30 April,2011 06:02 AM IST | | Agencies
Prince William and his princess puckered up to celebrate their fairytale wedding yesterday afternoon. The couple shared a brief but tender kiss on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, flanked by the Royal Wedding party and watched by the world. It was their first public display of affection since becoming husband and wife in an historic ceremony at Westminster Abbey this morning.
Man and Wife: Prince William and Kate Middleton walk out of Westminster
Abbey yesterday. Pic/AFP
The couple pledged their love for one another before a 1,900-strong congregation and a TV audience estimated at two billion. The couple actually stole two kisses on the Palace's famous balconyu00a0-- the first being a very quick peck on the lips. Joined by the Queen and their families, the couple then watched the thundering flypast of a Lancaster, a Spitfire and a Hurricane from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. At the Abbey, looking beautiful, but visibly nervous, softly-spoken Kate could barely be heard reading her vows during the ceremony.
And there was a nerve-wracking fumble as Wills struggled to place the ring on her finger. The deafening cheers of the crowd gathered around the Abbey could be heard inside as the couple were pronounced man and wife.
Kate walked up the red carpeted aisle a commoner. But with her new husband at her side and a ring on her finger, the former Miss Middleton yesterday became HRH the Duchess of Cambridge, and a future Queen.
After the service, she and her husband were taken from the Abbey in the same fairytale horse-drawn 1902 State Landau carriage used by Charles and Diana on their wedding day 30 years ago.
The man of the moment, who was yesterday morning made the Duke of Cambridge, waved to well-wishers as the car left his father's official residence. He was accompanied by brother Harry, his best man. As the car emerged the crowd chanted, "We want Will! We want Will!" Bells began to ring as the pair arrived at the Abbey.
There was little sign of pre-wedding nerves as Wills, dressed in a scarlet red military tunic, chatted and laughed with Harry as they walked inside. Kate curtsied to the Queen following the ceremony. It was the first time she has been seen "paying obeisance" to the monarch.
Prayers
Prince William and Kate Middleton composed a prayer for their wedding at Westminster Abbey. "God our Father, we thank you for our families; for the love that we share and for the joy of our marriage. In the business of each day keep our eyes fixed on what is real and important in life and help us to be generous with our time and love and energy. Strengthened by our union, help us to serve and comfort those who suffer. We ask this in the spirit of Jesus Christ. Amen."
