Nov. 21, 2025
Crown and Controversy - 7. The Eve Before
On Saturday we'll be sharing epsiodes of Crown and Controvery's first season. You can listen to the rest of Seaosn 1 and Season 2 in the Crown and Controversy feed AND you may also like Crown and Controversy: Norway.
The night before the royal wedding brings nervous anticipation as London transforms into a festival of patriotism. Kate spends her final evening as a commoner with her family at the exclusive Goring Hotel, while William shares a quiet dinner with Charles and Harry at Clarence House. Westminster Abbey undergoes its final transformation with living maple trees and symbolic flowers. Security teams conduct last-minute checks across the capital as private emotions and public expectations collide on the eve of the most anticipated royal event in decades.
Hear our new show "Crown and Controversy: Prince Andrew" here.
Check out "Palace Intrigue Presents: King WIlliam" here.
👑 Follow our hit series Crown and Controversy! Season 1 is fully available now for everyone. Season 2 has new episodes every Sunday on the regular feed. GET THE FULL SEASON 2 BEFORE REGULAR LISTENERS as a subscriber! Hit that "UNINTERRUPTED LISTENING" Banner on the top of the Apple player. AND listen to Crown and Controversy "NORWAY'S ROYAL REBELS" here and get the full season as a premium subscriber now.
👑 The Palace Intrigue Social Hub is Live! Join the conversation on Facebook and Instagram or click the links to start your royal journey!
WEBVTT
1
00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:12.480
Callaroga Shark Media. The evening of April twenty eighth, twenty
2
00:00:12.720 --> 00:00:18.440
eleven settled over London like a veil of anticipation. The mall,
3
00:00:18.839 --> 00:00:23.359
that grand Royal Boulevard stretching from Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace,
4
00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:26.519
had transformed into a sea of red, white and blue.
5
00:00:28.280 --> 00:00:31.960
Thousands of royal enthusiasts from across Britain and around the
6
00:00:31.960 --> 00:00:35.520
world had already claimed their viewing spots for the following
7
00:00:35.560 --> 00:00:40.640
day's royal wedding, armed with tents, sleeping bags, and seemingly
8
00:00:40.759 --> 00:00:54.880
inexhaustible enthusiasm. This is Crown and Controversy Episode seven. The
9
00:00:54.920 --> 00:01:08.920
eve before, as darkness fell, the atmosphere was electric, a
10
00:01:08.959 --> 00:01:12.760
curious blend of state occasion, a national festival that the
11
00:01:12.799 --> 00:01:19.120
British do so uniquely well. Impromptu street parties formed among strangers,
12
00:01:19.359 --> 00:01:24.280
suddenly united by their shared excitement. Flags fluttered from lampposts,
13
00:01:24.560 --> 00:01:28.920
Buildings were illuminated in patriotic colors, and television crews from
14
00:01:28.920 --> 00:01:32.640
every corner of the globe broadcast live from temporary studios
15
00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:37.439
hastily constructed along the procession route. Yet away from this
16
00:01:37.599 --> 00:01:42.599
carnival of anticipation, in three separate London locations. The central
17
00:01:42.599 --> 00:01:45.959
players in tomorrow's royal drama spent their final evening of
18
00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:51.959
preparation in strikingly different circumstances at the Goring Hotel, an
19
00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:57.319
elegant Edwardian establishment in Belgravia. Catherine Middleton was ensconced with
20
00:01:57.359 --> 00:02:01.920
her family in the royal suite. The five star hotel
21
00:02:02.079 --> 00:02:04.840
had been booked in its entirety for the Middleton party,
22
00:02:05.239 --> 00:02:09.439
an unprecedented arrangement that ensured total privacy for the bride
23
00:02:09.599 --> 00:02:13.599
on her last night as a commoner. The suite itself
24
00:02:13.639 --> 00:02:17.360
had been renovated specifically for this occasion at a reported
25
00:02:17.400 --> 00:02:21.360
cost of one hundred and fifty thousand pounds. Its bathroom
26
00:02:21.479 --> 00:02:25.840
featured a waterproof television, its shower could accommodate two people,
27
00:02:26.879 --> 00:02:31.400
and original artwork adorned walls freshly painted with silk. Yet
28
00:02:31.439 --> 00:02:36.159
despite these luxuries, the atmosphere within was remarkably normal, a
29
00:02:36.199 --> 00:02:42.000
family gathering rather than a royal production, According to hotel staff,
30
00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:45.759
who later spoke discreetly about the evening, Kate spent quiet
31
00:02:45.800 --> 00:02:50.159
hours with her parents Michael and Carol, and siblings Pippa
32
00:02:50.199 --> 00:02:53.319
and James. They shared a simple dinner in the suite
33
00:02:53.520 --> 00:02:58.639
rather than utilizing the hotel's renowned restaurant, Champagne was served,
34
00:02:58.879 --> 00:03:02.879
but in moderation, everyone acutely aware of the importance of
35
00:03:03.000 --> 00:03:08.159
clear heads for the following day's events, Kate was remarkably calm.
36
00:03:08.360 --> 00:03:12.719
One hotel employee later revealed there were no Bridezilla moments,
37
00:03:13.199 --> 00:03:17.840
no last minute panics. She seemed completely ready, both practically
38
00:03:18.120 --> 00:03:23.759
and emotionally. The wedding dress, still the most closely guarded
39
00:03:23.759 --> 00:03:27.599
secret in Britain, hung in a specially constructed closet under
40
00:03:27.680 --> 00:03:33.000
constant security surveillance. The Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen creation
41
00:03:33.319 --> 00:03:36.479
had been transported to the hotel in a garment bag
42
00:03:36.560 --> 00:03:40.039
that revealed nothing of its design, while staff involved in
43
00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:44.680
its creation had signed non disclosure agreements with financial penalties
44
00:03:45.080 --> 00:03:49.759
so severe they insured absolute silence. In the sweet's living room,
45
00:03:50.080 --> 00:03:54.120
Carol Middleton reportedly gave her daughter a small package, a
46
00:03:54.159 --> 00:03:57.560
gift to be opened that night. Inside were sapphire and
47
00:03:57.639 --> 00:04:01.360
diamond earrings, designed to complement the famous engagement ring that
48
00:04:01.400 --> 00:04:06.240
had once belonged to Diana. This private moment between mother
49
00:04:06.319 --> 00:04:11.000
and daughter, away from royal protocol and palace traditions, symbolized
50
00:04:11.039 --> 00:04:14.439
the grounding influence the Middletons would continue to provide. As
51
00:04:14.520 --> 00:04:19.199
Kate entered the House of Windsor. Across town. At Clarence House,
52
00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:23.000
the official London residence of the Prince of Wales, Williams
53
00:04:23.040 --> 00:04:25.879
spent his last night as a bachelor with his father,
54
00:04:26.040 --> 00:04:30.480
Charles and brother Harry. The three men shared a quiet dinner,
55
00:04:31.000 --> 00:04:35.000
served by staff who had known William since childhood. The meal,
56
00:04:35.319 --> 00:04:40.480
according to palace sources, was accompanied by reminiscence rather than revelry,
57
00:04:41.680 --> 00:04:47.120
stories of William's boyhood, gentle teasing between brothers, and occasionally
58
00:04:47.480 --> 00:04:53.519
poignant silences when thoughts of Diana inevitably arose. The absence
59
00:04:53.560 --> 00:04:56.480
of the Princess of Wales was felt most acutely that night.
60
00:04:56.879 --> 00:05:00.079
One former staff member later confided there was an had
61
00:05:00.120 --> 00:05:03.279
no need to mention her name. Her presence lingered in
62
00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:07.319
every room, particularly on the eve of her eldest son's wedding.
63
00:05:08.920 --> 00:05:12.399
After dinner, William reportedly retreated to his rooms to review
64
00:05:12.399 --> 00:05:15.759
his uniform and the order of service one final time.
65
00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:20.040
The second in line to the throne, known for his thoroughness,
66
00:05:20.360 --> 00:05:25.800
wanted no surprises on the day itself. Meanwhile, Harry, taking
67
00:05:25.879 --> 00:05:30.240
his best man duties seriously confirmed arrangements for the following morning,
68
00:05:30.519 --> 00:05:35.000
while battling what friends later described as complicated emotions about
69
00:05:35.040 --> 00:05:40.439
his brother's milestone. For Harry, the wedding preparations had stirred
70
00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:45.199
complex feelings, genuine happiness for William, mingled with awareness of
71
00:05:45.240 --> 00:05:49.040
his own unmarried state and the contrast between their increasingly
72
00:05:49.079 --> 00:05:54.800
divergent roles. As William stepped more firmly into his destiny
73
00:05:54.959 --> 00:05:59.040
as future King, Harry's own position as the spare felt
74
00:05:59.040 --> 00:06:03.800
increasingly ill. Harry put on a brave face that week,
75
00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:08.000
one close friend later revealed, but watching William take this
76
00:06:08.079 --> 00:06:11.720
step toward his future while Harry's own path remained unclear,
77
00:06:12.279 --> 00:06:15.560
was harder than he let onto anyone, even his brother.
78
00:06:17.839 --> 00:06:21.319
At Buckingham Palace, the third point in this royal triangle,
79
00:06:21.639 --> 00:06:27.199
Queen Elizabeth oversaw final preparations with characteristic attention to detail.
80
00:06:29.000 --> 00:06:33.040
Despite having witnessed eleven previous royal weddings during her reign,
81
00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:38.439
the monarch took nothing for granted. Walking through the palace
82
00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:41.800
rooms where the afternoon reception would be held, she noticed
83
00:06:41.800 --> 00:06:45.879
a painting hanging slightly crooked and personally instructed staff on
84
00:06:45.959 --> 00:06:50.240
its adjustment, a small act that typified her hands on
85
00:06:50.319 --> 00:06:55.319
approach to royal occasions. The Queen had taken a particular
86
00:06:55.399 --> 00:06:59.240
interest in this wedding, recognizing its significance not just for
87
00:06:59.279 --> 00:07:04.519
her grandson but for the monarchy itself. After decades of
88
00:07:04.600 --> 00:07:09.680
royal divorces, scandals, and the trauma of Diana's death, William
89
00:07:09.720 --> 00:07:13.079
and Kate's union represented hope for a more stable future,
90
00:07:13.680 --> 00:07:16.480
a chance to reconnect the crown with the affections of
91
00:07:16.480 --> 00:07:21.600
the British people. That evening, the Queen spoke by telephone
92
00:07:21.720 --> 00:07:24.839
with several Commonwealth heads of state who would be attending
93
00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:28.399
the following day. She also spent time with her husband,
94
00:07:28.480 --> 00:07:32.399
Prince Philip, reviewing the guest list one final time and
95
00:07:32.439 --> 00:07:38.480
discussing the complex politics of seating arrangements. At ninety years old,
96
00:07:38.600 --> 00:07:42.600
the Duke of Edinburgh remained her closest adviser and strongest support,
97
00:07:43.079 --> 00:07:48.040
particularly for family occasions that mixed public duty with private emotion.
98
00:07:59.240 --> 00:08:05.279
Beyond these three central locations, London itself was transforming Westminster Abbey,
99
00:08:05.560 --> 00:08:09.279
the historic coronation church dating back over a thousand years,
100
00:08:09.560 --> 00:08:12.040
had been closed to the public for three days of
101
00:08:12.040 --> 00:08:17.560
intensive preparations inside eight twenty foot English field maple trees
102
00:08:17.959 --> 00:08:21.879
created a living avenue leading to the altar, a garden
103
00:08:21.959 --> 00:08:26.000
brought indoors at Kate's request to soften the Gothic grandeur
104
00:08:26.040 --> 00:08:31.439
of the ancient architecture. The floral arrangements, designed by Shane Connolly,
105
00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:37.440
incorporated meaningful blooms Lily of the Valley representing return of happiness,
106
00:08:38.200 --> 00:08:42.679
Sweet William for gallantry, Hyacinth for constancy of love, and
107
00:08:42.759 --> 00:08:46.559
myrtle grown from a sprig planted by Queen Victoria in
108
00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:52.039
eighteen forty five, symbolizing marriage and love. Each flower had
109
00:08:52.039 --> 00:08:55.799
been carefully selected not just for appearance but for symbolism,
110
00:08:56.240 --> 00:09:02.320
reflecting Kate's attention to meaningful detail. Outside the abbey, security
111
00:09:02.360 --> 00:09:08.559
reached unprecedented levels. Snipers positioned themselves on rooftops, manhole covers
112
00:09:08.600 --> 00:09:12.240
along the procession route were sealed, and under cover officers
113
00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:16.799
mingled with the growing crowds. The Metropolitan Police deployed five
114
00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:21.240
thousand officers, their largest royal wedding operation in history, at
115
00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:25.639
an estimated cost of twenty million pounds. For many of
116
00:09:25.679 --> 00:09:29.879
the officers, the assignment represented a challenge unlike any other,
117
00:09:30.639 --> 00:09:36.519
maintaining absolute vigilance against potential threats while preserving the celebratory atmosphere.
118
00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:42.080
Their presence needed to be reassuring without being intimidating, visible,
119
00:09:42.240 --> 00:09:47.120
without being intrusive. The security operation for the Royal wedding
120
00:09:47.399 --> 00:09:51.919
was like conducting an invisible orchestra. The former Metropolitan Police
121
00:09:51.919 --> 00:09:55.759
Commissioner later wrote, Every element had to work in perfect
122
00:09:55.799 --> 00:09:59.399
harmony without the audience ever becoming aware of the conductor.
123
00:10:00.840 --> 00:10:07.399
Media preparation reached similarly extraordinary proportions. Over seven thousand journalists
124
00:10:07.440 --> 00:10:10.639
had been accredited to cover the wedding, more than for
125
00:10:10.759 --> 00:10:13.759
the two than twelve London Olympics that would follow a
126
00:10:13.840 --> 00:10:20.720
year later. Television networks from six continents had constructed temporary studios,
127
00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:24.960
Satellites were repositioned to ensure global coverage, and an estimated
128
00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:28.879
two billion people worldwide were expected to watch the ceremony live.
129
00:10:30.639 --> 00:10:35.399
In the BBC's broadcasting headquarters, final rehearsals continued late into
130
00:10:35.399 --> 00:10:41.360
the night. Presenters practiced their commentary, technicians tested equipment, and
131
00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:45.200
directors ran through countless scenarios to ensure they could capture
132
00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:51.159
every significant moment. The weight of expectation was enormous. This
133
00:10:51.240 --> 00:10:54.519
broadcast would become the historical record of a day many
134
00:10:54.639 --> 00:10:59.080
viewed as defining for a generation of the monarchy. Meanwhile,
135
00:10:59.159 --> 00:11:03.799
in hotels across London, the wedding guests were arriving royalty
136
00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:09.200
from across Europe. Dignitaries from Commonwealth nations, celebrities and family
137
00:11:09.240 --> 00:11:13.240
friends checked into establishments that had been booked solid for months.
138
00:11:13.919 --> 00:11:19.360
The Goring's sister hotel, the Ritz, accommodated foreign royalty, including
139
00:11:19.399 --> 00:11:24.080
the Prince of Monaco and his fiancee. The Dorchester housed
140
00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:29.480
Middle Eastern royal families, while Claridge's welcomed European nobility. Notable
141
00:11:29.480 --> 00:11:33.279
in their preparations were members of the Spencer family, Diana's
142
00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:36.919
siblings and their children, whose presence at the wedding carried
143
00:11:36.960 --> 00:11:43.399
particular emotional significance. Earl Spencer, William's uncle, who had spoken
144
00:11:43.480 --> 00:11:47.360
so memorably at Diana's funeral, made no public comments in
145
00:11:47.399 --> 00:11:50.679
the lead up to the wedding, maintaining the dignified distance
146
00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:53.480
he had established from the royal family in the years
147
00:11:53.480 --> 00:11:58.720
following his sister's death. One group conspicuously absent from these
148
00:11:58.720 --> 00:12:04.600
preparations was the extended Middleton family. Unlike royal weddings past,
149
00:12:04.679 --> 00:12:10.399
where aristocratic connections meant dozens of relatives automatically qualified for invitations,
150
00:12:10.919 --> 00:12:16.960
Kate's extended family had been more selectively included. This more
151
00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:20.240
intimate approach reflected the couple's desire to have a royal
152
00:12:20.279 --> 00:12:25.679
wedding that, despite its grandeur, maintained personal meaning for those
153
00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:31.639
who had received invitations. Dress preparations reached fever pitch. Milliners
154
00:12:31.679 --> 00:12:35.120
across London worked through the night on last minute adjustments
155
00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:38.759
to the elaborate hats that would feature prominently in coverage.
156
00:12:38.840 --> 00:12:43.919
The following day, Jewelers from the Queen's preferred establishments delivered
157
00:12:43.919 --> 00:12:48.399
heirlooms from secure vaults to their aristocratic owners, while security
158
00:12:48.440 --> 00:12:52.480
teams accompanied the Queen's own priceless collection as it was
159
00:12:52.519 --> 00:12:55.600
transferred from the Tower of London to Buckingham Palace for
160
00:12:55.639 --> 00:13:11.039
her use. As midnight approached, the mall had transformed into
161
00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:15.519
a makeshift campsite. Thousands of well wishers, determined to secure
162
00:13:15.559 --> 00:13:18.799
prime viewing positions for the procession, had settled in for
163
00:13:18.840 --> 00:13:22.720
a night under the stars. Many wore pajamas beneath coats
164
00:13:23.080 --> 00:13:27.799
and clutched hot beverages against the spring chill. Union jack
165
00:13:27.879 --> 00:13:32.200
flags served as blankets, picnic hampers as pillows, and the
166
00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:37.840
collective excitement as warmth against the cool April night. Among
167
00:13:37.879 --> 00:13:40.840
these devoted royal watchers were people who had traveled across
168
00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:45.799
continents for this moment, Australians who had flown twenty four hours,
169
00:13:46.279 --> 00:13:48.840
Americans who had saved for years to make the trip
170
00:13:49.320 --> 00:13:52.399
South Africans who remembered the Queen's visit to their country
171
00:13:52.559 --> 00:13:57.679
decades earlier. The crowd represented a microcosm of the Commonwealth
172
00:13:57.679 --> 00:14:01.799
and beyond, a living testament to the continued global fascination
173
00:14:02.080 --> 00:14:06.200
with the British monarchy. There's nothing like this anywhere else
174
00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:09.519
in the world, observed one Canadian who had queued for
175
00:14:09.559 --> 00:14:13.480
eighteen hours to secure her position. It's not just about
176
00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:17.559
the Royals, it's about being part of history, about witnessing
177
00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:22.440
a moment that will be remembered for generations. The atmosphere
178
00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:26.120
along the mall combined the camaraderie of a festival with
179
00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:31.919
the anticipation of a historical milestone. Strangers shared food and stories,
180
00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:37.320
Royal anecdotes were exchanged, and impromptu singalongs broke out. God
181
00:14:37.440 --> 00:14:41.840
Save the Queen and Rule Britannia, Echoing against the facades
182
00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:47.200
of royal buildings. Inside Buckingham Palace, lights burned late into
183
00:14:47.200 --> 00:14:52.039
the night as staff completed final preparations. The Royal kitchens
184
00:14:52.080 --> 00:14:55.960
worked at full capacity, preparing elements of the reception menu
185
00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:59.480
that could be made in advance. Chefs under the direction
186
00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:03.440
of Mark Flannagan created cannapes designed to be eaten in
187
00:15:03.480 --> 00:15:08.639
two bites, preventing unfortunate photographs of guests with overfilled mouths
188
00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:14.480
and containing predominantly British ingredients. The wedding Cake, an eight
189
00:15:14.519 --> 00:15:18.519
tier traditional fruitcake by baker Fiona Cairns, stood in the
190
00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:23.960
picture gallery, its elaborate decorations, including seventeen different flower designs
191
00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:29.399
chosen by Kate for their symbolic meanings. Alongside it stood
192
00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:33.919
a chocolate biscuit cake specially requested by William, a childhood
193
00:15:33.960 --> 00:15:37.840
favorite made from a recipe favored by his grandmother, the Queen.
194
00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:42.799
In the Palace ballroom, a band rehearsed for the evening reception,
195
00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:47.360
running through a playlist that combined traditional royal favorites with
196
00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:53.039
contemporary selections reflecting the couple's personal tastes. The dance floor
197
00:15:53.080 --> 00:15:57.559
had been specially installed, lighting tested, and sound levels adjusted
198
00:15:57.600 --> 00:16:01.399
to create the perfect atmosphere for the primett celebration that
199
00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:05.759
would follow the more formal afternoon reception. As the early
200
00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:09.559
hours of April twenty ninth approached, activity continued in the
201
00:16:09.559 --> 00:16:13.960
Palace Press Office, where final statements were prepared and embargoed
202
00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:17.960
information organized for release at precise times the following day.
203
00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:23.639
The machine of royal communication, honed over centuries, but now
204
00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:26.799
adapted for the age of social media and twenty four
205
00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:31.639
hour news, worked with quiet efficiency. At the Goring Hotel,
206
00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:35.759
Kate reportedly slept surprisingly well on her final night as
207
00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:40.320
a commoner. Her sister Pippa remained close by, prepared for
208
00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:44.519
any last minute concerns, while security teams maintained a vigilant
209
00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:49.039
presence throughout the building. The dress, perhaps the most eagerly
210
00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:54.159
anticipated element of the day, remained under constant surveillance. A
211
00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:58.000
few miles away at Clarence House, William apparently found sleep
212
00:16:58.120 --> 00:17:01.639
more elusive, according to Ue to his later admission, he
213
00:17:01.679 --> 00:17:05.200
managed about half an hour, his mind filled with thoughts
214
00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:09.680
of the day ahead and memories of his mother. Harry, ever,
215
00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:14.559
the supportive brother, despite his own complex emotions, reportedly checked
216
00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:18.680
on William multiple times through the night, offering quiet reassurance.
217
00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:24.839
As dawn broke over London on April twenty ninth, twenty eleven,
218
00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:29.720
The transformation was complete. Overnight, the capital had become the
219
00:17:29.799 --> 00:17:35.279
stage for a royal production unprecedented in scale and global interest.
220
00:17:35.640 --> 00:17:38.720
The cloudy skies that had threatened rain began to clear,
221
00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:43.720
a meteorological blessing that many would later interpret as auspicious.
222
00:17:44.359 --> 00:17:47.720
The final hours before the ceremony took on an almost
223
00:17:47.799 --> 00:17:52.359
dreamlike quality for the principal participants. Kate waking in the
224
00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:57.480
Goring began the process of transformation from commoner to royal bride.
225
00:17:58.759 --> 00:18:02.279
William at Clarence House prepared to step into the role
226
00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:05.160
that birth and destiny had assigned him, though in a
227
00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:08.880
manner more personally fulfilling than many had predicted years earlier.
228
00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:14.680
Across London, final security sweeps were conducted, horses of the
229
00:18:14.680 --> 00:18:18.880
household cavalry were groomed to gleaming perfection, and the doors
230
00:18:18.920 --> 00:18:23.640
of Westminster Abbey prepared for their opening. The stage was set,
231
00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:28.799
the actors ready, the audience, both physically present and watching worldwide,
232
00:18:29.160 --> 00:18:34.039
poised in anticipation. What would unfold over the coming hours
233
00:18:34.039 --> 00:18:37.680
would become not just a personal milestone for William and Catherine,
234
00:18:38.119 --> 00:18:42.440
but a defining moment for the modern monarchy. Their wedding
235
00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:48.119
would combine centuries of tradition with contemporary relevance, royal protocol
236
00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:53.680
with personal touches, public spectacle with private meaning. For Catherine Middleton,
237
00:18:54.039 --> 00:18:57.319
the day ahead would transform her from a private citizen
238
00:18:57.599 --> 00:19:01.039
to a royal duchess, the culmination of a journey from
1
00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:12.480
2
00:00:12.720 --> 00:00:18.440
3
00:00:18.839 --> 00:00:23.359
4
00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:26.519
5
00:00:28.280 --> 00:00:31.960
6
00:00:31.960 --> 00:00:35.520
7
00:00:35.560 --> 00:00:40.640
8
00:00:40.759 --> 00:00:54.880
9
00:00:54.920 --> 00:01:08.920
10
00:01:08.959 --> 00:01:12.760
11
00:01:12.799 --> 00:01:19.120
12
00:01:19.359 --> 00:01:24.280
13
00:01:24.560 --> 00:01:28.920
14
00:01:28.920 --> 00:01:32.640
15
00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:37.439
16
00:01:37.599 --> 00:01:42.599
17
00:01:42.599 --> 00:01:45.959
18
00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:51.959
19
00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:57.319
20
00:01:57.359 --> 00:02:01.920
21
00:02:02.079 --> 00:02:04.840
22
00:02:05.239 --> 00:02:09.439
23
00:02:09.599 --> 00:02:13.599
24
00:02:13.639 --> 00:02:17.360
25
00:02:17.400 --> 00:02:21.360
26
00:02:21.479 --> 00:02:25.840
27
00:02:26.879 --> 00:02:31.400
28
00:02:31.439 --> 00:02:36.159
29
00:02:36.199 --> 00:02:42.000
30
00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:45.759
31
00:02:45.800 --> 00:02:50.159
32
00:02:50.199 --> 00:02:53.319
33
00:02:53.520 --> 00:02:58.639
34
00:02:58.879 --> 00:03:02.879
35
00:03:03.000 --> 00:03:08.159
36
00:03:08.360 --> 00:03:12.719
37
00:03:13.199 --> 00:03:17.840
38
00:03:18.120 --> 00:03:23.759
39
00:03:23.759 --> 00:03:27.599
40
00:03:27.680 --> 00:03:33.000
41
00:03:33.319 --> 00:03:36.479
42
00:03:36.560 --> 00:03:40.039
43
00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:44.680
44
00:03:45.080 --> 00:03:49.759
45
00:03:50.080 --> 00:03:54.120
46
00:03:54.159 --> 00:03:57.560
47
00:03:57.639 --> 00:04:01.360
48
00:04:01.400 --> 00:04:06.240
49
00:04:06.319 --> 00:04:11.000
50
00:04:11.039 --> 00:04:14.439
51
00:04:14.520 --> 00:04:19.199
52
00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:23.000
53
00:04:23.040 --> 00:04:25.879
54
00:04:26.040 --> 00:04:30.480
55
00:04:31.000 --> 00:04:35.000
56
00:04:35.319 --> 00:04:40.480
57
00:04:41.680 --> 00:04:47.120
58
00:04:47.480 --> 00:04:53.519
59
00:04:53.560 --> 00:04:56.480
60
00:04:56.879 --> 00:05:00.079
61
00:05:00.120 --> 00:05:03.279
62
00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:07.319
63
00:05:08.920 --> 00:05:12.399
64
00:05:12.399 --> 00:05:15.759
65
00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:20.040
66
00:05:20.360 --> 00:05:25.800
67
00:05:25.879 --> 00:05:30.240
68
00:05:30.519 --> 00:05:35.000
69
00:05:35.040 --> 00:05:40.439
70
00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:45.199
71
00:05:45.240 --> 00:05:49.040
72
00:05:49.079 --> 00:05:54.800
73
00:05:54.959 --> 00:05:59.040
74
00:05:59.040 --> 00:06:03.800
75
00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:08.000
76
00:06:08.079 --> 00:06:11.720
77
00:06:12.279 --> 00:06:15.560
78
00:06:17.839 --> 00:06:21.319
79
00:06:21.639 --> 00:06:27.199
80
00:06:29.000 --> 00:06:33.040
81
00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:38.439
82
00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:41.800
83
00:06:41.800 --> 00:06:45.879
84
00:06:45.959 --> 00:06:50.240
85
00:06:50.319 --> 00:06:55.319
86
00:06:55.399 --> 00:06:59.240
87
00:06:59.279 --> 00:07:04.519
88
00:07:04.600 --> 00:07:09.680
89
00:07:09.720 --> 00:07:13.079
90
00:07:13.680 --> 00:07:16.480
91
00:07:16.480 --> 00:07:21.600
92
00:07:21.720 --> 00:07:24.839
93
00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:28.399
94
00:07:28.480 --> 00:07:32.399
95
00:07:32.439 --> 00:07:38.480
96
00:07:38.600 --> 00:07:42.600
97
00:07:43.079 --> 00:07:48.040
98
00:07:59.240 --> 00:08:05.279
99
00:08:05.560 --> 00:08:09.279
100
00:08:09.560 --> 00:08:12.040
101
00:08:12.040 --> 00:08:17.560
102
00:08:17.959 --> 00:08:21.879
103
00:08:21.959 --> 00:08:26.000
104
00:08:26.040 --> 00:08:31.439
105
00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:37.440
106
00:08:38.200 --> 00:08:42.679
107
00:08:42.759 --> 00:08:46.559
108
00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:52.039
109
00:08:52.039 --> 00:08:55.799
110
00:08:56.240 --> 00:09:02.320
111
00:09:02.360 --> 00:09:08.559
112
00:09:08.600 --> 00:09:12.240
113
00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:16.799
114
00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:21.240
115
00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:25.639
116
00:09:25.679 --> 00:09:29.879
117
00:09:30.639 --> 00:09:36.519
118
00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:42.080
119
00:09:42.240 --> 00:09:47.120
120
00:09:47.399 --> 00:09:51.919
121
00:09:51.919 --> 00:09:55.759
122
00:09:55.799 --> 00:09:59.399
123
00:10:00.840 --> 00:10:07.399
124
00:10:07.440 --> 00:10:10.639
125
00:10:10.759 --> 00:10:13.759
126
00:10:13.840 --> 00:10:20.720
127
00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:24.960
128
00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:28.879
129
00:10:30.639 --> 00:10:35.399
130
00:10:35.399 --> 00:10:41.360
131
00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:45.200
132
00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:51.159
133
00:10:51.240 --> 00:10:54.519
134
00:10:54.639 --> 00:10:59.080
135
00:10:59.159 --> 00:11:03.799
136
00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:09.200
137
00:11:09.240 --> 00:11:13.240
138
00:11:13.919 --> 00:11:19.360
139
00:11:19.399 --> 00:11:24.080
140
00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:29.480
141
00:11:29.480 --> 00:11:33.279
142
00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:36.919
143
00:11:36.960 --> 00:11:43.399
144
00:11:43.480 --> 00:11:47.360
145
00:11:47.399 --> 00:11:50.679
146
00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:53.480
147
00:11:53.480 --> 00:11:58.720
148
00:11:58.720 --> 00:12:04.600
149
00:12:04.679 --> 00:12:10.399
150
00:12:10.919 --> 00:12:16.960
151
00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:20.240
152
00:12:20.279 --> 00:12:25.679
153
00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:31.639
154
00:12:31.679 --> 00:12:35.120
155
00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:38.759
156
00:12:38.840 --> 00:12:43.919
157
00:12:43.919 --> 00:12:48.399
158
00:12:48.440 --> 00:12:52.480
159
00:12:52.519 --> 00:12:55.600
160
00:12:55.639 --> 00:13:11.039
161
00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:15.519
162
00:13:15.559 --> 00:13:18.799
163
00:13:18.840 --> 00:13:22.720
164
00:13:23.080 --> 00:13:27.799
165
00:13:27.879 --> 00:13:32.200
166
00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:37.840
167
00:13:37.879 --> 00:13:40.840
168
00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:45.799
169
00:13:46.279 --> 00:13:48.840
170
00:13:49.320 --> 00:13:52.399
171
00:13:52.559 --> 00:13:57.679
172
00:13:57.679 --> 00:14:01.799
173
00:14:02.080 --> 00:14:06.200
174
00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:09.519
175
00:14:09.559 --> 00:14:13.480
176
00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:17.559
177
00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:22.440
178
00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:26.120
179
00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:31.919
180
00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:37.320
181
00:14:37.440 --> 00:14:41.840
182
00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:47.200
183
00:14:47.200 --> 00:14:52.039
184
00:14:52.080 --> 00:14:55.960
185
00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:59.480
186
00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:03.440
187
00:15:03.480 --> 00:15:08.639
188
00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:14.480
189
00:15:14.519 --> 00:15:18.519
190
00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:23.960
191
00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:29.399
192
00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:33.919
193
00:15:33.960 --> 00:15:37.840
194
00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:42.799
195
00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:47.360
196
00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:53.039
197
00:15:53.080 --> 00:15:57.559
198
00:15:57.600 --> 00:16:01.399
199
00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:05.759
200
00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:09.559
201
00:16:09.559 --> 00:16:13.960
202
00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:17.960
203
00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:23.639
204
00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:26.799
205
00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:31.639
206
00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:35.759
207
00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:40.320
208
00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:44.519
209
00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:49.039
210
00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:54.159
211
00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:58.000
212
00:16:58.120 --> 00:17:01.639
213
00:17:01.679 --> 00:17:05.200
214
00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:09.680
215
00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:14.559
216
00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:18.680
217
00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:24.839
218
00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:29.720
219
00:17:29.799 --> 00:17:35.279
220
00:17:35.640 --> 00:17:38.720
221
00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:43.720
222
00:17:44.359 --> 00:17:47.720
223
00:17:47.799 --> 00:17:52.359
224
00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:57.480
225
00:17:58.759 --> 00:18:02.279
226
00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:05.160
227
00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:08.880
228
00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:14.680
229
00:18:14.680 --> 00:18:18.880
230
00:18:18.920 --> 00:18:23.640
231
00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:28.799
232
00:18:29.160 --> 00:18:34.039
233
00:18:34.039 --> 00:18:37.680
234
00:18:38.119 --> 00:18:42.440
235
00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:48.119
236
00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:53.680
237
00:18:54.039 --> 00:18:57.319
238
00:18:57.599 --> 00:19:01.039