Royal Wedding Day Schedule
April 6, 2011— -- Set your watches! With just over three weeks until the royal wedding, the palace is finally revealing Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding day schedule.
At 8:30 a.m., London time, guests will begin arriving at Westminster Abbey. All of the guests will be coming by foot and car, and must leave cellphones and cameras at home as they are not allowed in the Abbey.
At 10:40 a.m. the royal family will begin to pour in, entering the front of the church through the west door. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip are the last to arrive before the bride.
At 11 a.m., Kate, accompanied by her father, will roll into Westminster Abbey with her five bridesmaids. At that moment, details about her wedding dress will finally be revealed. A press release will be sent out upon Kate's arrival at the church including the wedding dress designer's name, and sketches and photographs of the dress.
The ceremony is expected to last approximately an hour and will include vows, a sermon, and blessing of Kate's wedding ring. Once Will and Kate are husband and wife, they will leave the Abbey and arrive at Buckingham Palace at about 12:40 p.m. to take their official wedding photographs.
At 1:25 p.m., the married couple will re-appear on the balcony at Buckingham Palace for 10 minutes. (We can only hope they will follow in William's parents footsteps and mark the occasion with a kiss).
William and Kate will then head into the Palace for the queen's reception, where 650 guests will dine on canapés and drinks. Also on the menu, two wedding cakes.
The evening will end with the 7 p.m. reception, hosted by Prince Charles. The 300 guests will enjoy dinner, dancing and speeches, including the one given by Best Man, Prince Harry. This night is the one part of Prince William and Kate's day which is not planned to the second, the palace says the party will "finish when it finishes."