- Couple trying to 'block out terror' of wedding watched by two billion
- Syrian ambassador told he's not invited after uprising slaughterings
- Rain and thunder could disrupt Royal wedding, forecasters say
- Kate's younger brother James will do the ONLY reading during the service
- Royal pair broke with tradition by writing own message in official programme
- Queen to miss evening reception at Palace and Harry's best man speech
Kate Middleton awoke this morning at the Goring Hotel after spending her final night as a single woman with her family. Wearing a polka-dot dress, the
bride-to-be, accompanied by her sister Pippa and mother Carole, waved to the huge crowd which has gathered
outside the hotel in Belgravia last night. A beaming Kate showed no sign of nerves ahead of her marriage today to Prince William.
And royal fans had an extra treat last night as her husband-to-be greeted well-wishers along The Mall.
Now scroll down to see the video Here come the Middletons: Pippa, Kate and mother
Carole smile to the crowds as they arrive at the Goring Hotel ahead of
Kate's marriage to Prince William tomorrow
Almost there: Kate Middleton and her family
receive huge cheers in Belgravia this evening ahead of her wedding at
Westminster Abbey
I'm getting married in the morning: The
bride-to-be waves to the crowds as she prepares to spend her final night
as a single woman and a commoner
A family affair: Kate outside the Goring Hotel with her sister Pippa and mother Carole this evening
Prince William, accompanied by his brother Harry, shook hands and chatted with the crowd near Clarence House. Earlier yesterday, Kate was greeted by
cheers at the abbey as she was joined by best man Prince Harry - as well
as the bridesmaids and
pageboys and members of her family - for one last run-through of the big
day which will be watched by 2 billion people round the globe. The practice took place
as it was revealed Miss Middleton will not promise to 'obey' Prince
William in her vows.
It's really happening: Kate reacts to well-wishers outside her hotel
Yesterday thousands of royal fans had set up tents outside the Abbey where there was a carnival atmosphere. As Kate arrived this morning, a huge cheer went up from the royal fans who have been arriving from round the globe.
Waving their Union flags, the crowds greeted the passing Household Cavalry yesterday morning
before the bride-to-be arrived for a last run-through. It is the last time Miss Middleton or a
member of the Royal Family will be at the abbey before the service gets
under way, St James's Palace said.
Prince William greets well-wishers along The Mall ahead of his wedding
The happy prince: Kate's husband-to-be clearly enjoyed chatting with his fans
Best man: Prince Harry joined his brother on the stroll near Clarence House
One more night: The bride-to-be and her sister Pippa were all smiles as the big day approaches
Soon to have a prince in the family: Pippa and Carole in Belgravia this evening
Later
on, the Duchess of Cornwall went out onto the Mall to meet well-wishers
and those camping out ahead of today’s event during an impromptu
walkabout.
When asked
how she was feeling ahead of the big day, the duchess said: 'We’re all
ready for tomorrow - it’s wonderful and all very exciting! 'There’s a great atmosphere out here and it’s so nice to meet people and see how the celebrations are getting underway.'
Flying the flag: The Duchess of Cornwall greets royal fans as she arrives at Clarence House earlier today
Walkabout: The Duchess of Cornwall spoke to royal fans who are camping overnight on The Mall
New picture: This portrait of Prince William and
Kate Middleton by celebrated photographer Mario Testino was published
in the official programme
Today the journalist who carried out the couple's engagement interview said they were attempting to 'block out the terror of having two billion
people' watching them. In a personal message to
well-wishers, the couple said they were 'incredibly moved' by the
affection shown to them since their engagement in the official wedding
programme. Today modern-thinking Miss Middleton will pledge to 'love, comfort, honour and keep' William.
Kate Middleton and Prince Harry at the Abbey
this morning for the last run-through. Two billion people are expected
to watch the ceremony tomorrow
Mike Tindall, who is due to marry Zara Phillips in July, arrives at Clarence House
The soon-to-be royal is following in
the footsteps of the Prince's mother Diana who also opted not to 'obey'
the Prince of Wales during their wedding ceremony in 1981.
The Queen, Princess Margaret and the Princess Royal all said they would obey their husbands.
William
and his fiancee have selected the Series One Book of Common Prayer
ceremony, from 1966, which allows the bride to drop 'obey him' and
'serve him' from the religious proceedings. With
William choosing not to wear a wedding ring, only the prince will say
'With this ring I thee wed' as he places the golden band on Kate's
finger.
Last practice: Kate Middleton, with her mother
Carole and Prince Harry, gets into a Jaguar and leaves Westminster Abbey
this morning after a final run through. The next time she will be back
there will be for the wedding
Grinning bride: A smiling Kate Middleton, right,
arrives at Westminster Abbey for the last run through. Left, her sister
Pippa enters with bridesmaid Grace van Cutsem
Page boy: William Lowther-Pinkerton, 10, arrives at Westminster Abbey for the rehearsal this morning
The task of writing a message at the start of the official programme usually falls to the Archbishop of Canterbury. The wrote that they were deeply
touched by people's reactions as they prepare for 'one of the happiest
days of our lives', they said. A St James's Palace spokesman said: 'The couple felt that they wanted to put in a message from themselves.'
The signatures 'William' and 'Catherine' can be seen underneath the heartfelt message. The programme also contains a
hand-drawn colour map of the carriage procession route, as well as the
history of the abbey and details of William and Kate's coats of arms. It includes a brief history of past Royal Weddings at the abbey, where William the Conqueror was crowned in 1066.
It declares: 'More than a millennium
after the first William made his solemn oath, the abbey hosts another
William and his bride for a further moment of great solemnity, but one
of great joy as well.'
Some 150,000 copies of the A5
booklet, costing £2 each, will be made available along the processional
route on the wedding day by a team of military cadets and Explorer
Scouts.
By Royal Appointment: Page boy Tom Pettifer, eight, and Lady Louise Windsor arrive for the rehearsals this morning
Last hours: Kate Middleton and Prince Harry
leaves Westminster Abbey with family and friends this morning just a day
before the ceremony after the final run through
Official programme: William and Kate said in
their message at the start of the keepsake that they would like 'to
thank everyone most sincerely for their kindness'
The royal wedding procession has been planned down to the finest detail
As final rehearsals are carried out, the Syrian ambassador was told he is not invited after the slaughterings. The
dramatic announcement came amid mounting fury that a representative of
Middle Eastern despot President Bashar Assad was to attend.
Tomorrow the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams will conduct the vows, before pronouncing the couple 'man and wife'. There will be one Lesson during the service, which the couple have asked Miss Middleton's younger brother James to read.
In the mood: David Cameron takes a stroll along The Mall and meets well-wishers
Happy memories: The Prime Minister also
re-visited the spot where he camped out at for the wedding of Prince
Charles and Lady Diana in 1981
After a lunchtime reception, the Queen will leave Buckingham Palace - and miss Harry's best man speech and the evening party.
She
will head out of the capital with the Duke of Edinburgh for a private
weekend, leaving the newlyweds to party the night away at a black tie
evening reception with their friends.
Buckingham
Palace said the Queen would hear a number of speeches at the lunchtime
canapes reception for 650 guests, including family, friends, foreign
royals, dignitaries and charity workers.
She will see the bride and groom cutting their lavish multi-tiered wedding cake.
A message from the royal couple in the souvenir programme says: 'We are both so delighted that you are able to join us in
celebrating what we hope will be one of the happiest days of our lives.
Wellwishers: Susanna Buckman, from Maryland,
U.S. and Jessica and Chelsea Spence from Zimbabwe in the tented village
outside Westminster Abbey this morning
Royal father: Prince Charles arrives at Clarence House this morning hours before his son marries Kate Middleton tomorrow
Wedding guide: Kate will not vow to 'obey'
William it was revealed in vows printed in the official guide this
morning. Pictured right, Kate Middleton leaves the final rehearsal last
night ahead of the big day
The seating plan in Westminster Abbey for the families and guests of Kate Middleton and Prince William
'The affection shown to us by so many people during our engagement has been incredibly moving, and has touched us both deeply. 'We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone most sincerely for their kindness.' However, as final preparations get underway, rain was threatening to put a dampener on the big day. Alison Cobb, a meteorologist with Meteogroup, said there was a 'real risk' of Kate Middleton being rained
on as she steps from her limousine at 11am to enter Westminster Abbey
on her father's arm. The keepsake souvenir,
which includes the full Order of Service for the marriage ceremony
tomorrow, also features a new black and white portrait of the couple by
the celebrated fashion photographer Mario Testino.
In a close-up shot, both the Prince
and Miss Middleton are wearing matching open-necked white shirts and are
smiling broadly, with Kate leaning towards William. In the much anticipated service, the
music of famous classical favourites by Elgar, Britten and Vaughan
Williams will all sound out around the ancient abbey.
From the popular hymn Jerusalem to
the quintessential English melody Greensleeves, the couple have embraced
the nation's musical heritage in their choice of choral pieces and
compositions.
St James' Palace said many of the 'stunning' pieces were picked by the bride and groom for their 'theatre'.
Final preparations: The household cavalry ride past Westminster Abbey early this morning on the day before the Royal Wedding
Clock ticking: Kate Middleton arrives at Westminster Abbey with Prince Harry for today's rehearsal ahead of the wedding tomorrow
Final rehearsal: Prince William and fiancee Kate
Middleton leave Westminster Abbey together last night after a last
wedding run through
Catering staff are scanned as they enter Westminster Abbey this morning
Tom Bradby, ITN political editor and
William's friend, told ITV's Daybreak that the couple were trying to foget so many people will be watching. 'I think there has been a really
concerted attempt to block it out and just concentrate on their
marriage,' he said.
'The church is going to be full of many, many people, a lot of whom
they've never met, and they just want to think about themselves and what
it means to them.'
Mr Bradby, a former royal correspondent, will attend the wedding as a guest.
Mr Bradby said William was determined to protect his fiancee from intrusion into their lives.
'I have really been struck over the last 10 years about how determined he has been to protect,' he said.
'He looked at his mother and what happened to her and it didn't take a
genius to draw the lessons that he's obviously drawn from it - which is
he doesn't want that sort of chaos in his life.
'He's tried to effectively
create this iron wall around his friends and his girlfriend. You kind
of worry for them that this is the moment the world gets let in.'
Mr Bradby described the young couple, who met as undergraduates at the
University of St Andrews, as 'sophisticated' media operators.
Beaming: Bride-to-be Kate Middleton as she leaves Westminster Abbey this morning
The security arrangements for Friday's event include sniffer dogs and road closures
Final countdown: Tents line the street outside
Westminster Abbey this morning where William and Kate will wed in a
service conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury
Celebration: Buntings are seen hanging across No 10 Downing Street today in readiness for the street party for the Royal Wedding
Royal celebration: Bucklebury Church of England
Primary School, in Kate Middleton's hometown, hold a wedding party today
for the bride
William's father the Prince of Wales
and stepmother the Duchess of Cornwall and Kate's parents Carole and
Michael Middleton and sister Pippa will all act as witnesses and sign
the historic marriage registers during the ceremony on Friday.
It also emerged that the bride will
walk up the aisle to the dramatic sounds of a coronation anthem - the
soaring choral masterpiece 'I was glad' 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, but is also popular at weddings. As the choir begins to sing, the
bride will begin her three and a half minute procession through the Nave
and Quire to meet her Prince on her father's arm.
The newlyweds will leave the Abbey to
the sounds of the well-known rousing orchestral march Crown Imperial by
William Walton, which was also played at Charles and Diana's wedding.
The three hymns - 'Guide me, O thou
great Redeemer', 'Love divine, all loves excelling' and Jerusalem which
begins 'And did those feet in ancient time' - are all favourites of the
couple.
Run-through: Sophie Wessex, left, arrives at
Clarence House this morning and, right, Kate Middleton's mother Carole
leaves for Westminster Abbey
Official programme: 150,000 copies have been
printed of the A5 booklet, costing £2 each, which will be made available
along the route on the wedding day by a team of military cadets and
Explorer Scouts
Royal bride vows to 'love, comfort, honour and keep' William
Here is the full Solemnization of Marriage conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury from the Order of Service:
The Archbishop says to Prince William:
William
Arthur Philip Louis, wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to
live together according to God's law in the holy estate of matrimony?
Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour and keep her, in sickness and in
health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as
ye both shall live?
He answers:
I will.
The Archbishop says to Catherine:
Catherine
Elizabeth, wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live
together according to God's law in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt
thou love him, comfort him, honour and keep him, in sickness and in
health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye
both shall live?
She answers:
I will.
Royal fans: Enthusiasts sleep on the streets -
one of them in a tent adorned with a Union Jack - outside Westminster
Abbey as they guarantee themselves the best spots for tomorrow's
ceremony
The Archbishop continues:
Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?
The
Archbishop receives Catherine from her father's hand. Taking
Catherine's right hand, Prince William says after the Archbishop:
I,
William Arthur Philip Louis, take thee, Catherine Elizabeth to my
wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for
worse: for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; to love and to
cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy law; and
thereto I give thee my troth.
They loose hands. Catherine, taking Prince William by his right hand, says after the Archbishop:
I,
Catherine Elizabeth, take thee, William Arthur Philip Louis, to my
wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better,
for worse: for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; to love
and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy law; and
thereto I give thee my troth.
They loose hands.
Tent city: Hundreds of campers were set up
outside Westminster Abbey this morning and cheered as Kate Middleton and
senior members of the Royal family arrived for a run through
Exclusive entrance: Workmen erect a screen at
the front of The Goring hotel which Kate Middleton has chosen as a base
for herself and her closest family ahead of the royal wedding
The Archbishop blesses the ring:
Bless,
O Lord, this ring, and grant that he who gives it and she who shall
wear it may remain faithful to each other, and abide in thy peace and
favour, and live together in love until their lives' end.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prince William takes the ring and places it upon the fourth finger of Catherine's left hand. Prince William says after the Archbishop:
With
this ring I thee wed; with my body I thee honour; and all my worldly
goods with thee I share: in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
The Congregation remains standing as the Couple kneels. The Archbishop says:
Let us pray.
O
eternal God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, giver of all
spiritual grace, the author of everlasting life: send thy blessing upon
these thy servants, this man and this woman, whom we bless in thy name;
that, living faithfully together, they may surely perform and keep the
vow and covenant betwixt them made, whereof this ring given and received
is a token and pledge; and may ever remain in perfect love and peace
together, and live according to thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Archbishop joins their right hands together and says:
Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.
The Archbishop addresses the Congregation:
Forasmuch
as William and Catherine have consented together in holy wedlock, and
have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have
given and pledged their troth either to other, and have declared the
same by giving and receiving of a ring, and by joining of hands; I
pronounce that they be man and wife together, in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
The Archbishop blesses the Couple:
God
the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep
you; the Lord mercifully with his favour look upon you; and so fill you
with all spiritual benediction and grace, that ye may so live together
in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting.
Amen.
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