Britain's finest moment: The pomp and pageantry of the Royal Wedding in all its glory
By Daily Mail ReporterLast updated at 7:44 PM on 29th April 2011
After months of preparation, the countdown to Britain’s finest hour came to an end this morning with the Royal Wedding marking a new moment in history.
Billions of people around the world watched as Prince William and Kate Middleton took their vows as husband and wife today, but before the ceremony took place, hours of preparations were continuing.
A dazzling display of pomp and pageantry was on display in Westminster Abbey this morning bringing to a dramatic climax months of organisation.
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Now meet the crowds. Prince William and his wife Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, travel in the 1902 State Landau carriage along the Processional Route to Buckingham Palace after the ceremony at Westminster Abbey
With the Captain's Escort of the Household Cavalry leading them back to Buckingham Palace, the happy pair wave to the crowds from their carriage
The royal procession makes its way downThe Mall to Buckingham Palace after the wedding ceremony
The finishing touches to the flag-lined streets were done this morning as well as outside the abbey where the red carpet was swept.
In front of hundreds of thousands of people on the streets, and a global audience of two billion, proceedings were set in motion with a military band marching down the Mall outside Buckingham Palace.
The beginning of the ceremony commenced when the military band marched down the Mall outside Buckingham Palace, central London, as guests started to arrive to take their seats ahead of the wedding.
Members of the public gather along the Mall and around the Queen Victoria Memorial as the Royal Air Force perform a fly over as Prince William and his wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace
Catching a glimpse of the couple: Their Royal Highnesses Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge make the journey by carriage procession to Buckingham Palace past crowds of spectators following their marriage
Balcony kiss: After two billion people around the world watched the Royal Wedding, Prince William and his new bride Princess Kate shared a romantic kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace
Post Royal Wedding celebrations: RAF pilots fly past Buckingham Palace after Prince William and his new bride Kate share their kiss on the balcony
The final tribute: The flypast of Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurrican aircraft broght the official Royal Wedding celebrations to a close today
Staff at the Palace were dressing the balcony in red and gold ahead of the historic photo shoot that will take place this afternoon.
While Police officers were walking down The Mall first thing this morning, to make sure that everything runs smoothly without any disruptions.
The man responsible for the musical procession outside Buckingham Palace today has likened the performance to ‘like playing at Wembley’.
Lieutenant Colonel Graham Jones, 54, has been putting his band through their paces over the past few weeks, in preparation to play to hundreds of thousands of people lining the route to Buckingham Palace as well as a global TV audience.
Here we come: A marching band of guardsmen parade along The Mall ahead of the ceremony
Getting into position: Soldiers leave Buckingham Palace to head up Pall Mall towards Westminster Abbey
Eyes, front! Rifles resting on their left shoulder, guardsmen march outside Buckingham Palace ahead of the ceremony
The Band Of The Coldstream Guards will then play the national anthem outside the palace in front of the royal couple and the Queen.
Lt Col Jones, originally from Glossop, Derbyshire, said: ‘I have given them all a pep talk. It's a bit like being a football manager in the dressing room of the FA Cup final.
‘We have put plenty of practice in and are well versed with performing on big state occasions, but today has added impetus.
‘I have simply told them to go out there and enjoy it and it will be a great piece of history they will be able to tell their grandkids.’
The band passed down the Mall entertaining the crowds down to the Duke Of York steps.
The hour and a half performance included a range of ‘uplifting patriotic’ and ‘singalong’ numbers, such as Jerusalem as well as a Beatles medley.
In tune: Ceremonial guards perform outside the gates of Buckingham Palace watched by thousands of well-wishers
Pure patriotism: People wave their flags outside Buckingham Palace. It is estimated 1million gathered in the capital to see the ceremony which was watched by a further two billion around the world
Traditional trot: Members of the household division patrol down the Mall in earlier in the day
Royal celebrations: Members of the Household Cavalry ride past Buckingham Palace ahead of Prince William and Kate Middleton's Royal Wedding
Red carpet look: The newly married couple strolled down the red carpet together amidst the trees in Westminster Abbey
Prince William and Kate Middleton are said to have had a big input in choosing the music for their service.
Prince William appeared for the ceremony in the famous red tunic of the Irish Guards but will replace the bearskin with a forage cap adorned with the regiment’s motto: Quis Separabit? (Who shall separate us?)
While senior royals sported full military uniform for the ceremony to follow tradition.
The Prince has had an active involvement with the Army, the RAF and in The Household Cavalry Regiment.
Ready for the reception: Bridesmaids and page boys arrive at Buckingham Palace after the wedding ceremony of Britain's Prince William and Catherine
Bridal beauty: Kate waves to the crowd as she arrives at the Abbey with her father Michael, as her sister Pippa holds her train
Royal guests take their seats: The Queen, dressed in yellow, and Prince Philip take their seats next to Prince Charles and Camilla
Red carpet entrance: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall arrive at Westminster Abbey followed by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
The big moment is here: Prince William, dressed in the tunic of the Irish Guards, and Prince Harry, dressed in that of the Blues and Royals', make their way into Westminster Abbey ahead of the wedding service
Bride Kate Middleton steps out of her car as she arrives at the Abbey in her white gown after Pippa Middleton arrived with the page boys and ring bearers
And his tunic for the big day will feature the Irish Guards’ arrangement of buttons in groups of four, including the Harp of Ireland alongside the Crown Imperial.
St James’s Palace revealed that William decided to wear the Irish Guards uniform because it was his ‘highest rank’.
While a palace spokesman said: ‘If he had not gone for that he would have had to have chosen between his RAF and Household Cavalry uniforms and because he is a similar rank in both of those, it would have been quite a difficult decision.
Brother and best man Prince Harry will be dressed in a Blues and Royals’ officer’s uniform, while their father, Prince Charles, will don the full Royal Navy Number One ceremonial uniform in the rank of Admiral.
A helping hand: Kate's new husband Prince William helps her out of the carriage that took the newlyweds to Buckingham Palace after their wedding
Newlyweds: Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, arrive at Buckingham Palace in the 1902 State Landau after their wedding in Westminster Abbey
The Duke of Edinburgh will be wearing a Garter sash with his Grenadier Guards uniform, the Duke of York will also be in a Garter sash, along with the Earl of Wessex, the Duke of Kent and the Duke of Gloucester.
After the ceremony Their Royal Highnesses Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge made their journey by carriage procession to Buckingham Palace past crowds of spectators.
They shared a kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, during which RAF pilots flew overhead to mark the joyous occasion.
Send us your royal wedding pictures. Whether you're in the Mall or enjoying a street party, we'd like to see them. Email your photographs to editorial@dailymailonline.co.uk
All decked out: Staff at Buckingham Palace dressing the balcony in red and gold. Prince William and Kate Middleton will appear here later in the afternoon where the crowds below will hope to see them kiss
High security: Police officers, some carrying bags other brollies, walk down The Mall before the wedding
The Mall was cleared this morning ahead of today's ceremony. Later in the day it would be filled with huge crowds
The entrance: The red carpet was being swept at the entrance door and gates to Westminster Abbey prior to the wedding, as guests started to arrive at 9am today
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