William marries Kate amid pomp and pageantry
Huge crowds and a global TV audience watched Britain's biggest Royal Wedding in 30 years.
Prince William and his long-time girlfriend Kate Middleton were married in a historic fairytale ceremony at the majestic Westminster Abbey marked by pomp and pageantry as huge crowds and a global TV audience watched Britain’s biggest royal wedding in 30 years.
William,the second in line to throne,and Middleton,who have been romancing for the past 10 years,were pronounced man and wife as they exchanged wedding vows with two simple words “I will ” before Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.
Wearing a stunning ivory gown with lace appliqué floral detail with a long train and lace sleeves,29-year-old Middleton and William,28,attired in the red tunic of an Irish Guards Colonel – his most senior honorary appointment – also recited a prayer written by them.
Middleton is the first “commoner” to marry a prince in close proximity to the throne in more than 350 years.
After the couple said their vows,in which Kate did not promise to ‘obey’ William,the Archbishop,declared: “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.”
After their marriage,the royal couple appeared on the balcony of the Buckingham Palace and kissed in front of an enormous and adoring crowd,ending the suspense whether the groom will follow the footsteps of his father Prince Charles,who started a tradition kissing his new bride Diana on July 29,1981.
The couple delighted the crowd by kissing a second time,just before the RAF flypast over the palace.
A Who’s Who of Royalty,power and fame,David and Victoria Bekham,Elton John,Prime Minister David Cameron,the King of Norway and the cream of British Nobility were among the 1,900 strong congregation inside the Abbey watching the couple sail through their marriage ceremony with a polished and regal performance.
Kate walked up the red carpeted aisle a commoner but with her new husband at her side and a ring on her finger,the former Miss Middleton became HRH the Duchess of Cambridge.
William was made the Duke of Cambridge by his grandmother Queen Elizabeth this morning – a wedding gift.
The future king and his beautiful bride,who will now one day be queen,pledged their love for one another in the ancient surroundings.
An estimated 2 billion people across the globe watched the royal wedding,the first in the British royal family in the 21st century.
The most recent royal wedding was that of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles,on 9 April 2005.
But unlike his marriage to Lady Diana,it was a low key event at the Windsor castle in keeping the public mood.
Planned and choreographed over the last few months to the last detail,the event was replete with royal pomp,pageantry and regalia that Britains royal family is known for.
Millions across Britain watched the event on giant screens while reports of street parties poured in from various towns in the country,momentarily setting aside the effects of crippling public spending cuts and recession.
William and Kate had written their own prayer: “God our Father,we thank you for our families; for the love that we share and for the joy of our marriage. In the business of each day keep our eyes fixed on what is real and important in life and help us to be generous with our time and love and energy. Strengthened by our union help us to serve and comfort those who suffer. We ask this in the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Amen.”
The service was impressive but there was a moment of drama as William struggled to place the wedding ring on Kate’s finger.
After the couple said their vows,in which the modern-thinking bride did not promise to obey William,the Archbishop of Canterbury declared: “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.”
Hundreds of thousands of people converged in London from all over the world for the royal wedding. Thousands of street parties have been planned across Britain to celebrate the royal wedding.
On the eve of their wedding,Prince William and Kate said in a warm message said: “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.
“The affection shown to us by so many people during our engagement has been incredibly moving,and has touched us both deeply.”
Invitees to the wedding included royal families from various countries,political leaders and people of different walks of life,including an Indian-origin shopkeeper couple from Kate’s village of Buckleberry.
Among the hundreds of guests at Westminster Abbey were soccer star David Beckham and his ‘Spice Girl’ wife Victoria.
Chelsy Davy,Prince Harry’s on-again-off-again girlfriend,was also present.
US President Barack Obama was not on the guest list.
Britain’s former prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were also not invited to the royal wedding.
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