First look at official royal wedding pix with Prince William and Princess Kate

In the first, above, Wills and Kate are seen happily side-by-side in an image portraying the perfect married couple.

Then there's one for the whole family with the Queen and Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Camilla, along with Best Man Harry, Kate's sister Pippa and family.

And to whet the appetite of Brits awaiting royal offspring, the bride and groom posed playfully with the page boys and bridesmaids, who larked around smiling for the cameras.

The Prince and Princess were seen leaving London in a helicopter this morning, heading to a secret location for their long-awaited honeymoon.

Earlier today, Kate's bridal bouquet ? which touchingly included sweet William ? was left at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, in accordance with Royal tradition.

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Tears at memory of Princess Diana at Royal Wedding

He said Princess Diana "would have been very very proud of him". Then, turning and looking at his bride, Wills added: "If she was here, she would have thought you to be her little boy's soulmate."

Wills said Kate looked stunning and that since she was now taken her sister Pippa would be the next best thing.

Guests were convinced Prince Harry is "very smitten" with Pippa.

KATE will join the wives' club at William's RAF base on Anglesey, North Wales, for regular meetings with the partners of other officers.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding music pays tribute to Princess Diana

Kate Middleton and Prince William

PRINCE William and Kate Middleton will pay a touching tribute to Princess Diana today – when their wedding service will feature a hymn played at her funeral.

The couple have selected the final hymn from Diana’s 1997 funeral to be the first sung in Westminster Abbey by their 1,900 guests.

Two billion people worldwide will witness how William’s late mother remained at the forefront of his and Kate’s thoughts as they planned their special day.

The rousing Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer was also chosen by William and brother Harry in the Guards Chapel on the 10th anniversary of Princess Diana’s tragic death in a Paris car crash.

Friends and family will join the royal couple to sing the emotional and inspiring words to the Welsh tune just before they say their vows in front of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

And in another tribute, bride Kate will make her three-and-a-half minute walk down the aisle to the dramatic sounds of Sir Hubert Parry’s anthem I was Glad, which was played at Charles and Diana’s 1981 wedding.

William has told close friends and royals he is sure his mother will be there in spirit today, wishing him and Kate happiness.

Along with brother Harry he has publicly vowed never to forget her.

Princess Diana

A palace source said: “There is no doubt that as he stands at the altar with his bride, William will be thinking of the mother who had enormous influence on him. Diana would be 49 by now and it is deeply disappointing to him that she is not around to see him marry or that she never met Kate.

“But William is determined not to dwell on that because he knows this is Kate’s big day and nothing must be allowed to spoil that.”

The last time William was in the Abbey for a state occasion was after he was part of the slow and painful procession behind his mother’s coffin aged just 15.

With Harry, father Prince Charles, grandfather Prince Philip and Diana’s brother Charles Spencer, he walked with head bowed as thousands of mourners looked on in silence.

But today, the crowds lining the streets will be cheering wildly as William makes his way to marry Kate.

Singer Sir Elton John, whose song Goodbye England’s Rose – a reworking of his Candle in the Wind hit – was the most emotional moment of Diana’s funeral, is one of the few celebrity guests invited to the wedding.

And he said: “I can’t imagine at that young age having to walk in the public, following your mother’s coffin.

“And the next time we’re in the Abbey it’s to see him walking up the aisle with a beautiful woman, the love of his life. I think it’s the most joyous result and I’m sure Diana would be very, very happy about it.”

William has said he gave Kate Diana’s sapphire and diamond engagement ring as a way of “keeping her close to it all”. And the Mirror told last week how he took his fiancée for a poignant visit to his mother’s grave on the Oval island at the Spencer family ancestral estate in Althorp, Northamptonshire.

In their choice of wedding music, Wills and Kate have also selected a hymn and three songs in recognition of the support given to them by Prince Charles and Camilla.

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, by Charles Wesley, was performed at Charles and Camilla’s blessing at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, in 2005. Three of the seven orchestral pieces played by the London Chamber Orchestra as the guests take their seats are also from Charles and Camilla’s wedding.

Prince Charles

A St James’s Palace spokesman said: “It’s a personal touch to the couple – an acknowledgement of William’s father and the Duchess of Cornwall.”

Kate spent hours listening to music on her iPod and also sought advice from Prince Charles. His hand can be seen in the inclusion of William Walton’s Crown Imperial, which was played at the coronation of George VI – husband of his beloved late grandma, the Queen Mother. It will be played as the couple leave the Abbey as husband and wife.

There is also a strong nod to Wales in the couple’s final musical decisions.

Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer – from the Welsh tune by John Hughes with words by William Williams – is best known today as the Welsh rugby anthem Bread of Heaven. Love Divine, All Loves Excelling is set to the Welsh tune Blaenwern. In honour of the North Wales island where they have set up home, William and Kate have also chosen a work by modern composer Paul Mealor, who has a studio on Anglesey.

But their final hymn is about as English as is possible – the stirring and popular Jerusalem, a poem by William Blake set to music by Sir Hubert Parry and arranged by Edward Elgar.

A variation of the traditional English folk song Greensleeves by Ralph Vaughan Williams will feature as well, and William and Kate have also commissioned some new music to add a modern twist to the day.

Special fanfare Valiant and Brave – after the motto of William’s RAF Search and Rescue No 22 Squadron – was composed by Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs, the Force’s principal director of music.

The 30-second celebration will be sounded by seven trumpeters and one drummer from the Central Band of the RAF as the bride and groom prepare for their procession to the Great West Door after they marry.

Kate’s brother James, 23, will be making the only reading of the service.

In what is sure to be a nerve-racking moment in the spotlight, he will tell the congregation and TV viewers: “Let love be genuine”.

A hymn for Diana

Guide me, O thou great redeemer,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty,
Hold me with thy powerful hand;
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven
Feed me till I want no more;
Feed me till I want no more.
Open now the crystal fountain
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through:
Strong deliverer, strong deliverer;
Be thou still my strength and shield;
Be thou still my strength and shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death, and hell’s destruction
Land me safe on Canaan’s side:
Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to thee;
I will ever give to thee.

Words by William Williams

Download the Daily Mirror's 'Wills & Kate A Royal Love Story' souvenir mobile app for iPhone, iTouch, iPad or Nokia smartphone here

Download the Daily Mirror's 'Wills & Kate A Royal Love Story' souvenir mobile app for iPhone, iTouch, iPad or Nokia smartphone here

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Royal wedding: Kate Middleton follows in footsteps of Princess Diana and will not vow to 'obey'

Prince William and Kate Middleton (Pic:PA)

Kate Middleton will not promise to "obey" Prince William when she says her vows. Instead, modern-thinking Miss Middleton will pledge to "love, comfort, honour and keep" him, the Order of Service revealed.

The soon-to-be royal is following in the footsteps of Diana, Princess of Wales, 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 (1966) Book of Common Prayer ceremony 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.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams will conduct the vows, before pronouncing them "man and wife".

Here is the full Solemnization of Marriage conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury from the Order of Service:

THE MARRIAGE

The Archbishop says to Prince William:

WILLIAM Arthur Philip Louis, wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together according to God's law in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live? He answers: I will.

The Archbishop says to Catherine:

CATHERINE Elizabeth, wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together according to God's law in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love him, comfort him, honour and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live? She answers: I will.

The Archbishop continues:

Who giveth this woman to be married to this man? The Archbishop receives Catherine from her father's hand.

Taking Catherine's right hand, Prince William says after the Archbishop:

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, according to God's holy law; and thereto I give thee my troth.

They loose hands.

Catherine, taking Prince William by his right hand, says after the Archbishop:

I, CATHERINE Elizabeth, take thee, William Arthur Philip Louis, to my wedded husband, 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, according to God's holy law; and thereto I give thee my troth.

They loose hands.

The Archbishop blesses the ring:

BLESS, O Lord, this ring, and grant that he who gives it and she who shall wear it may remain faithful to each other, and abide in thy peace and favour, and live together in love until their lives' end. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prince William takes the ring and places it upon the fourth finger of Catherine's left hand.

Prince William says after the Archbishop:

WITH this ring I thee wed; with my body I thee honour; and all my worldly goods with thee I share: in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. The Congregation remains standing as the Couple kneels.

The Archbishop says:

Let us pray.

O ETERNAL God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, giver of all spiritual grace, the author of everlasting life: send thy blessing upon these thy servants, this man and this woman, whom we bless in thy name; that, living faithfully together, they may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, whereof this ring given and received is a token and pledge; and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Archbishop joins their right hands together and says:

Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.

The Archbishop addresses the Congregation:

FORASMUCH as William and Catherine have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a ring, and by joining of hands; I pronounce that they be man and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

The Archbishop blesses the Couple:

GOD the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favour look upon you; and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace, that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting. Amen.

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Watch: Royal Wedding: From Commoner to Princess

Tornado Caught on Tape: Mall Madness

A tornado swirls above a shopping mall in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Sorry, I could not read the content fromt this page.

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Kate Middleton is party princess in uni photos

At the time the princess-to-be, who displays a liking for off-the-shoulder outfits, had just started dating a handsome fella she shared a house with - fellow St Andrews student Wills.

The pictures taken in 2002 - eight years before he popped the question - show Kate at a series of functions including a Christmas party.

At other bashes including a jazz night she poses with uni pals Mickey Lawson and Ed Gribbon, who was sporting lipstick on his face.

ONE in four office workers are still waiting to know if they can have the wedding day off - even though it is a bank holiday.

The problem is worst in London with almost a third saying they have not been told.

A survey by recruitment firm Badenoch & Clark warned workers could "react badly" to a last-minute decision.

Spokesman Lynne Hardman said: "Bosses don't have to give staff bank holidays off.

"But perhaps they could allow flexi-working or let people watch the ceremony at work."

SALES of traditional cakes like Eccles and Victoria sponges are soaring in the wedding run-up.

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