchess of Cornwall. Two page boys participated: William Lowther-Pinkerton, the ten-year old son of William's private secretary Major Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, and Tom Pettifer, the eight-year old son of Princes William and Harry's former nanny, "Tiggy" Pettifer.[56][57]
The Dean of Westminster officiated for most of the service, with Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, conducting the marriage ceremony itself and Richard Chartres, the Bishop of London, giving the sermon.[54][58] It has long been traditional for the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Church of England's most senior bishop, to officiate at the weddings of England's monarchs and future monarchs,[59] but as Chartres is a close friend of the Prince of Wales,[60] he was invited to take part in the ceremony.
Bridal dress
Main article: Wedding dress of Kate Middleton
The bridal dress was designed by English designer Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen.[61] It was made of satin and featured a lace applique bodice and skirt. Middleton wore her hair down, with her veil held in place by a tiara, loaned by the Queen. The lace, detailing a rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock, was hand-made by the Royal School of Needlework, based at Hampton Court Palace.The bridal train measured 270 cm (110 in), and along with the lace, all other fabrics used in the creation of the dress were sourced from and supplied by British companies. The lace motifs were pinned, "framed up" and applied with stab stitching every 2–3 mm around each one. Workers washed their hands every 30 minutes to keep the lace and threads pristine, and the needles were renewed every three hours, to keep them sharp and clean.[62]
Bridal tiara and veil
The veil is held in place by a Cartier Scroll Tiara, made in 1936 and lent to Miss Middleton by the Queen. It was purchased by the Queen's father, the Duke of York (subsequently King George VI) for his Duchess (later Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother) three weeks before succeeding his brother Edward VIII (Duke of Windsor) as King. Princess Elizabeth (now the Queen) received the tiara from her mother on her 18th birthday.Designed by Shane Connolly, the bride's shield-shaped wired bouquet contained myrtle, Lily of the Valley, Sweet William and hyacinth.[62]
Liturgy and bridal vow
Kate did not promise to "obey" her new husband in her vows but instead to "love, comfort, honour and keep" him. The bridal couple are using the the Series One (1966) Book of Common Prayer ceremony.[63]The Lesson from the New Testament, Romans Chapter 12, verses 1–2 and 9–18, was read by the bride's brother, James Middleton.[64]
Music
The bride processed down the aisle to the anthem "I Was Glad," written by by Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, from Psalm 122. It was composed for the crowning of Prince William's great-great-great grandfather, Edward VII, at Westminster Abbey in 1902.[65] As the choir sang, the bride made her three-and-a-half minute procession through the Nave and Quire on her father's arm, to meet the Prince. The recessional music was the orchestral march "Crown Imperial" by William Walton,[66] which was also played at Charles and Diana's wedding.Two choirs, one orchestra and a fanfare team performed the music at the wedding service of Prince William and Middleton at Westminster Abbey. These were the Westminster Abbey Choir, Chapel Royal Choir and London Chamber Orchestra, and a fanfare team of the Central Band of the Royal Air Force.[67]
The choirs were directed by James O’Donnell, Organist and Master of the Choristers at Westminster Abbey. The Abbey’s Sub Organist, Robert Quinney, will play the organ. The Organist, Choir Master and Composer at Her Majesty’s Chapel Royal is Andrew Gant. The London Chamber Orchestra was conducted by Christopher Warren-Green, who is its Music Director and Principal conductor.
The fanfares were performed under the direction of Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs,[68] whose own composition, Valiant and Brave, was performed as the royal couple signed the wedding register.[67] "Valiant and Brave" is the motto of 22 Squadron, in which Prince William is serving as a search and rescue pilot at RAF Valley in North Wales.[69]
Hymns
William and Kate chose three of their favourite hymns: "Jerusalem", and two others with a strong association with Wales. The first was the rousing "Guide me, O Thou Great Redeemer". It is also known as the Welsh rugby anthem "Bread of Heaven," and the Duke of Cambridge is the vice-royal patron of the Welsh Rugby Union. It was sung at the funeral of Princess Diana, and is associated with Welsh Male Voice Choirs and Eisteddfodau, having been originally written in Welsh by 18th-century Methodist preacher William Williams.[70]The words to their second hymn, "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling" were written by 18th-century Methodist evangelical preacher Charles Wesley, whose output of more than 6,000 hymns includes the Christmas carol "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing." Its tune – "Blaenwern" – was composed by a Welshman, William Penfro Rowlands, during the Welsh Christian revival of 1904–1905. This hymn was sung at the Prince of Wales's 2005 marriage to the Duchess of Cornwall.[70]
The third hymn, also considered as an anthem, is "Jerusalem". With text by visionary 19th-century poet William Blake and music written in 1916 by Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, it is "a favourite at Last Night of the Proms, the Women's Institute and weddings."[70]
Reception
The Queen will host a lunchtime reception at Buckingham Palace. The reception will start after the arrival carriage with the married couple. It will be a private gathering for guests drawn from the congregation who will represent the couple’s official and private lives. During the reception, the couple will give an appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony. The East front of the palace contains this well-known balcony on which the Royal Family traditionally congregate to greet crowds outside. Guests will be served with canapés at the reception.[53] The Official Harpist to the Prince of Wales, Claire Jones, will perform at the reception.[68] The reception is expected to finish in the mid-afternoon.Private dinner
In the evening, The Prince of Wales will give a private dinner, followed by dancing, at Buckingham Palace for the couple and their close friends and family.[53]Guest list
On 16 and 17 February, three sets of guest lists were sent out in the name of the Queen. As William is not the heir apparent, i.e. the wedding is not a "state occasion",[71] protocol has dictated that many guests (or their successors in office) who were invited to the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer on 29 July 1981 need not be invited to William's wedding. More than half of the guests will be family and friends of the couple, though there will be a significant number of Commonwealth leaders (including the governors-general who represent the Queen in Commonwealth realms other than the UK, prime ministers of the Commonwealth realms, and heads of government of other Commonwealth countries), members of religious organisations, the diplomatic corps, several military officials, members of the British Royal Household, members of foreign royal families, and representatives of William's charities and others with whom William has worked on official business. Although St James's Palace declined to publish the names of those invited, a breakdown of guests was published by category−the list made no mention of foreign heads of state, though it was announced that about 40 members of foreign royal families had been invited.[72]The first list, consisting of about 1,900 people, is of attendees to the ceremony in the abbey. The second list of approximately 600 people is of those invited to the luncheon reception at Buckingham Palace, hosted by the Queen. The final list, containing about 300 names, is for the evening dinner hosted by the Prince of Wales.[72]
On 19 April Sean Cardinal Brady, Primate of All Ireland said he will attend. The invitation to the event and its acceptance, have been described as “unprecedented” by a spokesman for Ireland’s Catholic bishops. The spokesman attributed the invitation to Cardinal Brady’s contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process.
Wedding cake
The wedding cake had a strong British floral theme, using elements of the Joseph Lambeth technique. It was a multi-tiered traditional fruit cake decorated with cream and white icing. The Lambeth technique is based on a style of decorating that was popular in England where chefs and decorators would use a lot of intricate piping to create 3-D scrollwork, leaves, flowers, and other decoration. The method is still popular today and is frequently used by wedding cake designers and decorators to create ornate wedding cakes. The cake designer Fiona Cairns was chosen in February 2011 to create the wedding cake. Furthermore, McVitie's created a special cake from chocolate biscuit for the reception at Buckingham Palace. The chocolate biscuit cake was made from a Royal Family recipe and was specially requested by Prince William.[53]Broadcasting
The wedding was widely broadcast on television, internet and radio. It has been estimated that the coverage will be watched by two billion people worldwide.[73] ITV,[74] BBC[75] and CNN will cover the ceremony and associated events live through the combined pool of footage from the BBC, Sky and ITN to help cover the overall cost.[73] In the United States, which is five to eight hours behind British Summer Time, the wedding will occur during the time usually taken up by network breakfast television programmes, which will expand their normal length to allow for full coverage. NBC's Today will begin coverage at 4 am Eastern Time and will partner with ITV.[76][77] ABC partnered with BBC,[78] CBS has its own live London affiliates,[79] and Fox will partner with Sky News. The CBC carried BBC coverage,[80] while CTV had live coverage.[81] Cable networks and radio will also have live coverage.[82] The ABC also took the BBC feed in Australia, in addition with Pay TV UKTV. Coverage was also provided on the Seven Network, Nine Network and Network Ten. There were plans by the ABC to produce alternative commentary with The Chaser, but the BBC has since barred the use of such footage on orders from Clarence House.[83] The royal wedding was also streamed live online on YouTube via The Royal Channel.[84] In Serbia the wedding was broadcast on Radio Television of Serbia and B92 Info, while in China CCTV News and Phoenix Info News did so.Tributes outside the United Kingdom
In the United States, the Empire State Building in New York City will be lit in red, white, and blue, the colours of the Union Flag, which are also the colours of the United States, at sunset to mark the wedding.[85] This will mark the second time in less than 12 months the Empire State Building will honour a member of the Royal Family; the previous July, it honoured the Queen and Prince Philip during their visit to New York City.[85] In Buffalo, New York, the Peace Bridge between the United States and Canada will be lit in the colours of the royal crest (red, blue and gold).[86]Wedding ring
The wedding ring of Catherine is made from Welsh gold.[87] Since 1923, it has been a tradition in the royal family to use Welsh gold for the wedding ring of the bride.[88] This ring will be made from a small amount of gold that has been kept in the royal vaults since it was presented to Queen Elizabeth II. It was mined from the Clogau Gold Mine in the Welsh mountains, not far from Anglesey, where the couple live. The Clogau Gold Mine had its heyday in the late nineteenth century, was abandoned in the early twentieth century, was reopened in 1992 and finally closed in 1998.[89] The Queen has "given a piece of the gold that has been in the family for many years to Prince William as a gift," a palace source stated.[88] Unlike Middleton, Prince William will not wear a wedding ring.[87]Title upon marriage
On the morning of the wedding, William was created Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus.[90] This is in line with the recent practice of granting titles upon marriage to royal princes who did not already have one. This includes Prince Andrew, who was created Duke of York when he married in 1986.[91] In a break with precedent[92] Prince Edward was created Earl of Wessex; at the same time it was announced that he will be given the title Duke of Edinburgh when that title, currently held by his father, reverts to the Crown.[93][94] A December 2010 article in The Daily Telegraph suggested that William did not wish to receive a dukedom, preferring to remain simply "Prince William" while also wanting Middleton to become "Princess Catherine". It was suggested that this caused a dilemma for the Queen because princesses traditionally receive such titles through birth instead of marriage. Prior to the announcement, other possible dukedoms it was thought William might receive included Sussex, Windsor, Clarence, Kendal, Avondale, and Strathearn.[95][96]Official merchandise and currency
Prince William and Kate Middleton have personally approved an official range of china (including handmade plates, cups and pill boxes) to be made for the Royal Collection and sold as souvenirs from December 2010.[97] The items are decorated with the intertwined initials of the couple, under the prince's coronet, and include the wording "To celebrate the marriage of Prince William of Wales and Catherine Middleton 29 April 2011."[98] The Lord Chamberlain's office approved a longer list of memorabilia, including official mugs, plates, biscuit tins and porcelain pill pots. The document also clarified the use of William's coat of arms and pictures of the couple on such memorabilia. Initially, the Palace refused to sanction official tea-towels, which, along with aprons, T-shirts and cushions, were deemed, 'in poor taste'.[99] However, the restriction on tea towels, though not the other items, was later reversed.[100] Sales of merchandising are expected to reach £44 million.[98]To mark the engagement of William and Catherine, the Royal Mint produced an official £5 coin, showing the couple in profile,[101] while the Royal Australian Mint issued a series of circulation and collectable coins designed by Stuart Devlin.[102] The Royal Canadian Mint will release a series of coins and Canada Post will be issuing a stamp,[103] approved by Clarence House, in commemoration of the wedding.[104]
Reactions
An April 2011 poll of 2,000 British adults found that 35% of the public intended to watch the wedding on television while an equal proportion planned to ignore the event altogether.[105] According to their reported plans, women were more than twice as likely (47%) to watch the event as men (23%).[106]There were over 850 applications to hold royal wedding street parties in London, and about 5,500 across England and Wales.[107] The anti-monarchy campaign group Republic planned to hold an alternative street party. The event was initially blocked by Camden Council.[108]
Various threats
The royal wedding has been subject to threats of violence and disruption. In February, security agencies, including MI5, identified "dissident Irish republican groups" as possible threats.[109] The group Muslims Against Crusades announced plans for a "forceful demonstration" at the wedding, calling the Royal Family "enemies to Allah and his messenger".[110] They later announced the abandonment of their planned protest.[111]Protests
60 people arrested at the TUC rally on the March for the Alternative have bail conditions that prevent them entering central London over the wedding period.[112]On 28 April 2011, Chris Knight and two others were arrested "on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance and breach of the peace". The three were planning a mock execution of Prince Andrew in central London on the following day, to coincide with the wedding.[113]
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- ^ "YouTube Blog: The Royal Wedding live on YouTube". Blogspot.com. 19 April 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
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External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Wedding of Prince William of Wales and Kate Middleton |
- The official Royal Wedding 2011 website for Prince William and Kate Middleton
- Official Live Stream of the Wedding
- The UK government Royal Wedding website
- Royal Wedding information from the Metropolitan Police
- Royal Wedding information from the Royal Parks
- Royal Wedding information from Visit London
- Media outlets' websites for wedding: The Telegraph, BBC, ITN
- Foreign media outlets' websites for wedding: CNN (United States), CTV (Canada)
- Official Wedding Programme – available in PDF, iBook, or Flash versions
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Categories: 2011 in the United Kingdom | Marriage, unions and partnerships in the United Kingdom | Royal weddings | Weddings at Westminster Abbey
We've all been to dull wedding receptions. The food stinks. The lights are too bright. A four-piece band is playing "The Girl from Ipanema," and nobody's dancing. According to the rumor mill, Kate Middleton's sister, Pippa, wants to avoid those all-too-common problems at the royal wedding reception. Her solution? Disco balls.
According to recent reports, Pippa wants to hang disco balls in the throne room of Buckingham Palace for the postwedding celebration. And that's not all that is in store for the royal couple.
According to recent reports, Pippa wants to hang disco balls in the throne room of Buckingham Palace for the postwedding celebration. And that's not all that is in store for the royal couple.
In the midst of all the planning, Pippa, who is Kate's chief bridesmaid as well as a professional event organizer, has apparently rubbed some officials the wrong way. Her glittery plans to bring "a younger atmosphere to the royal couple's evening reception" are indeed a stark contrast to the traditions of Buckingham Palace.
Officials were said to have been none too pleased with Pippa's plan to transform the royal residence to Studio 54, but the 27-year-old won the standoff. Her victory was no doubt in large thanks to her future brother-in-law. Again according to sources, Prince William stepped up and "insisted that the couple be allowed to properly let their hair down at night."
It's not just the disco balls that will encourage a party atmosphere. On Saturday morning, Prince Harry has planned an epic "survivor's breakfast" for those who partied all through the night. According to Martin Rogers of Yahoo!, the breakfast will include "bacon sandwiches and fry-ups -- an artery-clogging concoction of eggs, sausages, and other fried treats -- traditional British hangover busters." Good thing. Because Harry plans to serve cocktails called "treasure chests" at the reception.
While Pippa can take pride in the fact that glitter balls will hang from the rafters of Buckingham Palace (we assume a first in monarchy history), she didn't win the battle over who would cater the affair. Pippa apparently wanted to hire a caterer of her own choice, but that was before Prince Charles, who is paying for the swanky affair, stepped in and asked that his favorite caterer, Mosimann's, be chosen.
An email to Clarence House seeking comment was not immediately returned.
It's not just the disco balls that will encourage a party atmosphere. On Saturday morning, Prince Harry has planned an epic "survivor's breakfast" for those who partied all through the night. According to Martin Rogers of Yahoo!, the breakfast will include "bacon sandwiches and fry-ups -- an artery-clogging concoction of eggs, sausages, and other fried treats -- traditional British hangover busters." Good thing. Because Harry plans to serve cocktails called "treasure chests" at the reception.
[ Related: Pippa Middleton's wedding date revealed ]
An email to Clarence House seeking comment was not immediately returned.
William and Kate seal wedding with balcony kisses
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton married at Westminster Abbey on Friday in a sumptuous show of British pageantry that attracted a huge world audience and breathed new life into the monarchy.
Hundreds of thousands of people waving flags and banners poured down London's Mall boulevard to cheer the newlyweds as they kissed twice on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Then they went back in, the glass doors closed and the spectacle was over.
"This kind of royal wedding happens just once in a lifetime, so I thought I had to come and see," said Seong Jiyong, a South Korean student studying English. "The monarchy is like our Hollywood, the movies, for us," said Californian Diane Weltz.
Middleton, who wore a laced ivory colored dress with a long train for the ceremony, became the first "commoner" to marry a prince in close proximity to the throne in more than 350 years.
The 29-year-old, whose mother's family has coal mining roots, has brought a sense of modernity to the monarchy and helped restore popularity to an institution tarnished by the death of William's hugely popular mother Princess Diana in 1997.
Fans from Asia to the United States camped overnight outside the abbey to catch a glimpse of the future king and queen, whose marriage has fueled a feel-good factor that has briefly lifted Britain from its economic gloom.
Huge crowds looked on as military bands in black bearskin hats and household cavalrymen in shining breastplates escorted the beaming couple in a 1902 open-topped state landau carriage.More than 8,000 journalists descended on London for the event, and the ceremony was streamed live on YouTube, ensuring a global audience expected to run into the hundreds of millions.
SEALED WITH KISSES
The crowd entered into the festive spirit on a day when threatened rain failed to materialize by wearing national flags, outlandish costumes and even fake wedding dresses and tiaras.
Hundreds of police officers, some armed, dotted the royal routes in a major security operation. Plain clothes officers mixed with the masses who were packed behind rails to watch the couple seal their marriage with one sheepish kiss, then another. "That was well worth the seven-hour wait," said Sue Brace, a 48-year-old bar manager from the south coast city of Portsmouth."She looked really happy, beautiful. I am so happy now."
World War Two and modern warplanes flew over the waving royals before they headed inside for a reception for 600 guests held in the palace's 19 state rooms. The day ends with a more intimate dinner for 300 close friends and family.
Their honeymoon starts on Saturday and the venue has been kept virtually a state secret.
The exuberance of royal fans was not shared throughout Britain. For some, the biggest royal wedding since Diana married Charles in 1981 was an event to forget, reflecting divided opinion about the monarchy.
In the economically depressed northern city of Bradford, for example, businessman Waheed Yunus said: "It's two young people getting married. It's as simple as that. It happens throughout the whole world every single day.
"There are much more pressing issues. There are much more important things going on in the world." The marriage between William, 28, and Middleton, dubbed "Waity Katie" for their long courtship, has cemented a recovery in the monarchy's popularity.A series of scandals involving senior royals, Britain's economic problems and Diana's death after her divorce from Prince Charles led many to question the future of the monarchy.
But Middleton's background, William's appeal, the enduring adoration for his mother and a more media-savvy royal press team have helped to restore their standing with the wider public.
A Daily Mail survey showed 51 percent of people believed the wedding would strengthen the monarchy in Britain, compared with 65 percent who said the marriage between Prince Charles and divorcee Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005 would weaken it.
However, while Queen Elizabeth, 85, exercises limited power, and is largely a symbolic figurehead in Britain and its former colonies, critics question the privileges she and her family enjoy, particularly at a time when the economy is so weak.
The monarchy officially costs the British taxpayer around 40 million pounds ($67 million) a year, while anti-royalists put the figure at closer to 180 million pounds.
DRESS DESIGNER UNVEILED
Middleton's dress, the subject of fevered speculation for months in the fashion press, was a traditional ivory silk and satin outfit with a lace applique and flowing train.
It was designed by Sarah Burton of the Alexander McQueen label, named after the British designer who committed suicide.The bride wore a tiara loaned by the queen and the diamond and sapphire engagement ring that belonged to Diana, who was divorced from Prince Charles in 1996, a year before her death in a car crash in Paris aged just 36.
The royals' cool reaction to Diana's death contrasted with an outpouring of public grief and marked a low point for the family. Some questioned whether the institution, a vestige of imperial glory, had outlived its unifying role in a modern state divided by partisan politics and regional separatism.About 5,500 street parties will be held across Britain, in keeping with tradition, although they will be more common in the more affluent south of England than in the poorer north.
Bells pealed loudly and trumpets blared as 1,900 guests earlier poured into the historic abbey, coronation site for the monarchy since William the Conqueror was crowned in 1066. The abbey's bells will ring out for three full hours.
The queen, other royals, Prime Minister David Cameron, David and Victoria Beckham, the footballer-pop star couple, and singer Elton John were among famous guests at the abbey. Elton John sang "Candle in the Wind" at Diana's funeral in the abbey.
They joined 50 heads of state as well as friends, charity workers and war veterans who know the prince from his military career in what commentators said was a more progressive snapshot of modern Britain than previous royal weddings.
Middleton has been given the title Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cambridge, after the queen made her grandson William the Duke of Cambridge to mark the marriage.
William could face a long wait for the throne. His grandmother Queen Elizabeth shows little sign of slowing down at 85 and his father Charles is a fit and active 62-year-old.
(Additional reporting by Paul Sandle, Matt Falloon, Jodie Ginsberg, Keith Weir, Paul Casciato, Peter Griffiths, Tim Castle William Maclean and Marie-Louise Gumuchian; editing by Peter Millership)
Royal wedding honeymoon: William and Kate leave for honeymoon by helicopter
Married life began for newlyweds William and Kate today when they left London for a mystery destination.
Prince William and his new wife Kate Middleton left Buckingham Palace by helicopter this morning.
It is expected that they will first travel to one of the royal residences in Scotland, possibly Balmoral, where both the Queen and the Prince of Wales have private homes they could use.
William and Kate began their journey by emerging hand in hand from the palace's garden entrance, located at the side of the imposing building.
In bright sunshine, they strolled along the gravel path and out into the open space where the maroon helicopter was waiting.
The Duke's new wife wore a light blue dress, dark jacket and platform shoes, while he was dressed in his trademark chinos with a pale blue shirt and navy jacket - a casual look in complete contrast to yesterday The couple, who spent the night at the Queen's official London home, stopped briefly to chat to two Royal Household footmen and appeared to be thanking for them after their stay.
When they finished, William put his hand on the small of his wife's back and they went over to talk to the helicopter pilot before climbing on board.
Before they boarded the aircraft, palace staff had carried out some of their luggage, which included a bouquet of white blooms.
The couple are said to still be on a high after their wedding day which was both an intimate family affair and a global event televised across the world.
Speculation has been mounting about where the couple could spend their time away together.
Likely honeymoon destinations could include Africa - a continent for which William has a deep affection. He could take his wife to countries like Botswana, or Kenya, where he proposed.
Among the destinations believed to be favoured by the Duke and Duchess is Jordan, where the couple will take in some of the country's most famous sites, including the ancient city of Petra and the Wadi Rum desert valley.
The couple were understood to be considering several options for their honeymoon break, but the Middle-Eastern country was their preferred foreign destination.
Jordan would have great nostalgic appeal for Kate as her family spent two years there when she was a child.
There were reports that the couple have booked a tailor made private tour of southern Jordan, including a visit to the ancient city of Petra.
The 'rose-red city half as old as time’ was carved out of a deep sandstone cleft in the desert 26 centuries ago by the Nabateans, an Aramaic people.
Spread over seven miles it is Jordan’s star attraction, approached through a half mile-long entrance gully, and renowned for its amazingly preserved tombs.
They are also expected to take part in a riding excursions to Wadi Rum, where it is thought they will stay in a luxury tented camp.
Several travel companies offer honeymooning couples private trips “in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia” across the region, which is where army officer T E Lawrence led the Bedouin revolt against the Ottomans in 1917 which was immortalised in the classic film.
Desert Guides Company, which specialises in tailor-made holidays to Jordan, provides luxury five-star tented accommodation on tours of the Wadi Rum, including candlelit tents and five-star hotel accommodation in Petra.
There was also speculation that the couple may spend part of their break at one of the Royal estates, such as Balmoral, the Queen's estate in Scotland.
The Duke is known to have a deep affection for Africa and Kenya has a symbolic meaning to the couple as it is where the Prince proposed to his wife last year.
Bookmakers revealed that Kenya was the favourite destination for the Royal honeymoon with odds of 3/1 alongside Scotland. Jordan was offered at 7/2, said bookmakers William Hill.
After conducting their nuptials under the intense glare of the world's media and the public, the couple may also seek to escape prying eyes on a secluded Caribbean island.
Bequia and Necker Island all have the benefit of being easily secured, as does the ultra-exclusive Mustique, where the Duchess's parents Carole and Michael Middleton are frequent visitors.
Lizard Island, off the coast of Queensland, Australia, has also emerged as a contender.
However, with the Duke resuming his pilot duties in two weeks, the significant jet lag likely from such a far-flung trip could rule it out.
They may also be tempted by Chile, as they both spent time in the South American country during their gap years before university.
A spokesman for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said they would not be revealing the destination.
He said: "The most important thing is that they want some privacy. We know there is an army of photographers out there waiting to find out where they are going.
"If it was your own honeymoon you would want some privacy."
Thirty years ago, the Duke's parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, spent the first stage of their honeymoon in Romsey in Hampshire, where they stayed at Broadlands, the family home of the Mountbattens.
The second part of their holiday was spent on board the royal yacht Britannia. They boarded at the Rock of Gibraltar before cruising to Algeria, Tunisia, Sicily, the Greek islands and Egypt.
Finally, they went to Scotland to spend time with the Royal Family in Balmoral.
When they finished, William put his hand on the small of his wife's back and they went over to talk to the helicopter pilot before climbing on board.
Before they boarded the aircraft, palace staff had carried out some of their luggage, which included a bouquet of white blooms.
The couple are said to still be on a high after their wedding day which was both an intimate family affair and a global event televised across the world.
Speculation has been mounting about where the couple could spend their time away together.
Likely honeymoon destinations could include Africa - a continent for which William has a deep affection. He could take his wife to countries like Botswana, or Kenya, where he proposed.
Among the destinations believed to be favoured by the Duke and Duchess is Jordan, where the couple will take in some of the country's most famous sites, including the ancient city of Petra and the Wadi Rum desert valley.
The couple were understood to be considering several options for their honeymoon break, but the Middle-Eastern country was their preferred foreign destination.
Jordan would have great nostalgic appeal for Kate as her family spent two years there when she was a child.
There were reports that the couple have booked a tailor made private tour of southern Jordan, including a visit to the ancient city of Petra.
The 'rose-red city half as old as time’ was carved out of a deep sandstone cleft in the desert 26 centuries ago by the Nabateans, an Aramaic people.
Spread over seven miles it is Jordan’s star attraction, approached through a half mile-long entrance gully, and renowned for its amazingly preserved tombs.
They are also expected to take part in a riding excursions to Wadi Rum, where it is thought they will stay in a luxury tented camp.
Several travel companies offer honeymooning couples private trips “in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia” across the region, which is where army officer T E Lawrence led the Bedouin revolt against the Ottomans in 1917 which was immortalised in the classic film.
Desert Guides Company, which specialises in tailor-made holidays to Jordan, provides luxury five-star tented accommodation on tours of the Wadi Rum, including candlelit tents and five-star hotel accommodation in Petra.
There was also speculation that the couple may spend part of their break at one of the Royal estates, such as Balmoral, the Queen's estate in Scotland.
The Duke is known to have a deep affection for Africa and Kenya has a symbolic meaning to the couple as it is where the Prince proposed to his wife last year.
Bookmakers revealed that Kenya was the favourite destination for the Royal honeymoon with odds of 3/1 alongside Scotland. Jordan was offered at 7/2, said bookmakers William Hill.
After conducting their nuptials under the intense glare of the world's media and the public, the couple may also seek to escape prying eyes on a secluded Caribbean island.
Bequia and Necker Island all have the benefit of being easily secured, as does the ultra-exclusive Mustique, where the Duchess's parents Carole and Michael Middleton are frequent visitors.
Lizard Island, off the coast of Queensland, Australia, has also emerged as a contender.
However, with the Duke resuming his pilot duties in two weeks, the significant jet lag likely from such a far-flung trip could rule it out.
They may also be tempted by Chile, as they both spent time in the South American country during their gap years before university.
A spokesman for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said they would not be revealing the destination.
He said: "The most important thing is that they want some privacy. We know there is an army of photographers out there waiting to find out where they are going.
"If it was your own honeymoon you would want some privacy."
Thirty years ago, the Duke's parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, spent the first stage of their honeymoon in Romsey in Hampshire, where they stayed at Broadlands, the family home of the Mountbattens.
The second part of their holiday was spent on board the royal yacht Britannia. They boarded at the Rock of Gibraltar before cruising to Algeria, Tunisia, Sicily, the Greek islands and Egypt.
Finally, they went to Scotland to spend time with the Royal Family in Balmoral.