Royal wedding: William and Kate 'moved by affection'
The wedding ceremony will be the epitome of "Britishness", St James's Palace says Prince William and Kate Middleton say they have been "incredibly moved" by the affection shown to them since they announced their engagement.
In a message in their official wedding programme they thanked "everyone most sincerely for their kindness".During Friday's Westminster Abbey ceremony Miss Middleton will vow to "love, comfort, honour and keep" Prince William but will not vow to obey him.
The service will be the epitome of "Britishness", St James's Palace said.
VisitBritain has predicted more than 600,000 people will be on the streets to watch Friday's events and several hundred are already camping out in tents and sleeping bags outside the abbey and in The Mall near Buckingham Palace.
'All ready' The Duchess of Cornwall left her London home Clarence House and went on an impromptu walkabout to meet some of the fans in The Mall.
She described Prince William and Miss Middleton as being "all ready" for their big day and said the Royal Family were "very excited".
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office says the invitation for the Syrian ambassador in London has been withdrawn following reports that up to 400 pro-democracy protesters have been killed in Syria by security forces in recent weeks.
A Foreign Office statement said: "Buckingham Palace shares the view of the Foreign Office that it is not considered appropriate for the Syrian ambassador to attend the wedding."
Earlier on Thursday Miss Middleton took part in her last rehearsal at Westminster Abbey, with best man Prince Harry, the bridesmaids and pageboys.
In their official wedding programme released on Thursday, the royal couple's message reads: "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."We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone most sincerely for their kindness."
Music choices Details of the order of service were also released.
The bride will walk up the aisle to coronation anthem 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.
The couple have chosen to use the Series One (1966) Book of Common Prayer ceremony.
Classical compositions by Elgar, Britten and Vaughan Williams will feature during the ceremony, alongside the hymn Jerusalem and the English melody Greensleeves.
Continue reading the main story 
“Start Quote
Prince Harry doesn't have to tone down his best man speech. Palace has told the BBC his grandmother the Queen won't be there”
St James's Palace said many of the "stunning" pieces were chosen by the royal couple for their "theatre".
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry, Miss Middleton's parents - Carole and Michael Middleton -, her sister Pippa and her brother James will all act as witnesses and sign the marriage registers.James Middleton will also give The Lesson, reading Romans 12: 1-2, 9-18.
The souvenir wedding programme is available to download free as a PDF from the official Royal Wedding website. The booklet will be sold for £2 a copy along the processional route, with proceeds going to the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry.
On the day, a carriage procession will pass along The Mall, Horse Guards Road, Horse Guards Parade, through Horse Guards Arch, along Whitehall, along the south side of Parliament Square and into Broad Sanctuary.
Prince William is due to spend Thursday evening with the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and Harry, while Miss Middleton and her family will gather at the Goring Hotel, in Belgravia.
Royal reception Some 50 foreign heads of state are among the 1,900 invited guests attending the wedding.
The Queen is due to host an event for British and foreign royals at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, near Hyde Park, in central London on Thursday night.
Click to play
BBC's Louise Minchin: "Kate Middleton leaves Westminster Abbey for the last time before she gets married"
It means the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh will miss Prince Harry's best man's speech and Michael Middleton's father of the bride address.
The Duchess of Cornwall met people already waiting near Buckingham Palace ahead of the wedding It is anticipated the events will be watched by millions of people worldwide on television. Thousands of journalists have descended on London and makeshift studios are outside Buckingham Palace and along the wedding route.
Scotland Yard has indicated it would take pre-emptive action to stop people causing trouble and said it "brought forward" three raids on premises in the capital, believed to be occupied by squatters, because of the wedding.
But Labour backbencher John McDonnell raised a point of order in the Commons describing the action - which the Metropolitan Police said was not "specifically related" to the wedding - as "disproportionate".
The Met Office says Friday will start off dry but cloudy in London. It will become brighter through the morning, with some sunny spells, but there is a 30% risk of showers about noon when Prince William and his bride are expected to emerge from Westminster Abbey after the wedding.
Forecasters also say there is a risk of heavy showers developing later on. Temperatures in the capital are expected to reach a high of 19C (66F) in the afternoon.
Your comments (218)
No comments:
Post a Comment