Just prior to the arrival of the bride
The Royal Carriages, on their way to pick up the newly married couple from Westminster
I believe this is the carriage for the Queen Mother
Our location for viewing this historic event
after the crowds dispersed
the Goring, where Catherine and her family stayed prior to the wedding
Media area just outside Westminster Abbey
We braved the crowds and headed down to Westminster Abbey about 10am on Friday April 29th, the day of the Royal Wedding. Emerging at Victoria Station, we encountered massive crowds. Some people had been camping out near the church for days and days! Unsure of the best vantage point, we began maneuvering our way through the masses towards Westminter Abbey. When we finally reached a point at which we could go no further, we positioned ourselves just behind the road barricades, 2nd in line, with a not-so-bad view of the entrance the Abbey. At approximately 10:15 the bells began to ring and they did not stop until the bride was inside the church. With each arrival the crowds cheered wildly. Once the service began and all calmed, the crowds dispersed. We lingered near the church, unable to access the return route or Buckingham Palace because of overcrowding. Eventually we made our back towards the church on a different side street to see the exit of the Royal Family from the church. Unexpectedly, we were exactly along the route of the Royal Horse guards bringing the carriages to collect the Royal family, bride and groom of course first in the parade, to make the route through the crowded streets returning to Buckingham Palace. Although we viewed the carriages empty, it was a gorgeous sight and we were able to see the Royal Family mounting into these Fairy Tale carriages just after the ceremony.
Once they departed, we ventured over to Hyde Park, grabbing picnic fare on the way there, and planted ourselves among the 200,000 people on the grass just in time to view The Kiss on the enormous screens they had in the park for the public to view up close the wedding events. The cheering and screaming were deafening! Making our way back to our apartment around 3:30 pm, I think we all felt as though we had participated in something historic, something unusual, something very unique and dreamy.
Congratulations Prince William and Princess Catherine! We enjoyed celebrating with you!!
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