Royal Wedding: Details Announced on Twitter

LONDON, Jan. 5, 2011 — -- Kate Middleton is to travel to Westminster Abbey by car rather than the traditional horse-drawn carriage, it was announced Wednesday. And if Americans want to watch the royal wedding live, they will have to get up early: the service will begin at 6 a.m. ET.

The revelations come as part of new details on the wedding of Middleton to Prince William. This being the 21st Century, they were announced on the official Twitter account of Clarence House.

Clarence House is the official residence of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall and the home of Princes William and Harry.

The release of information was heralded by this tweet: "Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton have made more decisions on their upcoming wedding. More tweets to follow."

A series of messages followed, making it known that the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams is to perform the marriage ceremony.

Other details include confirmation that the Bishop of London will give the address and the Dean of Westminster will conduct the service.

Richard Chartres, who assumed the role of Bishop of London in November 1995, has close ties to the royal family.

"He was an executor of the late Diana, Princess of Wales,' will; he confirmed William when William was 12; he listened to Diana when she was troubled," Dickie Arbiter, the queen's former press secretary, told Sky News.

"(He is) the right person to be making the keynote address at the service."

The Twitter feed said the route from the Abbey to Buckingham Palace will include The Mall, Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall and Parliament Square.

"The couple, now married, will return along a Processional Route in a carriage procession to Buckingham Palace. On arrival at the Palace, friends and family will gather for a private reception, hosted by The Queen."

"The Prince of Wales will host a private dinner, followed by dancing, at Buckingham Palace in the evening, for close friends and family," Clarence House confirmed.

This is not the first time Twitter has been used by the royal family in regards to the upcoming wedding. On Nov. 16, the following tweet came from the official Twitter account of the British Monarchy: "The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh are absolutely delighted at the news of Prince William and Catherine Middleton's engagement."

It has already been disclosed that the wedding will take place on April 29 at London's 1,000-year-old Westminster Abbey, where many of Britain's greatest historical figures are buried and the funeral for Diana was held. Prime Minister David Cameron has confirmed that April 29 will be a public holiday in Britain.