Prince William and Kate Middleton married with a mix of glittering pageantry and spontaneity, kissing twice in front of the watching public and breathing new life into Britain's monarchy.
A million people lined the streets and two billion TV viewers worldwide watched as Kate swept up the aisle of Westminster Abbey on Friday, resplendent in an ivory and white satin dress with a veil and flowing train.
The future king and queen briefly kissed on the balcony of Buckingham Palace then repeated it when the crowds begged for more -- going one better than William's parents Prince Charles and Diana when they wed in 1981.
Tourists and Britons alike flocked to London to see the culmination of a romance that began eight years ago when the second in line to the throne and his "commoner" bride were university students. The couple are now known officially as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - the titles were a wedding gift from William's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Among 1,900 guests in the abbey were musician Sir Elton John, footballer David Beckham and his wife Victoria, and Australian swimming icon Ian Thorpe, along with 40foreign royals and hundreds of dignitaries.
All eyes were on 29-year-old Kate's dress, and there were cheers when she emerged from her hotel in a robe by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, the British designer who committed suicide last year.
Led by her father Michael, Kate took four minutes to walk down the aisle of the abbey which was lined with trees to create the feel of an English garden.
William waited for her accompanied by his brother and best man Prince Harry, wearing the red tunic of the Irish Guards infantry regiment, the uniform of his highest military rank, despite his day job as a Royal Air Force helicopter pilot.
Prince William smiled and mouthed "you look beautiful" to his bride. The couple both said "I will" before repeating their vows, while William briefly struggled to fit the ring, made from Welsh gold, over her finger.
After the service, they travelled in an open carriage to Buckingham Palace along The Mall, as the crowds cheered and mounted soldiers in their finery rode alongside.
When the couple appeared on the balcony Kate could be seen mouthing "Wow" at the ocean of people. William then appeared to ask "Shall we kiss?" before briefly embracing his bride and blushing, following it up with another shortly afterwards.
Scotland Yard said at least one million people thronged the procession route, with 500,000 of them watching the balcony kisses. There was one more surprise after the wedding reception at the palace.
William and Kate appeared in a vintage Aston Martin sporting bunting and balloons and the registration number "JU5T WED", and drove to Clarence House, his father's residence, nearby.
One surprise remains intact after the wedding, however -- the couple's honeymoon destination is still a mystery.
The future king and queen briefly kissed on the balcony of Buckingham Palace then repeated it when the crowds begged for more -- going one better than William's parents Prince Charles and Diana when they wed in 1981.
Tourists and Britons alike flocked to London to see the culmination of a romance that began eight years ago when the second in line to the throne and his "commoner" bride were university students. The couple are now known officially as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - the titles were a wedding gift from William's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Among 1,900 guests in the abbey were musician Sir Elton John, footballer David Beckham and his wife Victoria, and Australian swimming icon Ian Thorpe, along with 40foreign royals and hundreds of dignitaries.
All eyes were on 29-year-old Kate's dress, and there were cheers when she emerged from her hotel in a robe by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, the British designer who committed suicide last year.
Led by her father Michael, Kate took four minutes to walk down the aisle of the abbey which was lined with trees to create the feel of an English garden.
William waited for her accompanied by his brother and best man Prince Harry, wearing the red tunic of the Irish Guards infantry regiment, the uniform of his highest military rank, despite his day job as a Royal Air Force helicopter pilot.
Prince William smiled and mouthed "you look beautiful" to his bride. The couple both said "I will" before repeating their vows, while William briefly struggled to fit the ring, made from Welsh gold, over her finger.
After the service, they travelled in an open carriage to Buckingham Palace along The Mall, as the crowds cheered and mounted soldiers in their finery rode alongside.
When the couple appeared on the balcony Kate could be seen mouthing "Wow" at the ocean of people. William then appeared to ask "Shall we kiss?" before briefly embracing his bride and blushing, following it up with another shortly afterwards.
Scotland Yard said at least one million people thronged the procession route, with 500,000 of them watching the balcony kisses. There was one more surprise after the wedding reception at the palace.
William and Kate appeared in a vintage Aston Martin sporting bunting and balloons and the registration number "JU5T WED", and drove to Clarence House, his father's residence, nearby.
One surprise remains intact after the wedding, however -- the couple's honeymoon destination is still a mystery.
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