Prince William & Princess Kate Middleton First Kisses

Were you up in time to catch the Royal Wedding? Princess Kate Middleton became the Duchess of Cambridge Friday as the world watched her tie the knot with Britain’s Prince William in a traditional ceremony at London’s Westminster Abbey. Wearing a stunnng ivory gown, complete with dipped neckline, the Duchess shared not one—but two—kisses with her Duke on the balcony of Buckingham Palace shortly after the conclusion of the 11 AM wedding ceremony.

Now on to the dress! Kate selected a design by Sarah Burton, protege of late fashionisto Alexander McQueen, for her big day. The dress is made of ivory and white satin gazar with lace applique floral detail, insiders say. In a statement Friday, St James’s Palace said McQueen was chosen for the “beauty of its craftsmanship” and its “respect for traditional workmanship and the technical construction of clothing”.

Burton, creative director of McQueen, says crafting the royal wedding gown has been the highlight of her career.

“It has been the experience of a lifetime to work with Catherine Middleton to create her wedding dress, and I have enjoyed every moment of it. It was such an incredible honour to be asked, and I am so proud of what we and the Alexander McQueen team have created.”

Kate worked closely with Burton to design the frock, which looks shockingly similar to the one actress-turned-princess Grace Kelly wore when she married Prince Rainier of Monaco back in 1956.

Prince William and Kate Middleton leave London's Westminster Abbey on Friday

Prince William and Catherine Middleton wed at London's Westminster Abbey on Friday, April 29, in front of a select gathering. The wedding was viewed over TV by millions across the world.

Following their wedding they became Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as earlier in the day, The Queen had conferred the Dukedom on Prince William of Wales.

William was dressed in the uniform as a Colonel of the Irish Guards, in Guard of Honor Order with a Forage Cap. He wore a gold and crimson sash, and gold sword slings, both of which are worn in the presence of a Member of the Royal Family. The Prince did not wear a sword.

The uniform was fitted by Kashket and Partners.

Catherine, 29, arrived at the Abbey in a Burgundy and black colored Rolls Royce accompanied by her father.

She wore a wedding dress designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The long-sleeve lace, ivory and satin gown, with a V neckline had a voluminous skirt that echoed an opening flower, with white satin gazar arches and pleats. The train measured 2m 70cm.

The ivory satin bodice of the dress was narrowed at the waist and padded at the hips, drawing on the Victorian tradition of corsetry and a hallmark of Alexander McQueen's designs.

William, 28, vowed, "I, William Arthur Philip Louis, take thee, Catherine Elizabeth, to my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse. For richer, for poorer. In sickness and in health. To love and to cherish, till death us do part."

He then slipped a wedding ring, fashioned from a piece of Welsh gold that The Queen gave to him shortly after his engagement, on Middleton's finger, saying, "With this ring, I thee wed."

Prince William's Best Man Prince Harry carried the ring made by Wartshki to Westminster Abbey.

As per the couple's wish, there was only one ring.

The couple said a prayer they wrote themselves.

"God our Father, we thank you for our families; for the love that we share and for the joy of our marriage.

In the busyness 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. "

As is the Royal tradition, the couple didn't kiss immediately after being pronounced man and wife. The kiss was to come later.

Following the wedding, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge rode a carriage from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace.

After arriving at the Palace, the couple stepped out onto the balcony as crowds surged towards Buckingham Palace to view their first public kiss following their royal wedding.

The couple were joined on the balcony by the Royal family. At 1:25 pm, William lightly kissed his new bride on the lips as fans below and viewers around the world held their breath and savored the fairy-tale setting. Cheered on by fans, William kissed Catherine a second time letting the kiss linger a little longer.

Kate Middleton and Prince William Marriage Pictures

After months of waiting, William and Kate finally tied the knot at Westminster Abbey today. She arrived clutching the hand of her father Michael as her sister and maid of honour Pippa held the long train on her flowing dress. As the happy couple exchanged vows, William appeared to have trouble slipping the ring onto Kate’s finger. An estimated one million people lined the streets to catch a glimpse of them. Britain’s Prince William and Kate Middleton married at Westminster Abbey on Friday in a royal occasion of dazzling pomp and pageantry that has attracted a huge global audience and injected new life into the monarchy.Before the vows, a veiled Middleton, the first “commoner” to marry a prince in close proximity to the throne in more than 350 years, walked slowly through the 1,900-strong congregation to the swirling strains of Charles Parry’s “I Was Glad”.As they met at the altar William whispered to her, prompting a smile at the start of the ceremony. The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams declared the couple married with the words: “I pronounce that they be man and wife together.”Middleton’s dress, the subject of fevered speculation for months in the fashion press, was a traditional ivory silk and satin outfit with a lace applique and long train.
She wore a tiara loaned by the queen and the diamond and sapphire engagement ring that once belonged to William’s mother Princess Diana, who was divorced from Prince Charles in 1996, a year before her death in a car crash in Paris aged just 36.Bells pealed loudly and trumpets blared as 1,900 guests earlier poured into the historic abbey, coronation site for the monarchy since William the Conqueror was crowned in 1066.Queen Elizabeth, other royals, David and Victoria Beckham, the footballer-pop star couple, singer Elton John and Prime Minister David Cameron were among famous guests at the abbey.They joined 50 heads of state as well as charity workers and war veterans who know the prince from his military training.
HUGE CROWDS
Thousands of people from around the world were outside the abbey, many of them camping overnight for the best view of the future king and queen and fuelling the feel-good factor that has briefly lifted Britain from its economic gloom.
“People watching this at home must think we’re completely mad, but there’s just no comparison,” said 58-year-old Denise Mill from southern England. “I just had to be here.”The crowd entered into the festive spirit on a chilly day by wearing national flags and even fake wedding dresses and tiaras. Hundreds of police officers, some armed, dotted the royal routes in a major security operation.Tens of thousands more people crammed the flag-lined streets of London to catch a glimpse of marching military bands in black bearskin hats, cavalrymen in shining breastplates and ornate carriages that will carry royal figures from the service.A large gathering is expected outside the queen’s London residence, Buckingham Palace, to cheer on the married couple as they appear on the balcony for a much-anticipated public kiss.For some, however, the biggest royal wedding since Diana married Prince Charles in 1981 was an event to avoid, reflecting divided opinion about the monarchy.”It’s just a wedding,” said 25-year-old Ivan Smith. “Everyone is going mad about it. I couldn’t care less.”