Tomorrow’s the day: HRH Prince William of Wales will marry his beaming bride, Miss Catherine Middleton.
Earlier today, The Royal Couple released the following statement , “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.”
Should you care to follow along, here’s what you need to know: (source: multiple)
8.15 a.m. London time (12.15 a.m. PT/3.15 a.m. ET) – General congregation arrives at Westminster Abbey between 8.15 a.m. and 9.45 a.m.
9.50 a.m. London time (1.50 a.m. PT/4.50 a.m. ET) Distinguished guests arrive.
10.10 a.m. London time (2.10 a.m. PT/5.10 a.m. ET) Prince William and Prince Harryleave Clarence House for Westminster Abbey. They arrive at the Abbey at 10.15 a.m.
10.20 a.m. London time (2.20 p.m. PT/5.20 p.m. ET) Carole Middleton and Kate’s younger brother James leave the Goring Hotel for Westminster Abbey. They arrive at the Abbey at 10.27 a.m.
10.35 a.m. London time (2.35 a.m. PT/5.35 a.m. ET) The following members of the Royal family leave Buckingham Palace for Westminster Abbey: Princess Anne and Vice-Admiral Timothy Laurence; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice; Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Sophie, Countess of Wessex. They arrive at the Abbey at 10.40 a.m.
10.38 a.m. London time (2.38 a.m. PT/5.38 a.m. ET) HRH Charles, the Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall leave Clarence House for Westminster Abbey. They arrive at the Abbey at 10.42 a.m.
10.40 a.m. London time (2.40 a.m. PT/5.40 a.m. ET) Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh leave Buckingham Palace for Westminster Abbey.
10.48 a.m. London time (2.48 a.m. PT/5.48 a.m. ET) The bridesmaids and pages leave the Goring Hotel for Westminster Abbey. They arrive at the Abbey at 10.55 a.m.
10:51 a.m. London time (2:51 a.m. PT/5:51 a.m. ET) – Kate and her father Mike Middleton will depart the Goring Hotel via car, the first time since 1963 that a royal bride has not arrived at the church by horse-drawn carriage. Their car will travel along The Mall, passing by Clarence House, Whitehall, and Parliament Square before arriving at the Abbey. 🙂
11 a.m. London time (3 a.m. PT/6 a.m. ET) – The service begins at 11:00 a.m. While the Dean of Westminster will conduct the church service, William and Kate will actually be married by Rowan Douglas Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury. The marriage service will be relayed by audio speakers along the procession route. 🙂
12.15 p.m. London time (4.15 a.m. PT/7.15 a.m. ET) – Following the ceremony, Prince William and Princess Catherine, now husband and wife, will return to Buckingham Palace in a procession of horse-drawn carriages (with the newlyweds travellign in the 1902 State Landau carriage), passing by the thousands of well-wishers who will be lining the streets. 🙂
12.30 p.m. London time (4:30 a.m. PT/7:30 a.m. ET) – Once back at Buckingham Palace, the newlyweds enjoy a champagne reception hosted by Her Majesty the Queen.
1.25 p.m. London time (5.25 a.m. PT/8.25 a.m. ET) – The Royal couple and their families will take a moment to appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony. We expect that William and Kate will share a **kiss** for the crowds and cameras. 🙂
1.30 p.m. London time (5.30 a.m. PT/8.30 a.m. ET) – The royals watch a flypast by the Royal Air Force and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight before returning inside for the Queen’s reception.
7 p.m. London time (11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ET) – Charles, The Prince of Wales will host a private dinner and dance, also at Buckingham Palace.
* I’ve marked with a 🙂 the points of the schedule I’ll be paying the most attention to …. and, with that, I’m off to bed! MJ
Thanks for the info, MJ! 🙂
Up watching it! They all look stunning, the Queen looks like a little yellow bird and HRH Princess Catherine evokes Princess Grace to me.
Loving it all 🙂 MJ
Let’s see, I was up at 4:30 eastern time. I thought it was a gorgeous wedding. All the commentators kept talking about how “at ease” Kate appears to be. And she does. She’s a beautiful bride!
I was up at 5:15 Eastern time. I thought it was spectacular. She was a classically beautiful bride and I loved the joy that was apparent on both of their faces. Cheers! MJ
My friends and I toasted with mimosas to the apparent happiness of this young couple. It’s been a long day, but I’m glad I got up at 3:00 AM just as I did in July of 1981 to show my two month old daughter history. All in all, a very sensible wedding, Royal Style.
Georgette, I hear you, it was a long day but I was glad to have taken part in it by just being up to see it :). I remember watching Diana’s wedding in 1981, too, and that was long before DVRs gave us the ability to pause for a quick coffee refill… Cheers, and glad you enjoyed it, MJ
i have seen the wedding
If only I had found this before the wedding!! We had to keep asking everyone else!
Thank goodness for google 🙂 Cheers! MJ