Ceremonial timetable released

The schedule for the royal wedding has been released:

8.30 a.m. Guests in the 1,900-strong congregation start to arrive at Westminster Abbey.

10.30 a.m. The Royal Family begin to take their places at the Abbey, with the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh the last to arrive. Groom Prince William, who by then may have been given a new title by the Queen, heads to the Abbey, joined by best man Prince Harry.

10.50 a.m. Bride Ms Middleton leaves for the Abbey with her father Michael in the Rolls-Royce Phantom VI, heading down the Mall and Whitehall.

11 a.m. The bride emerges from the car and enters the Abbey on her father’s arm. The ceremony, which will last just over an hour, begins.

12.10 p.m. Prince William and his new royal wife emerge from the Abbey and depart in the 1902 State Landau, travelling along the crowd-lined processional route back to Buckingham Palace.

12.30 p.m. They arrive at Buckingham Palace.

1.30 p.m. The royal newlyweds, joined by both their families, make their appearance on the Palace balcony, where they are expected to kiss – to the delight of the crowds.

The royals watch a flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight from the balcony, before returning inside for the Queen’s reception for 600 guests in the State Rooms.

3.30 p.m. The couple is expected to head to St James’s Palace for some quiet time.

7 p.m. They return to Buckingham Palace for their private evening reception for 300 family and friends, hosted by the Prince of Wales.

Church of England publishes prayer for the couple

The Church of England published a prayer asking for God’s help in keeping Prince William and Kate Middleton faithful to each other.

The prayer asks that God “deepen their love and strengthen their wills to keep the promises they will make, that they may continue in life-long faithfulness to each other”. The Church advises that the verse can be used in private prayer, in groups or within public worship, and is intended for “all couples preparing for their wedding”.

Prince William and Miss Middleton are to be married at Westminster Abbey on April 29 by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.

The Bishop of London, the Richard Chartres, will give the address and the Dean of Westminster, the Dr John Hall, will conduct the service.The Catholic Church published a prayer asking for God’s blessing for the royal couple and that they be granted the strength to serve God, the country and the Commonwealth with integrity and faithfulness.

The Church of England previously published a prayer for use by schoolchildren who wished to pray for Prince William and Ms Middleton as they got ready for their wedding day. It asked that Jesus “keep them safe, make them happy and help them to look after each other always”.

The new Church of England prayer reads:

“God of all grace,
friend and companion,
look in favour on William and Catherine and all who are made one in marriage.
In your love deepen their love
and strengthen their wills
to keep the promises they will make,
that they may continue
in life-long faithfulness to each other; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.”