Abbey Hosts Royal Wedding

Friday, 29th April 2011

Catherine Middleton and Prince William hold hands after their wedding ceremony

His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales KG and Miss Catherine Middleton were married at Westminster Abbey on Friday 29th April 2011.

The service was attended by HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, the groom’s grandparents, and HRH The Prince of Wales, the groom’s father, and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.

Miss Middleton arrived at the Abbey accompanied by her father Mr Michael Middleton.

Miss Philippa Middleton was the bride’s maid-of-honour with four other bridesmaids and two page boys.

HRH Prince Henry of Wales was the bridegroom’s best man.

The service was conducted by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall, and the marriage was solemnised by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dr Rowan Williams.

The Address was given by the Bishop of London, the Right Reverend and Right Honourable Dr Richard Chartres KCVO.

Mr James Middleton read Romans 12: 1-2, 9-18.

Prayers were led by the Reverend Michael Macey, Minor Canon and Precentor.

The service was sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey and the Choir of Her Majesty’s Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, conducted by James O’Donnell, Organist and Master of the Choristers, Westminster Abbey.

The Introit for the procession of the Bride was Sir Hubert Parry’s I was glad.

The Choir sang an anthem by John Rutter commissioned by the Dean and Chapter of Westminster especially for the Wedding.

During the procession of the Bride and Bridegroom at the end of the service the orchestra played Sir William Walton’s Crown Imperial.

The organ was played by Robert Quinney, Sub-Organist of Westminster Abbey.

The London Chamber Orchestra was conducted by Christopher Warren-Green. The Fanfare Team from the RAF Central Band was conducted by Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs who composed the fanfare Valiant and Brave after the motto of No 22 Squadron (Search and Rescue Service Force) of the RAF in which Prince William serves.

The State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry were conducted by Trumpet Major Grant Sewell-Jones of the Band of the Blues and Royals

The organ was played before the service by James McVinnie, Assistant Organist of Westminster Abbey.

The bells of the Abbey Church were rung before the service, and afterwards in a full peal, by the Westminster Abbey Company of Ringers.

Her Majesty’s Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms and The Queen’s Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard were in attendance.

See Also:

Order of Service (PDF, 150KB)

Address given by the Bishop of London