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Subscribe to RSSAP reports: Hundreds of troops have paraded through the empty streets of London in a dawn rehearsal for their ceremonial role during the royal wedding.
Carl Court / AFP - Getty Images
A royal limousine takes part in a dress rehearsal in central London early on April 27 for the royal wedding between Britain's Prince William and his fiancee Kate Middleton. Up to 1,000 members of the British military attended a pre-dawn rehearsal for the royal wedding on Wednesday to ensure they get everything right on the big day.
Darren Staples / Reuters
A soldier yawns during the royal wedding rehearsal at dawn on April 27.
Wednesday's walkthrough saw army, navy and air force personnel in full uniform lining the route Prince William and Kate Middleton will follow between Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey.
Mounted troops of the Household Cavalry escorted a horse-drawn carriage.
Christopher Furlong / Getty Images
Sailors of the Royal Navy march outside Westminster Abbey.
Peter MacDiarmid / Getty Images
A Scots Guards officer, right, makes checks during the rehearsal on The Mall.
Starting at about 5 a.m., the troops practiced and timed their roles to the second for Friday's celebrations — but without the crowds expected on the day.
Organizers said the dress rehearsal went without a hitch.
Alastair Grant / AP
Soldiers of the Household Cavalry escorting a carriage cross Horseguards as they take part in the rehearsal.
Read more about the rehearsal on Today.com or watch the video below.
Up to 1,000 members of the British military held a full dress rehearsal Wednesday to prepare for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Meanwhile, the royal couple got behind the wheel and drove themselves to London for their big day. TODAY's Natalie Morales reports.
You can find more royal wedding coverage on our blog, The Windsor Knot and on PhotoBlog.
And more photo coverage in our slideshows:
Preparations for the royal wedding.
Wacky royal wedding memorabilia.
The royal guestlist - who's coming to the wedding?
A royal courtship.
History of British royal weddings.
Kate Middleton's style.
Crown jewels.
Leave a Comment:
I wish the Royal Couple the best, and I pray that the muslims don't get excited and do something stupid. We must remember that there are alot of Muslims in the U.K. and they are trouble makers, they need to deport all of them back to the sand where they belong.
All of this for a wedding? Unreal.
Equity4all: I take it you have never been married?
And anyway ,its a big deal to the British, they always sacrifice a royal when time are tough so the subjects do not get too antsy.
example: Diana & Charles was at the end of the 80's recession
I'm in total agreement! This is utterly ridiculous. Sorry to all of you star-struck folks but to me these are just people getting married like anyone else. Won't watch it, tired of hearing about it and quite frankly don't give a damn.
Here we go again...
..Why can't you that dislike hearing about it, won't watch it and don't give a damn, just ignore it? Why all of this heated passion about something that is meaningless to you? and Chevy Girl i am not just pinging your post but countless others on this thread as well as other seeds...my advice...just let it go...with a smile and a sigh and a few well wishes to the Bride and Groom.
Personally, I love all the talk about this upcoming wedding. I have never considered my self 'star struck' but as a historian, most particularly British History it is interesting copy. You may not agree with the way that Britain runs their country. They are not asking you too. Nor do you have to respect their traditions. But is it really necessary to Bash something just because you have the value of anonymity and free speech?
As an American, I find this fascination with everything related to the royal family totally over the top. Their existence no longer affects us as Americans, and I'd rather we concentrate on something other than the nuptuals. There are more important events happening which deserve our attention.
Spoken like a true Democrat....no sense of cultural heritage of this country and no love of it..go get yourself a life...good luck !!!
LOL, yes there are some very important events taking place in the US of A and around the world...but I don't think a Royal Wedding, a event that has been celebrated in that country for almost 1000 years taxes too much of the brain or the US's tax dollars...personally I can worry about many things as well as wish the Royal Couple many happy returns of the day at the same time.
Art, I am not a democrat. My family didn't come over to this country until the 20th century, and they came from eastern Europe. I understand the cultural heritage of this country, but I also understand MY cultural heritage, and it includes the fact that those in my cultural group had to escape from Europe in the early 20th century or possibly end up dead because of their belief system.
Plus, which is more important right now, the royal wedding or (as a for instance) the start of rebuilding what was torn asunder last night as a result of the tornadoes here in the south?
Oh, and while I would wish anyone getting married tomorrow (provided I knew them) good luck and a long and happy life, why should this one particular wedding be more important than any other that happens tomorrow?
Let's all say a huge prayer that the young couple and all the participants and spectators are soveignly protected from harm by anyone during all the celebrations.
Whoops! my bad..."sovereignly"....
misspell or not it is still a good thought ..and I will join you in that prayer...I hope the day goes as well as the rehearsal:)
Don't let the pretty uniforms fool you. If it was all for show they would be carrying pretty chrome bolt action rifles, not fully automatic SA80A2 assault rifles with bayonets. I would bet that there is ammo in the magazine and if there is trouble, they will deal with it.
No way - dress weapons are always current weapons. No security in their right mind would load troops trooping the colors in public. Too many dangers, no control and no command during an event. There will be tight security - which you wont see too much of.
I am ex RN: Sir, you would loose your money
God bless the life of this young couple...I'm just mad that so many dictators were invited and ours wasn't ...!!!!!!
I'm not that into all of this, I like reading about it but won't get up at 2 a.m. and watch it. But I don't find it odd that some people are very fascinated with it. It's not much different than some people in the US are about Hollywood celebrities. They walk down the street and people fall all over themselves to see them, talk to them, etc. And quite frankly, many celebrities are far less worthy of the attention than Prince William and Kate Middleton and others in the Royal family.
With all the nut-jobs in the world, if I was Prince William there is no way I'd get into any vehicle/carriage that wasn't armored and had bullet-resistant glass. The risks are too real, and not worth trying to be noble.
If Diana was still alive where would she be seated, with the Spencers on the bride's side of the aisle, or would she have been left out to keep Fergie company?