Gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: HRH Queen Elizabeth II (L) and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh leave a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



Spain's Queen Sofia, Spain's Crown Prince Felipe, and his wife Princess Letizia, arrive at a central London hotel for a pre-royal wedding dinner hosted by Lady Elizabeth Anson and attended by members of the British royal family and foreign royal families, in London, Thursday, April, 28, 2011. The dinner is on the eve of the royal wedding of Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey.



Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah (L) poses at the Mandarin Oriental hotel for a gala dinner hosted by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in London on April 28, 2011 on the eve of the Royal wedding. Britain's Prince William is to marry his fiancee Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey in London on April 29, 2011.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: HRH Queen Elizabeth II attends a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (L) and HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attend a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Sophie, Countess of Wessex (L) and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex attend a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: King Constantine II (L) and Princess Michael of Kent attend a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Prince Daniel of Sweden (L) and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden attend a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah attends a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Prince Pavlos of Greece (L) and Princess Marie Chantal of Greece attend a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.




LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attends a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: (L to R) Prince Felipe of Asturias, Princess Letizia of Asturias and Queen Sofia of Spain attend a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Princess Beatrice of York attends a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attends a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Prince Andrew, Duke of York (L) and Princess Eugenie of York attend a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Princess Mathilde of Belgium attends a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Queen Margrethe II of Denmark attends a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Princess Tatiana of Greece (L) and Prince Nikolaos of Greece attend a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: King Constantine II (L) and Princess Michael of Kent attend a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.




LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Princess Tatiana of Greece (L) and Prince Nikolaos of Greece attend a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg (L) and Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg attend a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Princess Letizia of Asturias attends a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Prince Michael of Kent (L) and Princess Michael of Kent leave a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: HRH Queen Elizabeth II (L) and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh leave a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.


The stage is set for the royal wedding- Queen host Royal reception



source: daylife
photo: Gettyimages

When to see that dress and where to watch that kiss: Your essential guide to the Royal Wedding

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

After six months of waiting since the announcement of their engagement, the day has finally come. And to make sure you won't miss a single moment of today's Royal wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton, we've provided a handy guide.


For those planning to brave the crowds and watch the ceremony and carriage procession, our detailed map has everything you need. If you are watching events from home, you will find details below of who is on hand in the studios and the key times to watch.

Enjoy the festivities...







Royal Wedding Procession Route in 3D



Google map: Royal Wedding Procession Route, click here.

source: dailymail

Catherine Middleton, her mother Carole and sister Pippa arrives at The Goring Hotel

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Catherine Middleton (R) her mother Carole and sister Pippa arrives at The Goring Hotel after visiting Westminster Abbey on April 28, 2011 in London, England. With less than 24 hours to go final preparations for the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton are in place.



Kate Middleton arrives at the Goring Hotel in central London, on April 28, 2011, where she will be staying prior to the royal wedding. Britain's Prince William will marry his fiancee Kate Middleton in London's Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Catherine Middleton arrives at The Goring Hotel for her last night as a single woman on April 28, 2011 in London, England. With less than 24 hours to go final preparations for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton are in place.



Kate Middleton (L) arrives at the Goring Hotel in central London, on April 28, 2011, where she will be staying prior to the royal wedding. Britain's Prince William will marry his fiancee Kate Middleton in London's Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Catherine Middleton, arrives at the Goring Hotel where she will spend her last night as a unmarried woman ahead of the Royal Wedding on April 28, 2011 in London, England. With less than 24 hours to go final preparations for the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton are in place.



Spain's Queen Sofia, Spain's Crown Prince Felipe, and his wife Princess Letizia, arrive at a central London hotel for a pre-royal wedding dinner hosted by Lady Elizabeth Anson and attended by members of the British royal family and foreign royal families, in London, Thursday, April, 28, 2011. The dinner is on the eve of the royal wedding of Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Catherine Middleton arrives at The Goring Hotel after visiting Westminster Abbey on April 28, 2011 in London, England. With less than 24 hours to go final preparations for the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton are in place.




Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah (L) poses at the Mandarin Oriental hotel for a gala dinner hosted by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in London on April 28, 2011 on the eve of the Royal wedding. Britain's Prince William is to marry his fiancee Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey in London on April 29, 2011.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: HRH Queen Elizabeth II attends a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (L) and HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attend a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Sophie, Countess of Wessex (L) and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex attend a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: King Constantine II (L) and Princess Michael of Kent attend a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Prince Daniel of Sweden (L) and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden attend a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah attends a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Prince Pavlos of Greece (L) and Princess Marie Chantal of Greece attend a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.




LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attends a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: (L to R) Prince Felipe of Asturias, Princess Letizia of Asturias and Queen Sofia of Spain attend a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Princess Beatrice of York attends a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attends a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Prince Andrew, Duke of York (L) and Princess Eugenie of York attend a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Princess Mathilde of Belgium attends a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Queen Margrethe II of Denmark attends a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Princess Tatiana of Greece (L) and Prince Nikolaos of Greece attend a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: King Constantine II (L) and Princess Michael of Kent attend a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 28, 2011 in London, England.



LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Children wave flags outside Westminster Abbey before tomorrow's marriage ceremony of Prince William and Catherine Middleton on April 28, 2011 in London, England. With less than 24 hours to go final preparations for the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton are in place.




Royal supporters set up a tent in front of Buckingham Palace in London on April 28, 2011 on the eve of the Royal wedding. Britain's Prince William is to marry his fiancee Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey in London on April 29, 2011.


source: daylife
photo: Gettyimages

Kate arrives with sister and mother at their London hotel to spend final night as a single woman... and as a commoner

By Daily Mail Reporter


Here come the Middletons: Pippa, Kate and mother Carole smile to the crowds as they arrive at the Goring Hotel ahead of Kate's marriage to Prince William tomorrow


After a final rehearsal at Westminster Abbey, Kate Middleton arrived this evening at the Goring Hotel, where her family are staying ahead of her marriage to Prince William tomorrow.

Wearing a polka-dot dress, the bride-to-be, accompanied by her sister Pippa and mother Carole, waved to the huge crowd which has gathered outside the hotel in Belgravia.

A beaming Kate showed no sign of nerves as she prepares to spend her final night as a single woman - and a commoner.

And royal fans had an extra treat tonight as her husband-to-be greeted well-wishers along The Mall.

Now scroll down to see the video
Almost there: Kate Middleton and her family receive huge cheers in Belgravia this evening ahead of her wedding at Westminster Abbey

I'm getting married in the morning: The bride-to-be waves to the crowds as she prepares to spend her final night as a single woman and a commoner

A family affair: Kate outside the Goring Hotel with her sister Pippa and mother Carole this evening


Prince William, accompanied by his brother Harry, shook hands and chatted with the crowd near Clarence House.

Earlier today, Kate was greeted by cheers at the abbey as she was joined by best man Prince Harry - as well as the bridesmaids and pageboys and members of her family - for one last run-through of the big day which will be watched by 2billion people round the globe.

The practice took place as it was revealed Miss Middleton will not promise to 'obey' Prince William in her vows.

It's really happening: Kate reacts to well-wishers outside her hotel


Today thousands of royal fans had set up tents outside the Abbey where there was a carnival atmosphere.

As Kate arrived this morning, a huge cheer went up from the royal fans who have been arriving from round the globe.

Waving their Union flags, the crowds greeted the passing Household Cavalry this morning before the bride-to-be arrived for a last run-through.

It is the last time Miss Middleton or a member of the Royal Family will be at the abbey before the service gets under way tomorrow, St James's Palace said.

Prince William greets well-wishers along The Mall ahead of his wedding

The happy prince: Kate's husband-to-be clearly enjoyed chatting with his fans

Best man: Prince Harry joined his brother on the stroll near Clarence House

One more night: The bride-to-be and her sister Pippa were all smiles as the big day approaches

Soon to have a prince in the family: Pippa and Carole in Belgravia this evening


Later on, the Duchess of Cornwall went out onto the Mall to meet well-wishers and those camping out ahead of tomorrow’s event during an impromptu walkabout.

When asked how she was feeling ahead of the big day, the duchess said: 'We’re all ready for tomorrow - it’s wonderful and all very exciting!

'There’s a great atmosphere out here and it’s so nice to meet people and see how the celebrations are getting underway.'

Flying the flag: The Duchess of Cornwall greets royal fans as she arrives at Clarence House earlier today

Walkabout: The Duchess of Cornwall spoke to royal fans who are camping overnight on The Mall

New picture: This portrait of Prince William and Kate Middleton by celebrated photographer Mario Testino was published in the official programme


Today the journalist who carried out the couple's engagement interview said they were attempting to 'block out the terror of having two billion people' watching them tomorrow.

In a personal message to well-wishers, the couple said they were 'incredibly moved' by the affection shown to them since their engagement in the official wedding programme.

Tomorrow modern-thinking Miss Middleton will pledge to 'love, comfort, honour and keep' William.

Kate Middleton and Prince Harry at the Abbey this morning for the last run-through. Two billion people are expected to watch the ceremony tomorrow

Mike Tindall, who is due to marry Zara Phillips in July, arrives at Clarence House


The soon-to-be royal is following in the footsteps of the Prince's mother Diana who also opted not to 'obey' the Prince of Wales during their wedding ceremony in 1981.

The Queen, Princess Margaret and the Princess Royal all said they would obey their husbands.

William and his fiancee have selected the Series One Book of Common Prayer ceremony, from 1966, which allows the bride to drop 'obey him' and 'serve him' from the religious proceedings.

With William choosing not to wear a wedding ring, only the prince will say 'With this ring I thee wed' as he places the golden band on Kate's finger.

Last practice: Kate Middleton, with her mother Carole and Prince Harry, gets into a Jaguar and leaves Westminster Abbey this morning after a final run through. The next time she will be back there will be for the wedding

Grinning bride: A smiling Kate Middleton, right, arrives at Westminster Abbey for the last run through. Left, her sister Pippa enters with bridesmaid Grace van Cutsem





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