The Traveller's Magazine
There are now only six weeks left until the most awaited event of the year in London. Ever since the engagement was announced, the city’s been on edge. Finally a wedding! The route has been announced and the hotels are booking up fast. Here are the best places to catch a glimpse of the prince and his bride.
First of all let’s take a look at the route that Kate Middleton will take on her way to Westminster Abbey to her wedding on April 29, 2011 and the schedule for the “big day.”
10:30am – The Princess-to-be and Prince William will leave travel separately to the service. Kate will go by car starting from either Buckingham Palace or Clarence House and head along the Mall, cross the Horse Guards Parade and head towards Parliament Square.
11:00am – The ceremony will start at Westminster Abbey which can hold up to 2,200 guests.
12:00pm – At noon the couple will return along the same route via horse-drawn carriage.
12:30pm – The couple, after being wed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, will go to Buckingham Palace after the ceremony by carriage along a route which will include sights like Parliament Square, Whitehall, Horse Guards Parade and the Mall. Once inside the Queen will throw a reception, a fancy one as you can imagine, for the couple and 700 of their friends and family.
1:30pm – Kate and Will are expected to make an appearance on a balcony at Buckingham Palace to kiss for the cameras. So if you miss seeing them en route, make sure to head to the palace in the afternoon.
6:00pm – After the “official reception” the couple will enjoy a private dinner with the Prince of Wales… dancing of course will follow.
More than 600,000 visitors are expected to fly to London for that long weekend just for the wedding. If you want to get a spot along the route, then you must arrive early to stake your place along the barricades. Many hotels along the route are offering viewing places along their street-view balconies (for a steep price however) and city-wide the wedding will be televised on giant screens in public spaces.
Royal Wedding Procession Routes in 3D
Will you be in London for the Wedding weekend?
Love the video, thanks for sharing