Order of Service

The service, which started at 11.00am, was conducted by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Rev John Hall.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, performed the marriage ceremony of Prince William and Kate Middleton. The Bishop of London, the Right Rev Richard Chartres, gave the address.

Music for the ceremony was under the direction of James O'Donnell, the Organist and Master of the Choristers of Westminster Abbey and an internationally recognised organist and conductor.

Before the Service

Music by Mr James Mc Vinnie, Assisant Organist, Westminster Abbey London Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Christopher Warren-Green.

Arrival of the Bridegroom and Prince Henry of Wales by the Great West Door

Choral Procession
Choir of Her Majesty's Chapel Royal
Choir of Westminster Abbey

FANFARE to announce entrance of Queen

London Chamber Orchestra
March from The Birds, Charals Hubert Hastings Parry

The Procession of the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall
Sub-organst plays Prelude on Rhosymedre by Ralph Vaughan Williams

The Procession of the Clergy

The Arrival of the Bride, who is met by the Dean at the Great West Door

Procession of the bride

Introit is sung 'I was glad when they said unto me...'
(Psalm 122: 1-3. 6-7, Charles Hubert Hastings Parry

All sing:
Guide me, O thou great Redeemer

The Dean gives
The Welcome and Introduction

'Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together...'

The Archbishop of Canterbury:
'I require and charge you both, as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgement... that if either of you know of any impediment...'

The solemnization of the marriage

The Archbishop says to Prince William:
'William Arthur Philip Louis, wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife...'

Prince William answers
I will

The Archbishop says: to Catherine Middleton:

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...'

Catherine answers
I will

'Those whom God hath joined let no man put asunder'

All sing:
Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven, to earch come down
(Charles Wesley 1707-88)

Mr James Middleton reads:

The Lesson
'Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of you minds. so that you may discern what is the will of God...'
Romans 12: 1, 2, 9-18

The Choir sing The Anthem
'This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it...'
John Rutter (b 1945), specially commissioned by the Dean and Chapter of Westminster

The address

By the The Right Reverend and Righ Honourable Dr Richard Chartres, K.C.V.O.

The Couple Move to the High Altar as the Choir sing:
Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est... (Wherever charity and love are to be found, God is there...)
Paul Mealor (b 1975)

The Precentor says The Prayers
Our Father, which art in heaven...'

The Dean and the Archbishop:

'look mercifully upon these servants, that both this man may love his wife, according to thy word... and also that this woman may be loving and amiable, and faithful to her husband...'

Note: The bride and groom composed their own prayer for the service, which was read by the Bishop of London:

'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.'

All Sing

And did those feet in ancient time
walk upon England's mountains green
Jerusalem by Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, arranged by Edward Elgar

The Dean pronounces The Blessing

FANFARE

The National Anthem

The Bride, Bridegroom and their witnesses move to the Shrine of St Edward the Confessor for the signing of the Marriage Register

The choirs sing: