Newlyweds Prince William and Kate Middleton sealed their love with not one but TWO kisses on the famous Buckingham Palace balcony today to the delight of the nation.
The bride and groom appeared with their families to acknowledge the thousands of well-wishers crowded along The Mall.
They exchanged a kiss to roars of approval.
Then, as an RAF flypast swept towards the palace, the couple kissed again,.
William and Kate were proclaimed "man and wife" at a historic ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
The future king and his beautiful bride, who will now one day be Queen, pledged their love for one another in the ancient surrounds, watched by millions across the globe.
In a stunning ivory gown with lace applique floral detail designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, Kate walked up the red carpeted aisle a commoner.
With her new husband at her side and a ring on her finger, the former Miss Middleton left the abbey as HRH the Duchess of Cambridge - William was made a duke by the Queen this morning.
A congregation of 1,900 and up to two billion people saw their vows, as they were beamed live around world.
In the presence of the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, Kate's parents Carole and Michael Middleton and other guests in the abbey, William placed Kate's simple gold wedding band on her finger.
After stepping outside at the Great West Door, they joined a carriage procession of magnificent pomp and splendour and headed back to the Palace following the ceremony, ready to watch the traditional flypast from the balcony.
After the couple arrived at the palace, a sea of people followed them down The Mall, eager for a glimpse of them on the balcony.
They were not disappointed.
The bride appeared to mouth 'Oh wow' as she stepped out and was greeted by a vast crowd of flag-waving people.
William and Kate's initial fleeting embrace, their first in public, sent the already ecstatic well-wishers wild.
The second kiss brought ever-louder cheers.
Meanwhile William's father the Prince of Wales held up his wife Camilla's grand-daughter Eliza Lopes, aged three, so she could get a better view.
After about five minutes of waving to the crowds, the couple walked hand in hand back through the doors of the palace, Kate taking one last glimpse over her shoulder at the scene below.
The future king and his beautiful bride pledged their love for one another in the ancient surroundings of the abbey.
Kate was dubbed "Waity Katie" for her patience during her long courtship with William as she waited for her prince to pop the question.
Today she finally became a royal wife.
As she recited her vows, William smiled encouragingly.
The service was flawless but there was a tiny moment of drama as the prince struggled to place the 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."
Cheers erupted down The Mall and across the country as their union was sealed in front of a congregation of 1,900, with an estimated TV audience of two billion watching around the world.
Thousands of well-wishers had flocked to the processional route, cheering heartily as Kate made her way to the abbey after leaving the Goring hotel with her father Michael at 10.51am precisely.
The Rolls-Royce arrived at 11am as the abbey bells rang out.
Kate enters Westminster Abbey
Wills waits for his bride Kate
A smile for Wills as she spots her husband-to-be
When her father took her left hand they began their procession along the red carpet that started outside the ancient building and led inside, with her sister Pippa carrying her train.
On her father's arm and watched by her proud mother Carole, Kate walked up the aisle as a commoner to the sounds of the coronation anthem, Parry's "I Was Glad".
When they arrived at the altar Prince William apparently cracked a joke to his father-in-law, according to a lip-reader, saying they were "supposed to have just a small family affair".
Kate starts her three-and-a-half minute walk down the aisle with her father Michael on her arm
Moments earlier, William's best man Prince Harry apparently told his brother: "Right she is here now."
As her groom waited, Kate moved along the red carpet, around the south side of the poppy-lined Grave of the Unknown Warrior - the only gravestone in the abbey over which it is not permitted to walk.
Behind her was her maid of honour and sister charmingly holding hands with the youngest of the bridesmaids Eliza Lopes and Grace van Cutsem - both just three-years-old.
They were followed by Lady Louise Windsor and the Hon Margarita Armstrong-Jones, and then the page boys Tom Pettifer and Billy Lowther-Pinkerton.
Miss Middleton made her way to the Lantern, where she finally met William, resplendent in his dashing red military uniform, at the Sacrarium steps
The future king and his beautiful bride, who will now one day be Queen, pledged their love for one another in the ancient surrounds, watched by millions across the globe.
In a stunning ivory gown with lace applique floral detail designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, Kate walked up the red carpeted aisle a commoner.
With her new husband at her side and a ring on her finger, the former Miss Middleton left the abbey as HRH the Duchess of Cambridge - William was made a duke by the Queen this morning.
A congregation of 1,900 and up to two billion people saw their vows, as they were beamed live around world.
In the presence of the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, Kate's parents Carole and Michael Middleton and other guests in the abbey, William placed Kate's simple gold wedding band on her finger.
After stepping outside at the Great West Door, they joined a carriage procession of magnificent pomp and splendour and headed back to the Palace following the ceremony, ready to watch the traditional flypast from the balcony.
After the couple arrived at the palace, a sea of people followed them down The Mall, eager for a glimpse of them on the balcony.
They were not disappointed.
The bride appeared to mouth 'Oh wow' as she stepped out and was greeted by a vast crowd of flag-waving people.
William and Kate's initial fleeting embrace, their first in public, sent the already ecstatic well-wishers wild.
The second kiss brought ever-louder cheers.
Meanwhile William's father the Prince of Wales held up his wife Camilla's grand-daughter Eliza Lopes, aged three, so she could get a better view.
After about five minutes of waving to the crowds, the couple walked hand in hand back through the doors of the palace, Kate taking one last glimpse over her shoulder at the scene below.
The future king and his beautiful bride pledged their love for one another in the ancient surroundings of the abbey.
Kate was dubbed "Waity Katie" for her patience during her long courtship with William as she waited for her prince to pop the question.
Today she finally became a royal wife.
As she recited her vows, William smiled encouragingly.
The service was flawless but there was a tiny moment of drama as the prince struggled to place the 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."
Cheers erupted down The Mall and across the country as their union was sealed in front of a congregation of 1,900, with an estimated TV audience of two billion watching around the world.
Thousands of well-wishers had flocked to the processional route, cheering heartily as Kate made her way to the abbey after leaving the Goring hotel with her father Michael at 10.51am precisely.
The Rolls-Royce arrived at 11am as the abbey bells rang out.
Kate enters Westminster Abbey
When her father took her left hand they began their procession along the red carpet that started outside the ancient building and led inside, with her sister Pippa carrying her train.
On her father's arm and watched by her proud mother Carole, Kate walked up the aisle as a commoner to the sounds of the coronation anthem, Parry's "I Was Glad".
When they arrived at the altar Prince William apparently cracked a joke to his father-in-law, according to a lip-reader, saying they were "supposed to have just a small family affair".
Moments earlier, William's best man Prince Harry apparently told his brother: "Right she is here now."
As her groom waited, Kate moved along the red carpet, around the south side of the poppy-lined Grave of the Unknown Warrior - the only gravestone in the abbey over which it is not permitted to walk.
Behind her was her maid of honour and sister charmingly holding hands with the youngest of the bridesmaids Eliza Lopes and Grace van Cutsem - both just three-years-old.
They were followed by Lady Louise Windsor and the Hon Margarita Armstrong-Jones, and then the page boys Tom Pettifer and Billy Lowther-Pinkerton.
Miss Middleton made her way to the Lantern, where she finally met William, resplendent in his dashing red military uniform, at the Sacrarium steps
Kate's dad Michael gives his daughter away
Wills eases Kate's nerves by telling her 'you look beautiful'
Wills and Kate say their vows
Wills coaxes Kate's wedding ring onto her finger
Kate's turn to say her vows
Kate managed to hold back the tears as the couple exchanged vow
Dean of Westminster Dr John Hall began the service with the famous words: "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God and in the face of this congregation, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony..."
The cleric went on to utter the immortal lines: "...if any man can shew any just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace."
William spoke in public for the first time today when he replied "I will" in a clear and strong voice to the Archbishop of Canterbury's question about whether he would "love, comfort, honour and keep" Kate.
His bride spoke more softly when she said "I will" in response to the same question.
The wedding day became a magical public spectacle when the bride and groom left the abbey and climbed into the 1902 State Landau for a procession through the famous streets of central London.
Crowds who had been gathering since early this morning cheered and waved at the couple as they passed by in the Captain's Escort with the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.
The cleric went on to utter the immortal lines: "...if any man can shew any just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace."
William spoke in public for the first time today when he replied "I will" in a clear and strong voice to the Archbishop of Canterbury's question about whether he would "love, comfort, honour and keep" Kate.
His bride spoke more softly when she said "I will" in response to the same question.
The wedding day became a magical public spectacle when the bride and groom left the abbey and climbed into the 1902 State Landau for a procession through the famous streets of central London.
Crowds who had been gathering since early this morning cheered and waved at the couple as they passed by in the Captain's Escort with the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.
The happy couple prepare to leave the abbey
Wills and Kate start their walk up the aisle as husband and wife
The couple aknowledged friends and family as they walked back up the aisle
Bridesmaid Pippa Middleton held Kate's wedding dress train
Wills and Kate stepped into the 1902 State Landau for their trip to Buckingham Palace
Once seated, Wills asked bride Kate how she was feeling and she replied "I'm so happy"
William and Kate returned the waves and smiled back at the tens of thousands who lined crash barriers from the abbey to Buckingham Palace.
The procession was made at a fairly sedate pace and looked an impressive sight with a division of soldiers and officers in their shiny breastplates and plumed helmets leading the way and another behind.
And despite fears that rain would spoil the occasion, a shaft of sunlight fell across The Mall amid the joyous scenes as the radiant bride and her handsome prince laughed and smiled.
The procession was made at a fairly sedate pace and looked an impressive sight with a division of soldiers and officers in their shiny breastplates and plumed helmets leading the way and another behind.
And despite fears that rain would spoil the occasion, a shaft of sunlight fell across The Mall amid the joyous scenes as the radiant bride and her handsome prince laughed and smiled.
No comments:
Post a Comment