Last preparations for royal wedding

Last-minute preparations were under way today for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton with the ceremony now just one night away.

The coupley say they have been “incredibly moved” by the affection shown to them since their engagement.

In a message printed at the beginning of their official wedding programme, the couple say they are deeply touched by people’s reactions as they prepare for “one of the happiest days of our lives”.

It was also revealed that Kate will not promise to “obey” her new husband in her vows but instead to “love, comfort, honour and keep” him.

A final private wedding rehearsal was held for the couple at Westminster Abbey last night, along with Prince Harry and the Middleton family.

They were met by senior members of the clergy to run through what will happen during tomorrow’s ceremony.

Later today the second-in-line to the throne will enjoy his last night as a free man in the company of the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and best man Harry at Clarence House, their official London home.

The event is likely to be a quiet affair while less than a minute’s drive away, Kate Middleton will be with her family at the exclusive Goring hotel in Belgravia, where the Middletons arrived yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh will catch up with British and foreign royals at a private dinner at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Hyde Park, central London.

William and his bride-to-be have held rehearsals before, but not inside the abbey, and last night they will have practised everything to ensure the service runs smoothly despite possible nerves on the day.

Miss Middleton, 29, will have walked up the nave arm-in-arm with her father Michael and gone through her vows with her 28-year-old fiance.

Any problems about where individuals should stand and the wording of the ceremony will have been ironed out by the calm group of clerics.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, who is marrying the couple, the Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Richard Chartres, who will give the address, and the Dean of Westminster, the Very Rev Dr John Hall, who is conducting the service, were all part of the rehearsal.

Hundreds of tourists flocked to the abbey in a bid to catch a glimpse of the royal couple. It is thought an extra 600,000 tourists could descend on London specifically for the wedding.

The wedding party swept into the abbey’s precincts in a convoy of three silver-coloured people carriers, with blacked-out windows, escorted by motorcycle police and more officers in unmarked Range Rovers and were out of sight for most.

However, William and his fiancee, along with Harry, were spotted leaving the vehicles by some TV crews.

The roads around the ancient place of worship had a bustling atmosphere with dozens of broadcasting crews, photographers and journalists from around the world and at home covering events.

Diehard royalists have pitched around 30 tents in a bid to claim the best spot on the big day.

The Middletons may spend the day making last-minute adjustments to outfits, two sewing machines were whisked into the hotel last night.

Earlier, the Prince was pictured playing five-a-side football in Battersea Park, south London, before heading back to Clarence House on a Ducati motorbike.

Temperatures are expected to reach around 18 degrees Celsius tomorrow, but there is a risk of showers in London during the morning and early afternoon.