Under cool, gray skies billions watched from outside Westminster Abbey and on television worldwide as 1900 invited guests inside witnessed as Prince William and his longtime girlfriend Kate Middleton were married in one of the largest events in London in decades. A little over an hour after they arrived at the Abbey to be married, the couple emerged on a red carpet and onto the streets to a peal of bells and into a horse-drawn carriage, heading toward Buckingham Palace. The prince had married what the British call a commoner; now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (titles granted by Queen Elizabeth II). The couple stepped out onto a balcony a short time later to greet the enormous crowd along the Mall - a tradition at royal weddings. They kissed for the first time in public as a married couple as a cheer went up from the crowd. -- Paula Nelson (36 photos total)
Catherine (Kate) Middleton arrives at Westminster Abbey before her marriage to Britain's Prince William in central London. (Toby Melville/Reuters)
2Catherine Middleton and her father Michael Middleton make their way to Westminster in London, England. The marriage of Prince William, the second in line to the British throne, to Catherine Middleton was held in London today. The Archbishop of Canterbury conducted the service which was attended by 1900 guests, including foreign Royal family members and heads of state. Thousands of well-wishers from around the world have also flocked to London to witness the spectacle and pageantry of the Royal Wedding and street parties are being held throughout the UK. (Roland Hoskins/WPA Pool/Getty Images) #
3Well wishers with flags surge along the Mall towards Buckingham Palace to celebrate the Royal Wedding of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at Westminster Abbey. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) #
4Kate Middleton waves as she arrives at Westminster Abbey accompanied by Michael Middleton, her father, and maid of honor Pippa Middleton at the Royal Wedding in London. (Alastair Grant/Associated Press) #
5Pippa Middleton, sister of the bride arrives with the flower girls and page boys at Westmister Abbey. (Paul Rogers/WPA Pool/Getty Images) #
6Children wave British Union Jack flags next to a police officer during the wedding service for Britain's Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge. (Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images) #
7Royal watchers and fans gather for the Royal Wedding of Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton. (AFP/Getty Images) (Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters) #
8Britain's Prince William and his brother and best man Prince Harry, arrive at Westminster Abbey for Prince William's marriage to Kate Middleton. (Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters) #
9Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, Britain's Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall meet the Dean of Westminster as they arrive at Westminster Abbey. (Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images) #
10Royal fans gather at St Andrews University, Scotland, to watch the royal wedding. (Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images) #
11Page boy Tom Petiffer looks up as he waits with bridesmaids and page boys inside the Westminster Abbey before the royal wedding. (Suzanne Plunkett/WPA Pool/Getty Images) #
12Kate Middleton and her father Michael, arrive at Westminster Abbey, for Kate's marriage to Britain's Prince William, in central London. (Adrian Dennis/Pool/Reuters) #
13Father of the bride Michael Middleton, leads his daughter Catherine down the aisle to be wed to Prince William, followed by Pippa Middleton during their wedding at Westminster Abbey. (Andrew Milligan/WPA Pool/Getty Images) #
14Michael Middleton lifts his daughter's veil as Britain's Prince William sings during the royal wedding service at Westminster Abbey in central London. (Kirsty Wigglesworth/AFP/Getty Images) #
15Prince William greets Kate Middleton as she arrives at the alter with her father Michael Middleton, prior to their marriage in London's Westminster Abbey. (Dominic Lipinski/Associated Press) #
16The Royal Wedding of Prince William to Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey. (Dave Thompson/WPA Pool/Getty Images) #
17Kate Middleton and Britain's Prince William hold hands during the wedding service at Westminster Abbey, conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams. (Dave Thompson, Pool/Associated Press) #
18Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton exchange rings before the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, during their wedding ceremony In Westminster Abbey. (Dominic Lipinski/Pool/Reuters) #
19Britain's Prince William places the ring on the finger of his bride, Kate Middleton, as they stand at the altar at Westminster Abbey. (APTN/Associated Press) #
20Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, prepare to leave Westminster Abbey following their marriage ceremony. (Dave Thompson/WPA Pool/Getty Images) #
21Prince William takes the hand of his bride Catherine Middleton, now to be known as Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, as they walk down the aisle followed by Prince Harry and Pippa Middleton inside Westminster Abbey. (Kirsty Wigglesworth/WPA Pool/Getty Images) #
22Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, make their way out of Westminster Abbey in London, following their wedding ceremony. (Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images) #
23Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge leave Westminster Abbey following their marriage ceremony. Thousands of well-wishers from around the world have flocked to London to witness the spectacle and pageantry of the Royal Wedding. (Andrew Milligan/WPA Pool/Getty Images) #
24Britain's Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, hold hands as they leave Westminster Abbey. (David Jones/Pool/Reuters) #
25Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, leave Westminster Abbey following their wedding ceremony. (Carl de Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #
26Britain's Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge leave Westminster Abbey following their wedding ceremony. (Carl de Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #
27Their Royal Highnesses Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge journey by carriage procession to Buckingham Palace following their marriage at Westminster Abbey. (Warren Little/Getty Images) #
28Armed police laugh as they patrol along the Mall on the day of the Royal Wedding of Their Royal Highnesses Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at Westminster Abbey. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) #
29Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, wave as they travel in the 1902 State Landau carriage along the Processional Route to Buckingham Palace after their wedding service. (Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images) #
30Well wishers with flags surge along the Mall toward Buckingham Palace to celebrate the Royal Wedding of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at Westminster Abbey. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) #
31Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrive at Buckingham Palace after their wedding at Westminster Abbey. (Andrew Winning/WPA Pool/Getty Images) #
32The team at Fiona Cairns Ltd of Leicestershire make the finishing touches to the Royal Wedding Cake made for Prince William and Catherine Middleton in the Picture Gallery of Buckingham Palace. (John Stillwell/WPA Pool/Getty Images) #
33Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Bridesmaids Grace Van Cutsem and Margarita Armstrong-Jones greet well-wishers from the balcony at Buckingham Palace. (Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) #
34Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge kiss as Bridesmaids Grace Van Cutsem and Margarita Armstrong-Jones look on from the balcony at Buckingham Palace. (Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) #
35Prince William, Duke of Cambridge escorts Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge from the balcony at Buckingham Palace. (Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) #
36Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge waves to well wishers as she and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge leave Buckingham Palace. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) #
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