Photos: Royal wedding preparation

Britain’s Prince William and his fiancee, Kate Middleton, are to be married Friday at Westminster Abbey in London.

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April 28, 2011

Queen Elizabeth II, left, and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, leave a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London.

Matthew Lloyd / Getty Images

April 28, 2011

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, attends a gala pre-wedding dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park.

Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images

April 28, 2011

Britain's Princess Beatrice, right, arrives at a central London hotel for a pre-royal wedding dinner attended by members of the British royal family and foreign royal families.

Alastair Grant / AP

April 28, 2011

Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria and the Duke of Vastergotland arrive for a pre-wedding dinner ahead of the wedding of Prince William and his fiancee, Kate Middleton, at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London.

Luke MacGregor / Reuters

April 28, 2011

Britain's Prince Andrew arrives for a pre-wedding dinner ahead of the wedding of Prince William and his fiancee, Kate Middleton, at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London.

Luke MacGregor / Reuters

April 28, 2011

Spain's Queen Sofia, Crown Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia arrive for a pre-wedding dinner ahead of the wedding of Prince William and his fiancee, Kate Middleton.

Luke MacGregor / Reuters

April 28, 2011

Prince Pavlos of Greece, left, and Princess Marie Chantal of Greece attend a gala pre-wedding dinner.

Chris Jackson / Getty Images

April 28, 2011

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark attends a gala pre-wedding dinner in London.

Matthew Lloyd / Getty Images

April 28, 2011

Guests attend a gala pre-wedding dinner in London.

Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images

April 28, 2011

Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah, left, poses at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel for a gala dinner in London.

Paul Ellis / AFP/Getty Images

April 28, 2011

In this image made from television, Britain's Prince William, left, speaks with a young well-wisher gathered along the wedding processional route in central London. Grinning broadly and dressed in khakis, a sweater and collared shirt, William emerged from his residence Thursday night to greet well-wishers as they snapped pictures on phones and digital cameras.

/ AP

April 28, 2011

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, greets members of the public who have camped out on the Mall outside of Buckingham Palace in London ahead of the royal wedding.

Joel Ryan / AP

April 28, 2011

Royal enthusiasts camp overnight on the wedding route near Westminster Abbey.

Elizabeth Dalziel / AP

April 28, 2011

Outside Westminster Abbey, people camp so they can catch every moment of the wedding.

Elizabeth Dalziel / AP

April 28, 2011

A boy plays an electronic game while his father festoons their area with appropriate finery.

Elizabeth Dalziel / AP

April 28, 2011

Throughout London, souvenirs featuring the royal couple can be found.

Kai Pfaffenbach / Reuters

April 28, 2011

Royal watchers camp outside the entrance to Westminster Abbey.

Kai Pfaffenbach / Reuters

April 28, 2011

A young visitor is dressed in royal finery outside Buckingham Palace.

Ronen Zvulun / Reuters

April 28, 2011

Spirits are high as onlookers wait for the big day to begin.

NIR ELIAS / REUTERS

April 28, 2011

Opposite Westminster Abbey, whimsical decorations herald the occasion.

NIR ELIAS / REUTERS

April 28, 2011

A couple stroll the Mall in London wearing Prince William and Kate Middleton masks ahead of Friday's marriage ceremony in Westminster Abbey.

Jasper Juinen / Getty Images

April 28, 2011

Kate Middleton waves as she arrives with her sister Pippa, left, at the Goring Hotel in London.

Cathal McNaughton / Reuters

April 28, 2011

Kate Middleton, center, and her mother, Carole, are greeted upon arrival at the Goring Hotel ahead of Kate's wedding to Britain's Prince William.

Joel Ryan / AP

April 28, 2011

Kate Middleton arrives at the Goring Hotel..

Eddie Keogh / Reuters

April 28, 2011

Prince Willam's fiancee, Kate Middleton, third from left, leaves Westminster Abbey with her mother, Carole, en route to Clarence House in London.

Toby Melville / Reuters

April 28, 2011

Members of the wedding party leave Westminster Abbey in London.

Toby Melville / Reuters

April 27, 2011

Prince Harry arrives at Westminster Abbey for a rehearsal in London. With one day to go before the Royal Wedding, last-minute preparations are continuing around Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and along the route that Prince William and Kate Middleton will take.

Dan Kitwood / Getty Images

April 15, 2011

A member of the State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry is seen during a media event at the Household Cavalry's Mounted Regiment Hyde Park barracks in London. The mounted regiment will provide close escort for the major members of the British royal family during the upcoming wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on April 29.

Alastair Grant / Associated Press

April 15, 2011

A soldier of the Household Cavalry polishes his own kit during a media event at the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment's Hyde Park barracks in London.

Alastair Grant / Associated Press

April 15, 2011

A member of the British Army's Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment carries a saddle during a media event at the Hyde Park Barracks in London.

Stefan Wermuth / Reuters

April 15, 2011

A member of the British Army's Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment works on a horseshoe during a media event at the Hyde Park Barracks.

Stefan Wermuth / Reuters

April 15, 2011

Organist and Master of the Choristers James O'Donnell, right, conducts the Choir of Westminster Abbey, who will sing at the royal wedding.

Dominic Lipinski / AFP/Getty Images

April, 15, 2011

Romanian jeweller Ovidiu Paraianu hopes to give a special ring and an ornamental key to Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton for their wedding. Paraianu, a former coal miner from western Romania, has created jewels for Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, wife of the the French president, and royalty in Spain and Saudi Arabia. He told Reuters on Friday that he would like to give the gifts to the royal couple personally.

Radu Sigheti / Reuters

April, 15, 2011

A doorman poses outside the Goring Hotel, five-star hotel next door to Buckingham Palace where Prince William's fiancee, Kate Middleton, will spend the night before her wedding in London. Middleton's close family, including her parents and sister Pippa, her maid of honor, will also stay at the luxury family-owned hotel that night.

Luke MacGregor / Reuters

April 14, 2011

Members of Britain's Household Cavalry ride back to their barracks after taking part in the Silver Stick Review, which acts as a rehearsal for the Major General's review on April 21, ahead of the royal wedding, in Hyde Park, London.

Matt Dunham / Associated Press

April 13, 2011

A worker stands on top of a platform being constructed for the media opposite Westminster Abbey in London. Preparations to facilitate the thousands of media expected to attend are underway. Large stands are taking shape at key vantage points on the planned route for the royal couple.

Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images

April 13, 2011

Workers construct stands for the media on the Queen Victoria Memorial opposite Buckingham Palace in London.

Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images

April, 12, 2011

Members of the Fanfare Team of the Central Band of the Royal Air Force pose in front of a replica of a World War II era Hawker Hurricane fighter, at a media event at RAF Northolt, London. The fanfare team will play a specially composed piece at the wedding of Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton inside London's Westminster Abbey during the service April 29.

Alastair Grant / AP

April, 11, 2011

Street artist Marion Ruthhardt works on her chalk portrait of Kate Middleton, the future wife of Britain's Prince William, on the ground in front of a cathedral during the production of a video in Cologne, Germany. German singer Isabell Varell is producing a video to her current song "Es ist nicht leicht Prinzessin zu sein" ("Its not easy to be a princess").

Henning Kaiser / AFP/Getty Images

April 5, 2011

Katryn Gingras, the owner of Liliput Hats, works at her shop in Toronto. Gingras made a new"'Kate Middleton" model especially for the royal wedding.

Clement Sabourin / AFP/Getty Images

April 5, 2011

Employees of the Liliput Hats shop in Toronto are seen working. The marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton has unchained passions in Toronto, where people are celebrating their union.

Clement Sabourin / AFP/Getty Images

April 5, 2011

A hat is viewed at the Liliput Hats shop in Toronto.

Clement Sabourin / AFP/Getty Images

April 11, 2011

Britain's Prince William, accompanied by his fiancee, Kate Middleton, arrives at Witton Country Park, Darwen, England.

Tim Hales / AP

April 11, 2011

Prince William, center, walks with Kate Middleton during their visit to Witton Country Park in Darwen, northern England. A large crowd of well-wishers braved a downpour to cheer the couple as they took part in their final official event before their wedding.

Darren Staples / Reuters

April 11, 2011

Prince William reacts to the crowd at Witton County Park, Darwen, England.

Alastair Grant / AP

April 11, 2011

Kate Middleton, left, the fiancee of Britain's Prince William, speaks with members of the public at Witton County Park, Darwen, near Blackburn, England.

Alastair Grant / AP

April 11, 2011

Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton talk to youngsters from a local soccer club at Witton County Park, Darwen, near Blackburn, England.

Alastair Grant / AP

April 11, 2011

Prince William and Kate Middleton speak with a young athlete during their visit to Witton Country Park in Darwen.

Darren Staples / Reuters

April 11, 2011

Members of the public wait for Prince William and Kate Middleton to officially open the Darwen Aldridge Community Academy in Darwen, England.

Jon Super / AP

April 11, 2011

A young girl waits to see Prince William and Kate Middleton arrive at the Darwen Aldridge Community Academy.

Phil Noble / Reuters

April 11, 2011

Prince William and Kate Middleton arrive at the Darwen Aldridge Community Academy in Darwen.

Phil Noble / Reuters

April 11, 2011

Prince William and Kate Middleton speak with a student working on a dress in a textile class during a visit to the Darwen Aldridge Community Academy.

Adrian Dennis / Reuters

April 11, 2011

Prince William and Kate Middleton watch a student dance show during a visit to Darwen Aldridge Community Academy.

Adrian Dennis / AP

April 5, 2011

The Band of the Welsh Guards performs during a photo opportunity for its album "A Royal Tribute" in London. The regimental band will perform classical anthems at the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Tim Whitby / Getty Images

April 4, 2011

Westminster Abbey is illuminated in afternoon sunlight in London. Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding there April 29 is expected to be watched by more than a billion people worldwide.

Oli Scarff / Getty Images

March 30, 2011

Workers erect a media stand as preparations continue for the royal wedding outside Buckingham Palace in London.

Matt Dunham / Associated Press

March 25, 2011

Palace Steward Nigel McEvoy walks through the Music Room, which will be used for the wedding reception of Prince William and Kate Middleton, at Buckingham Palace in London.

Pool / Reuters

March 25, 2011

The State Dining Room at Buckingham Palace, London, will be used during the wedding reception of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Nick Ansell / AP

March 25, 2011

Jennifer Scott, assistant curator of paintings, sits underneath Peter Paul Rubens's "Winter (1617-18)," bottom center, in the Picture Gallery at Buckingham Palace. The Picture Gallery will be one of the rooms used during the wedding reception.

Nick Ansell / AP

March 25, 2011

The White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace will be used during the wedding reception.

Nick Ansell / AP

March 25, 2011

Royal Chef Mark Flanagan, head of kitchens at Buckingham Palace, arranges a tray of Bubble and Squeak Confit with shoulder of lamb canapes, at Buckingham Palace.

Pool / Reuters

March 25, 2011

Design and Development Head Chef Paul Courtney, right, and Manufacturing Manager Tom Kilcourse watch the biscuit-production line at the McVitie's factory in Stockport, northern England. Britain's Prince William has asked the company to produce a chocolate biscuit cake, as an addition to the official wedding cake to be made by Fiona Cairns, for his wedding to Kate Middleton.

Pool / Reuters

March 21, 2011

Carriage restorer Dave Evans cleans the 1902 State Landau coach at the Royal Mews in London. Weather permitting, the coach will be used to carry Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton on their wedding day, April 29.

Dominic Lipinski / Reuters

March 8, 2011

Kate Middleton and Prince William visit Greenmount Agricultural College near Belfast. The royal couple were visiting Northern Ireland as part of a tour of the country that earlier had taken them to the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and Anglesey in North Wales to launch a lifeboat. The day-long trip was kept secret for security reasons.

Chris Jackson / Getty Images

March 8, 2011

Britain's Prince William, left, accompanied by his fiancee, Kate Middleton, watch a tug-of-war match during a visit to Greenmount Agricultural College near Belfast.

Paul Ellis / AFP/Getty Images

March 8, 2011

Kate Middleton and Prince William share a joke with wedding florist Rachel Gibson, 20, at Greenmount Agricultural College near Belfast during their one-day visit to County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

Paul Faith / Getty Images

March 8, 2011

Prince William and Kate Middleton meet Belfast Lord Mayor Pat Convery at Belfast City Hall during their visit.

Paul Faith / Getty Images

March 8, 2011

Prince William and Kate Middleton watch a play at the Youth Action Northern Ireland center in Belfast. The couple watched a short play and met some of the crowds outside the centrer during their visit.

Julien Behal / Getty Images

Feb. 25, 2011

Prince William, left, and his fiancee Kate Middleton smile during a visit to the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. During the visit they viewed the surviving Papal Bull (the university's founding document), unveiled a plaque, and met a selection of the university's current staff and students to mark the start of the school's 600th anniversary. Prince William and Kate Middleton attended the university from 2001 to 2005 and began their romance there.

Andrew Milligan / AFP/Getty Images

Feb. 25, 2011

Prince William and Kate Middleton wave, accompanied by Sir Menzies Campbell, right, as they pass St. Salvator's halls.

Andrew Milligan / AFP/Getty Images

Feb. 25, 2011

A fan waves a Union Jack flag during a visit by Britain's Prince William and Middleton to the University of St. Andrews.

Carl de Souza / AFP/Getty Images

Feb. 25, 2011

Students look on as Prince William and Middleton visit the University of St. Andrews.

Chris Jackson / Getty Images

Feb. 25, 2011

Prince William, left, and Middleton meet members of the public during their visit to the University of St. Andrews.

Carl de Souza / AFP/Getty Images

Feb. 25, 2011

Middleton pets a dog during a visit to the University of St. Andrews.

David Cheskin / Reuters

Feb. 25, 2011

Members of the public look on as Prince William and Middleton visit the University of St. Andrews.

Chris Jackson / Getty Images

Westminster Abbey, where the royal wedding will be held, has been the site of coronations, marriages and burials for centuries.

Dan Kitwood / Associated Press

Nov. 25, 2010

The couple in one of two official portraits taken to mark their engagement.

Mario Testino / Clarence House Press Office via Getty Images

A wide array of engagement and wedding memorabilia has been rushed into production.

Sang Tan / Associated Press

Nov. 25, 2010

The official engagement portraits were taken by photographer Mario Testino at St. James's Palace.

Mario Testion / Clarence House Press Office via Getty Images

Nov. 16, 2010

Middleton wears her engagement ring, which once belonged to Princess Diana, the prince's mother.

Arthur Edwards / Associated Press

Oct. 23, 2010

The couple at an occasion in October.

Chris Ison / Associated Press

1997

Charles and Diana, with their sons William, right, and Harry, parade in front of the crowd on William's first day at Eton.

John Stillwell / AFP

Sept. 6, 1997

Showing incredible poise for youths, the royal sons join father Prince Charles in front of Westminster Abbey after Princess Diana's funeral ceremony.

Joel Robine / AFP

April 2002

William is flanked by father Prince Charles, left, and grandfather Prince Philip as he walks behind the gun carriage carrying the coffin of his great-grandmother, the Queen Mother, to Westminster Abbey.

Mark Large

June 3, 2002

In a lighthearted moment Prince William, center, joins dad Prince Charles and brother Prince Harry at a performance of the Golden Jubilee pop concert in the gardens of Buckingham Palace in London. A year earlier, William enrolled (under the name William Wales) at Scotland's University of St. Andrews.

Arthur Edwards / Reuters

April 2007

William met Kate Middleton at St. Andrews, where the two were flatmates. They began dating in 2003 and tried, as much as possible, to stay away from the glare of cameras. Here, the two attend a race at Cheltenham Race course in Gloucestershire.

Carl de Souza / AFP/Getty Images

April 11, 2008

In 2005, Prince Charles married longtime love -- and partner in scandal -- Camilla Parker Bowles. Here, Charles and stepmom Camilla pose with Prince William at his RAF graduation ceremony.

Getty Images

Feb. 10, 2007

Along with Harry and Middleton, William cheers on England at a Six Nations rugby match at Twickenham stadium in London. Kate and William were rumored to have ended their relationship a few months later.

Alastair Grant / Associated Press

April 11, 2008

The Future King (and Queen): After some relationship turbulence in 2007 (Kate was reportedly spooked by the invasive paparazzi), the couple was back together when Prince William received his RAF wings.

Michael Dunlea / Reuters

June 2008

Prince William embarked on a two-month detachment to the Royal Navy. Good practice for the future king.

Lefteris Pitarkis / AFP/Getty Images

June 14, 2008

The royal family (left to right): Prince William, Prince Harry, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, HRH Queen Elizabeth II, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Autumn Kelly and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall watch a fly-by during a ceremony in honor of Queen Elizabeth II's birthday.

Chris Jackson / Getty Images

June 7, 2009

The man in action: Prince William plays in the Dorchester Trophy at the Cirencester Park Polo Club.

Barry Batchelor / Associated Press

May 15, 2010

Prince William prepares to present an award during the first English Football Association Respect and Fair Play Award ceremony at Wembley Stadium in London.

Sang Tan / Associated Press

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