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Britain's Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, kiss as they stand next to bridesmaids Grace van Cutsem (L) and Margarita Armstrong-Jones (R) on the balcony at Buckingham Palace with other members of the Royal Family. Pic: DARREN STAPLES/ REUTERS
After months of waiting, Kate Middleton and Prince William have finally tied the knot at Westminster Abbey. Two hours after saying their vows at Westminster Abbey, the newly-married couple (now known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge ) stepped onto the Buckingham Palace balcony and sealed the deal with a very brief royal kiss.
But the hysterical crowd that was gathered outside the Palace felt short changed and started chanting “kiss again”. At first it looked as if the newly weds weren’t going to oblige to the spectators demand. But moments later they gave in and exchanged a longer kiss to the delight of the crowd.
Kate Middleton waves as she arrives with her father Michael at Westminster Abbey. Pic: REUTERS/Phil Noble
After months of speculation about Kate Middelton’s wedding dress and attempts by the royal aides to keep it a secret, the world has finally caught a glimpse of the dress. Fashion critics and the media suspected that British designer and creative director at Alexander McQueen, Sarah Burton would design it and they were right!
Kate Middleton arrives to Westminster Abbey for her marriage to Britain's Prince William. Pic: REUTERS/Phil Noble
Kate arrived at at Westminster Abbey in cream white, long sleeved, ivory lace covered Sarah Burton gown. The dress consists of a full skirt that has a 2 metre 70 centimeter train. Kate’s hair was half up and accessorized with a veil and tiara.
Buckingham Palace officials were quoted saying “Miss Middleton wished for her dress to combine tradition and modernity with the artistic vision that characterises Alexander McQueen’s work”
“Miss Middleton worked closely with Sarah Burton in formulating the design of her dress.”
The frocks, heels, hats and suits worn by some of the attendees at the wedding of the century.
David Beckham and his wife Victoria
Pic: REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
Sir Elton John waves as he arrives
Pic: REUTERS/Phil Noble
Socialite Tara Palmer-Tomkinson
Pic: REUTERS/Phil Noble
London Mayor Boris Johnson (C)
Pic: REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow and his wife Sally & Members of the general congregation
Pics: Toby Melville & Anthony Devlin/ REUTERS
Guests arrive at Westminster Abbey
Pic: REUTERS/Phil Noble
You can view more pictures at TimesLIVE Multimedia
The ambassador of Syria, Dr Sami Khiyami has been removed from the Royal Wedding guest list. The UK Foreign Secretary William Hague advised the royal family to withdraw his invitation because of the killing of pro-democracy demonstrators that in Syria in recent weeks.
The Telegraph reports that a statement was released from the Foreign Office : “In the light of this week’s attacks against civilians by the Syrian security forces, which we have condemned, the Foreign Secretary has decided that the presence of the Syrian Ambassador at the Royal Wedding would be unacceptable and that he should not attend.”
The monarch of Swaziland has been invited and that includes King Mswati III. Why hasn’t The British Royal Family revoked his invite as well? Doesn’t he also have an appaulling human rights record? Didin’t he brutally silence demonstrators in April?
The BBC quoted the UK Foreign Office as saying, “An invitation does not mean endorsement or approval of the behaviour of any government, simply that we have normal diplomatic relations with that country.”
Robert Mugabe and King Mswati. Pic: SIPHIWE SIBEKO
The exclusion of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown on the Royal Wedding guest list may have raised a few eyebrows. But the inclusion of some of the world’s most controversial leaders has incited anger and protests. With only hours to go until invitees descend on Westminster Abbey we look at some of Kate and William’s questionable guests.
King Mswati III of Swaziland
His invitation angered his countrymen, who accused the UK of “legitimising” his autocratic rule over their country. While 70% of his people struggle with living in absolute poverty, King Mswati and his 50 man entourage are probably already in London, checking into the Dorchester Hotel (where he is reportedly staying), where a room costs £450 a night (you do the maths).
Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa of Bahrain
The Royal family extended an invitation to Bahrain’s crown prince but he had to decline after human-rights activists threatened to protest. It’s reported that the president of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights said that he “would like to see the British government fully condemn what is going on-not invite people to a wedding who have blood on their hands”
Kate Middleton’s uncle, Gary Goldsmith
Kate’s 45 year-old uncle is a wealthy property developer who is considered the ‘black sheep’ of the family. He was caught on camera two years ago cutting up what is believed to be cocaine and he is known to act crudely. Reportedly the royal aides have been worrying about the possibility of him misbehaving and hope that he won’t attend the ceremony or the reception.
American media tycoon Joe Allbritton
Prince Charles is suspected of inviting the 86-year-old American billionaire, because he has borrowed his Gulfstream jet for private use in the past and reportedly has plans to do so again. Allbritton is considered to be controversial because he has done business with Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet and his ruthless regime. Pinochet and his murderous entourage owe him for transportation services that he provided to them. Prince Charles has been criticized for by the American media, who say its unacceptable for him to accept hospitality from the ‘controversial’ billionaire.
William and Kate’s exes
Five of the Princes ex girlfriends are reportedly invited. They include his first girlfriend-Rose; the girl he dated before Kate (Isabella who is now an actress); a Gucci PR rep who goes by the name of Arabella; a party events manger named Jecca and an Edinburgh University graduate called Olivia. Two of Kate’s exes: Willem Marx and Rupert Finch, are also invited.
By now we all know that world leaders like Zuma, Obama, and former UK Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown will not join the 1,900-strong congregation at Westminster Abbey on Friday. Well here are some celebrities that did make the cut and have already RSVP’d.
Sir Elton John: The singer-songwriter, composer and pianist performed at the funeral of the late Diana, Princess of Wale.
Pic: JAMES OATWAY
Mr. and Mrs. David Beckham: Prince William, as President of the Football Association, has met footballer David Beckham on a number of occasions. They recently worked together as Ambassadors of England’s 2018 World Cup Bid.
Pic: BRUNO VINCENT/ GETTY
Guy Ritchie: He’s a friend of Prince William and Miss Middleton. The established filmmaker, who directed Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch and Revolver, is a friend of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Pic: CHRIS JACKSON/ GETTY
Joss Stone: The English Soul singer and songwriter performed at the Concert for Diana at Wembley in 2007 and at City Salute in 2008.
Pic: TEBOGO LETSIE
Tony Blair and Gordon Brown
Britain’s monarchy released a list of confirmed guests for Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton but its the missing names that attracted the most attention!
It’s been confirmed that former UK Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown had not been invited to the Royal Wedding. But their predecessors, Sir John Major and Baroness Thatcher, received invitations.
A spokesman for St. James’s Palace said the Labour prime ministers did not receive invitations because they were not made knights by the queen, while Major and Thatcher were. But the critics sense a hint of royal vengeance in the air because Blair’s relationship with the royal family was strained, as was Brown’s, though to a lesser extent.
Critics speculate that Blair was excluded because his aides attempted to intervene in making arrangements for the funeral service of the late Queen Mum. And the royal family dislikes his wife, Cherrie as she refused to curtsy to the queen and others in the royal family in the past.
As for Gordon Brown, his relationship with the Royal Family may have been damaged last May, when he gave palace officials less than an hour’s notice of his resignation to the queen.
Read More on The Telegraph
1. Cake designer Fiona Cairns 2. Sous chef Mark Stewart prepares a tray of Mini Yorkshire Puddings with Roast Beef and Horse Radish Cream canapes 3. A decorative rose is prepared for the wedding cake 4. Quails' eggs in a gold and crystal glass serving dish, akin to that which is usually served at Royal receptions. Pictures: NICK ANSELL/ REUTERS
The lid has finally been lifted on what Prince William and Kate Middleton have planned for their Royal Wedding. The couple announced that they will be having more than one wedding cake, they’ll be eating two.
Celebrity Cake Designer, Fiona Cairns has been commissioned to create the main cake, which is a multi-tiered traditional fruit cake. It will be made from dried fruits, walnuts, sultanas, cherries, grated oranges and lemons and French brandy. According to AFP, the cake will be decorated with cream and icing which will be designed to reflect a “strong British a floral theme”.
The second cake is less formal. It’s a chocolate biscuit cake which is said to be Prince William’s childhood favourite. William asked British biscuit maker McVitie’s (who have made several wedding cakes for the royal family) to produce the cake as an addition to the official cake to be made by Fiona. It has been reported that the Prince has asked for them to create it according to a special recipe from the kitchen at Buckingham Palace.
I wonder how many outfit changes they’ll have if they’re having two wedding cakes.
