Britain celebrates as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge formally wed in regal pomp

Source: Sky News

After months of waiting, Kate Middleton and Prince William today tied the knot at Westminster Abbey.

Wearing a flowing wedding dress with a long train and lace sleeves, Kate clutched a bunch of white flowers as she embarked on the short drive to Westminster Abbey, before starting her three-minute walk up the aisle to be with her groom.

As the happy couple exchanged vows, William appeared to have trouble slipping the ring onto Kate's finger.

But to the relief of all, he finally slipped the wedding band on and the ceremony passed without a hitch.

Earlier thousands of people filled the streets of London as royalty, leading politicians and top names from the showbiz world filed into the Abbey for the wedding of the century.

Kate Middleton will leave behind her commoner roots to become Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge, Buckingham Palace announced today.

The royal couple will officially become the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge after they have tied the knot. Prince William has also become the Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus.

After they marry, the pair will travel from Westminster Abbey to the Palace in an open-topped carriage despite forecasters saying there is a risk of rain.

They will pass the cheering crowds in The Mall after their wedding ceremony in a 1902 State Landau that was used by Charles and Diana 30 years ago.

Kate woke up 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.

This morning Kate's mother Carole will leave the Goring Hotel for Westminster Abbey at 10.20am - 31 minutes before the Bride is scheduled to step out.

Overnight 5,000 people camped out along the Mall hoping to get a good sight of the couple when they pass in the open topped vehicle later this morning.

With showers forecast for the wedding day there had been fears an enclosed carriage would be used.

But a Buckingham Palace spokeswoman confirmed this morning the couple would use the State Landau. It will be led by four horses and accompanied by two horsemen and two footmen.

The decision means tens of thousands of spectators will get a good view of the couple. If it had been raining the couple would have travelled along the one-and-a-half mile route to the palace in a Glass Coach.

Prince Harry, William's best man, and Pippa Middleton, Kate's sister and maid of honour, will follow in two separate Ascot Landau carriages with the young bridesmaids and page boys.

The second procession will be the Sovereign's Escort mounted by four squadrons from the Household Cavalry.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will ride in a semi-state Landau as will Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, who will be joined by Kate's parents Michael and Carole Middleton.

The horses leading the coaches will be Cleveland Bays, the only British breed of carriage horse, but for the Queen and the newlyweds Windsor greys will be used - traditionally reserved for the monarch.

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.

Prince William, accompanied by his brother Harry, shook hands and chatted with the crowd near Clarence House.

Yesterday morning, 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.

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.

Media frenzy

More than 8,000 journalists have descended on London to jockey for positions outside London's Westminster Abbey for today’s ceremony.

Crowds are camped outside the abbey for a prime view of the wedding party.

Dozens of foreign dignitaries are to attend but the invitation for the Syrian ambassador has been withdrawn.

The facade of Buckingham Palace, where the wedding reception is to take place, will remain lit up later than usual at the request of US broadcasters, so they can report to evening audiences with the illuminated palace in the background.

Some estimates put the global TV audience as high as two billion. This would top the 750 million people estimated to have watched the most popular event ever broadcast - the 1981 wedding of William's parents, Charles, Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer.

Britain's PA news agency reports that 4,500 staff from 100 foreign outlets will be carrying Friday's events live.

CNN has sent 50 people to London to cover the wedding. Brazilian channel Record has sent a team of 12 while Japan's Asahi has a crew of 20 in London, for example.

The main US networks have sent their star anchors, who will be accompanied by British TV celebrities such as Cat Deeley and Sharon Osbourne to provide local knowledge.

For weeks, the networks have been crowding their schedules with royal wedding-related programming.

Interest has also run high in the former British dominions of Canada, Australia and New Zealand, where TV channels and websites are planning live coverage of the wedding.

But in India, Britain's largest former dominion, coverage has focused on whether Bollywood dancer-choreographer Sandip Soparrkar made up his invitation to the wedding.

In Germany, some cities are setting up large screens in public places for crowds to watch the wedding. Hotels will screen the events on TVs in their lobbies.

Some 50 foreign heads of state are among the 1,900 invited guests attending the wedding.

However Bahraini Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa turned down his invitation, saying he did not want the unrest in the Gulf kingdom to spoil the celebration.

The invitation for Syrian ambassador Dr Sami Khiyami was withdrawn amid condemnation of a crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in the country.

The Foreign Office said his presence would be "unacceptable" and that Buckingham Palace "shared that view".

The ambassador for Libya - where the UK is involved in Nato strikes against Col Muammar Gaddafi's armed forces as they fight a rebellion - was officially invited but is not expected to attend, the Foreign Office said.

While Britons get to enjoy an extra Bank Holiday and many streets are lined with flags and bunting, some have poured cold water on the build-up.