Kate and William's wedding

Britain's Prince William kisses his wife Kate 1350 GMT: More on my musings about numbers attending A police spokesman is now more forthcoming, and tells a colleague that they estimate that around a million were out on the streets for the wedding, with around 500,000 of them on the Mall in front of Buckingham Palace when the couple appeared.
Is that more or fewer than expected? It is fewer than the two million people were talking of this morning, but more than the 600,000 estimated to have watched, in person, the wedding of Charles and Diana thirty years ago.

1430 GMT: And all in all, things passed off pretty quietly it seems, for such a large crowd. A police spokesman has said 43 people have been detained throughout the day for offences ranging from assault to criminal damage and 25 breaches of the peace.
Authorities had also banned 99 people from entering the City of Westminster while 24 people suspected of planning disruption were arrested on Thursday.

1325 GMT: More reaction from the guests. Celebrity couple David and Victoria Beckham have issued a statement: "Today's ceremony was beautiful and heartfelt. Catherine looked wonderfully elegant and we were honoured to be part of such a special, historical day for our country," they said.
For those who don't know, the couple were invited after prince William got to know the footballer when the two men were part of England's (failed) World Cup bid team a few months ago.

1320 GMT: Earl Spencer, brother of the late Princess Diana, has told the BBC his only regrets about the day were that his sister was not there to enjoy it.
Many in the crowd had come because of their respect for Prince William's mother and would have agreed with him.
"It was very moving and the only downside on a perfect day was Diana not being there, but what a wonderful day," Spencer said.

1310: So how many people were there on the streets. Media reports earlier this week predicted two million. Early today they started saying one million. Now most reports say "hundreds of thousands".

What is the right number?
The police say they are not going to provide an estimate. Is it the TV effect of people deciding to watch on television instead, or have people simply taken off on holidays, as the Economist suggested this week that they might.

1305: Nice story on the BBC. Corporal Darren Daniels, a member of the cavalry regiment on duty for the wedding, proposed to his girlfriend, Keryl Jones, while waiting to set off by horse as part of the wedding process. She said yes.

1255 GMT: So what now? Well now, it becomes less the public event, and more the private occasion.
There is a buffet lunch in the palace for the couple and 650 guests, followed this evening by a formal dinner for about 300, with a disco to finish.
So, with the public show over, the crowds are quite quickly melting away.

1245 GMT: Kate speaks (no, not her. The other one. Kate Moss, princess of fashion that is). "She looked absolutely gorgeous," the Guardian website quotes her as saying.
About THE Kate, I presume. And THE dress, of course.

1230 GMT: And in the skies above, a fly-past, causing excitement even in the 25th floor London office where I'm scribbling this report.
Seven aircraft in formation: a Spitfire, a Hurricane and a Lancaster bomber, followed by two Tornados and two Typhoons. Impressive

1227 GMT: THE KISS. And two minutes later, there you go. Eight years together and, yep, at the crowd's demands they show they know how to kiss. Ahh.
And wow, a second. Audacity. "Can't keep their hands off each other," a colleague jokes.

1225 GMT: And there they are on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, with the rest of the family behind them.

1215 GMT: It's a bit quiet now. The newly married couple are esconced in the palace, having some quiet time but due to come in about ten minutes time. In the meantime, I am adding a few more photos.

1201 GMT: My colleague Roland Jackson is at a street party organised in Kate Middleton's pretty home village of Bucklebury.
"The plasma screen is showing a live feed ... the bands are running soundchecks... hopes are high that the fresh cold breeze and overcast skies will give way to warm and sunny day for the party," he reports, as a "small army of journalists" find people to interview amid the quacking ducks and singing birds.

1153 GMT: Crowds are now moving from the area around the abbey, to in front of Buckingham Palace, my colleagues tell me, to see the future king and queen come out on the balcony for "the kiss".
The first, apparently. Well, post-wedding. Possibly.

1146 GMT: A lot of applause for the dress and its designer, not just from the fashion stars such as Lagerfeld (see 1042), but also from others in the industry.
"It's very elegant - elegant is the word - much simpler than Diana's which was big and fussy," 28-year-old Czech model Martina Sukupipa tells AFP's Marie-Pierre Ferey.
"Diana's dress was very 80's. This is timeless," says photographer Natalie Watts. (Well Diana did get married in 1981, I suppose).
In the Daily Mail, critics called the dress a "stunning design", suggesting it reminiscent of the dress in which Princess Grace of Monaco was married in 1956.

1140 GMT: According to the Guardian website, http://www.guardian.co.uk/, the instant TV critic reaction is that, for once on a big occasion, the BBC has failed to offer the best coverage, compared to commercial rivals, with the commentary by the BBC anchor Huw Edwards labelled "ponderous".
Ouch. I couldn't possibly comment.

1127 GMT: And they arrive at Buckingham Palace. They have a few quiet minutes, before they are expected to appear in about an hour on the palace balcony to wave to the crowds below.

1119 GMT: The couple process down the Mall, beaming broadly and waving to screaming crowds lining both sides of the road

1114 GMT: The marketing exercise has started. This from the tourism promotion outfit Visit Britain, following the naming of the happy couple as duke and duchess of Cambridge.
"Cambridge is one of Britain?s most historic cities, and its colleges attract top students from around the world. Just under an hour from London by train, it was always a top destination, but now, with the title of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge bestowed after the wedding on the royal couple, it?s a must-see. "

1110 GMT: The couple emerge from the abbey, setting off cheers from the crowd as the abbey bells peal.
They mount the 1902 open-topped State Landau, for maximum visibility by the crowd, waving to the people lining the road.

1105 GMT: After signing of the register, the new couple process back down the aisle.
They stop before the queen and the new duchess of Cambridge curtsies to her grandmother-in-law. Her new husband bows. Everyone beams.

1059 GMT: Back at the abbey, the choir is singing "Blest Pair of Sirens", with lyrics by British poet John Milton. Next comes Crown Imperial by the British composer William Walton.
The couple have said they chose the music quite deliberately to reflect national culture.

1056 GMT: Over to Red Lion Square, now, where the anti-monarchists are holding their: "not the royal wedding party".
"While we wish William and Kate every personal happiness, we're just here to say that Britain's 12 million republicans are not happy about the prospect of William becoming king," 29-year-old Sophia Deboick from Essex tells our man Ben Perry.
"The royal family are using what should be a personal occasion as a PR opportunity," she says.

1052 GMT: And now the official anthem: God Save the Queen. The congregation stands in the abbey, and the crowds outside too, and all join in.
Only the queen herself is not singing, it seems, though I suppose it would be a little odd, when you think about it.

1048 GMT: Back to the music. The congregation are belting out the song that, some say, should really be England's national anthem (no disrepect, ma'am): Jerusalem.
The one all about England's "dark satanic mills" and "green and pleasant land". Personally it's a favourite.
Composed by Charles Hubert Hastings Barry and arranged by Edward Elgar.

1042 GMT: Meanwhile, back on the earthly plain, (or sort of) fashion designer Karl Lagerfield pronounces on The Dress. "Elegant and chic", he declares.
The dress is "much more refined" than the very elaborate dress worn by Diana at her wedding 30 years ago, he adds.

1040 GMT: Now back to the music as the choirs sing The Motet, a beautiful choral work composed by the young composer Paul Mealor.
This will be followed by prayers.

1037 GMT: The Bishop of London is giving the address. He is a friend of Prince Charles and family, according to palace officials, and he officiated at Diana's memorial service.
It is a thoughtful moment, though I am not sure how many of the reputed hundreds of millions watching this on TV are following very closely. I wonder if a few nipped out to put the kettle on for a cup of tea.

1027 GMT: Meanwhile in the abbey, a rather earnest lesson is read out by James Middleton, brother of the now Duchess of Cambridge.

1025 GMT: Outside the abbey, a few of those street parties I talked of are talking place around Britain, and elsewhere.

In Battersea, just across the river from the abbey, in the Middleton's home village of Bucklebury, and even - a colleague tells me - in places such as villages in southern France - street parties are taking place.
Many fewer than 30 years ago, people say, but more on the numbers later.

1022 GMT. The congregation sings the second hymn. "Love divine, all loves excelling".

1020 GMT: "I PRONOUNCE THAT THEY BE MAN AND WIFE TOGETHER". That's it, says the Archbishop. They're married.

1018 GMT: A ring for her, but not for him. He did not want one apparently. A personal choice, said the Palace. (I forgot to put my own on this morning too).

1017 GMT: The Archbishop of Canterbury takes over and asks them if they will be married. They both (rather quietly) say they will.
He asks them to repeat their vows. No stumbles from William Arthur Philip Louis or Catherine Elisabeth.

1014 GMT: "Therefore if any man can shew any just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak" says the Dean. Silence. (Just imagine if someone stood up and objected now).

1013 GMT: The Dean of Westminster starts reading out the service "to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony".
It is the traditional service.

1005 GMT: William and Kate meet at the altar and smile as the congregation sings the hymn "Guide me, O thou great redeemer."
Ther service is starting.

1003 GMT: The bride-to-be waits before walking up the aisle. Trumpets sound, and the bridal procession starts. More about the dress: Sarah Burton is a designer at Alexander McQueen. Hand-cut English lace and French Chantilly lace has been used throughout the bodice and skirt, which is made from ivory and white satin gazar, my colleague Ruth Holmes tells me.

1000 GMT: KATE ARRIVES AT THE ABBEY.
The ivory and white satin dress designed by Sarah Burton. A 2.70 metre train, with a French chantilly lace veil held in place by that tiara.

0958 GMT: So Kate is wearing a white wedding dress with long lace sleeves and a veil and tiara.

0957 GMT: Cheers from the crowds as the bridal car passes.
Meanwhile, the bridesmaids and pageboys have arrived at the abbey with the maid of honour, Kate's sister, Pippa, all in ivory.

0955 GMT: Despite fears of rain spoiling the day, the threatened showers have held off. Nobody to rain on the couple's parade, someone says.

0951 GMT: KATE SETS OFF to the abbey. And a first glimpse of the dress, (just hints of what it looks like), as she and father Michael climb into the Phantom VI Rolls Royce given to the Queen for her Jubilee wedding in 1978.
She is smiling broadly and not looking too nervous.

0948 GMT: The queen, wearing a primrose dress, and the duke arrive at the abbey to cheers from the crowds and a burst of trumpets marking the arrival of the sovereign.
It was back in 1947 that she and the duke married. Think how much has changed since then .

0944 GMT: Prince Charles & Camilla arrive at the abbey.

0941 GMT: The queen and Duke of Edinburgh are on their way, leaving Buckingham Palace. The volume of applause from the crowds rises for the 85-year-old queen and her 89-year old husband.
Next year, of course, will mark her 60th on the throne.

0940 GMT: More meanwhile on those 'not the royal wedding' celebrations being staged by the anti-monarchist group Republic in a central London square.
"British flags and red, white and blue balloons adorn the square but there are no royalists here," texts my colleague Ben Perry. He is in place to see how the anti-monarchists see the day.

0938 GMT: Members of the British royal family now arriving: Prince William's uncles and aunt and other members of the extended family.

0932 GMT: The mother of the bride Carole Middleton has now arrived, dressed quite soberly in a pale, icy-blue coat dress made by Catherine Walker.

0928 GMT: Now it's time for various European royals to arrival: the king and queen of Norway and the queen of Denmark are among the many turning up at the abbey. Next to come, are other members of the British royal family.

0926 GMT: According to a twitter monitor: Tweetminster interest online is rising as the H-Hour approaches.

0918 GMT: THEY'VE ARRIVED AT THE ABBEY. A brief wave to crowds and the photographers and William and his brother , and best man, are inside, and meeting church dignitaries.
Both are looking pretty relaxed. William looking relaxed in the church, milling around the pews chatting to guests.

0915 GMT: PRINCES WILLIAM & HARRY SET OFF in a Bentley for the short drive to the Abbey.
He can be seen the back, wearing his red tunic uniform as colonel of the Irish Guards and waving from inside. Whoops and cheers from the crowds lining the route.
The programme suggested it was going to travel at just 9 miles an hour, to let the crowds have their view, but it seems a little quicker. Perhaps we should get the speed cameras out?

0914 GMT: Around the country, approximately 5,000 street parties have been organised, to give people a chance to celebrate the day with neighbours.
Here are the topics; #RoyalWedding#rw11 #cnntv Tara Palmer Tomkinson William & Kate Westminster Abbey Rowan Atkinson Philip Treacy Earl Spencer Victoria Beckham .
Not sure what Rowan Atkinson is doing in there. Does Mr Bean know the royals?

0904 GMT: Other national leaders invited to the ceremony have also arrived, including Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who showed up a few moments before Cameron.

0903 GMT: And now, as I write this, Cameron and wife Samantha arrive.
There had been a lot of speculation, early on, about what he wear - whether he would avoid wearing traditional tails to play down his own privileged image - but after some dithering that is what he is wearing.

0854 GMT: Now a comment from Prime Minister David Cameron, who of course went to Britain's elite Eton school too, like William, and is a strong supporter of all things royal.
"It's very exciting. I went out on the Mall last night to meet some of the people. It's a sense of excitement that's quite difficult to put exact words on," he told the BBC from the Downing Street garden.
Oh go on, David, have a try:
"I think it's a mixture of this amazing young couple, that they love each other. It's also the institution, the national symbolism of the monarchy, the service of the royal family - It's all those things and a chance to celebrate," he ventured, which is not too bad a stab.
"We're quite a reserved lot the British, but then when we go for it, we really go for it," he added.

0847 GMT: And from football royalty, to rock royalty: Elton John and partner David Furnish arrive, waving to the crowds. Quite subdued attire for Elton, but I guess even he is not allowed to out-glam the bride on her wedding day.

0845 GMT: Just a moment now for a quick summary of the world press's take on this.
In Britain, most papers are stock full of photos, pride and hullabaloo. "Let's glory in the fact that Britain can still hold a pageant that will wow the world," said the reliably pro-royal Daily Mail. "Mum would be so proud," says The Sun, referring to Prince William's late mother Diana.
Only the proudly republican Guardian newspaper in London struck a slightly more sceptical note, urging readers to "enjoy the day" but saying that for most people in Britain it was in fact just a good day off work.
Elsewhere, papers from Sydney's Daily Telegraph to France's Liberation went big on the event. "Today the world will see the wedding that proves that fairytales can, and do, happen" wrote a commentator in the Australian paper.

0838 GMT: As the crowds are gathering, James McVinnie, Assistant Organist at the abbey is being kept busy, playing to entertain the now hundreds of guests and dignitaries cramming into the centuries-old building.

0832 GMT: One of the places following the wedding with more interest than most is St Andrews, Scotland, where the couple met eight years ago at university.
Around 1000 people are gathered in the university quadrangle to see the event on a big screen.

0828 GMT: More from the crowds, some very young, where Nell, 6, tells my colleague Elodie Paterne: "When I grow up I want to be a princess."
So what does she know about the woman who will be (or at least a duchess, but tha's not so bad): "Kate is really friendly. She's very pretty. She's beautiful." Bless.

0826 GMT: Outside the Goring Hotel, where the Middletons stayed overnight, the Rolls Royce that will drive Kate Middleton to the abbey has arrived.

0818 GMT: So the quasi-royals have arrived - that's right, David & Victoria Beckham. And looking very dapper, both.
She is wearing a dress from her own 2011 collection, with a small hat poised, and David has gone for a slicked-back faintly 1930s hairstyle with a pale grey tie and wing-collar shirt, wearing his CBE medal too.
Also now arrived is Prince Harry's on-off girlfriend Chelsy Davy, smiling, in an aqua green satin top and modest fascinator (I learn the term).

0815 GMT: A lot of speculation now is centring on The Dress (capitals required) that the future duchess will wear - and the (still Miss Middleton's) choice of designer.
So far, the choice is a well-kept secret. "Give that girl a job in MI6" - Britain's secret service, a fashion pundit tells the BBC, impressed by how little is known about the choice despite the best efforts of the world media to find out.
Her guess is the McQueen label, but she admits she is only guessing

0803 GMT: The crowds in London are growing, but according to reports of a few weeks ago, there are many fewer street parties planned than three decades ago for the wedding of William's parents: Charles and Diana.
We will be trying to assess how much interest there is around the country. Tricky to know.
But in some places, nearby and far-flung, interest is clearly strong. This tweet from Dubai: @MarwanKhalife tweets: "We are not able to get a table for brunch in #Dubai. All are fully booked because of the #RoyalWedding. Amazing..."

0755 GMT: It is not only the happy couple, the royalists, traditionalists, and trinket-sellers who have been preparing for the day.
Over at campaign group Republic (motto: "Campaigning for a democratic alternative to the monarchy"), people who do not believe in the monarchy are finalising preparations for their own "Not the royal wedding" street party, today from 11:30 in Red Lion Square in London. http://www.republic.org.uk/

0750 GMT: Out with the crowds, my colleague Beatrice Debut has been chatting to people who have travelled in to London to see the event.
"They will make the monarchy fashionable again. It's good for the country," says Louise Akehurst, a 25-year-old office worker from London.
She, like many others, says she would like William to become king directly when the queen dies, bypassing Prince Charles. But of course that is not really how monarchy works, I guess.

0745 GMT: According to my colleague Robin Millard, a Palace spokesman says the dukedom was the queen's choice. Speculation yesterday said William actually wanted to be known still as Prince William, but the queen preferred to name him a duke: the highest rank in the peerage.
The earldom reflects the couple's links to Scotland. The full range of titles reflects the royal realm over the whole UK, the spokesman said. The real question for later on, of course, is how will the new duchess be known by ordinary people. Catherine or Kate? My money's on the latter.

0738 GMT: At the abbey, the first guests are filing in. It is first-come, first-served, apparently, so even (some of) the people with the invites are having to queue for a good place.

0736 GMT: Lots of people are following events online, of course. RT @wabbey tweets: "Excitement is building as the Great North door is opened ready to receive the first guests."

0724 GMT: It is not all about Buckingham Palace this morning, of course. Outside the Goring Hotel, where Kate Middleton has spent her last night as an unmarried woman, crowds are gathered.
Officials have, however, erected a white awning to screen the entrance/exit, in order to stop people seeing too much of The Dress, when Kate leaves, until she actually arrives at the abbey.

0718 GMT: The official announcement from Buckingham Palace (Buck House to friends) does not explain the choice. But it tells us the titles the couple will receive, presuming of course that they don't suffer any last minute jitters and do go through with the wedding.
"The queen has today been pleased to confer a dukedom on Prince William of Wales. His titles will be Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus," the palace said.
"Prince William thus becomes His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge and Miss Catherine Middleton on marriage will become Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge."

0703 GMT: Buckingham Palace announces new titles for the young bride and groom: they are to be Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Odd that as I am not sure either have much association with the university town, but there you have it. I'll try to find some jobbing "royalty expert" to offer an explanation of this in a moment.

0700 GMT: People are tuning in, on TV, around the world as the first members of the 1900-strong congregation are expected to start arriving at Westminster Abbey, where the wedding will take start in three hours time.
So, yes, if your invitation has not arrived in the post by now, it is probably a little too late. But don't worry, you are not alone. The Syrian ambassador is not coming (he was first invited then uninvited) and former Labour prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown did not make the cut, while their Conversative predecessors are on the list, causing some upset among Labour supporters.

Among the hundreds of officials, diplomats, other royals and celebrities attending, in addition to actual family and friends, will be Britain's leading football royalty: David Beckham and wife Victoria Beckham.
SO, THE BIG DAY IS HERE (thank goodness). Welcome to AFP's coverage of the royal wedding of Britain's Prince William and "commoner" (for now) Kate Middleton.
As flag-waving crowds start to build in central London, around 5000 having braved the cold overnight to get a prime spot close on the processional route, AFP has reporters, photographers and camera crews out around the city, and will be following reactions around the world. Follow our live coverage here.