Here comes the beaming bride - Kate arrives at the Abbey

The world was given its first tantalising glimpse of bride Kate Middleton in her wedding dress today as she left to meet her royal groom at the altar.

As the soon-to-be HRH set off from the exclusive Goring Hotel in London with her proud father Michael, the ecstatic crowds lining the processional route cheered as they caught sight of the future princess and her much-anticipated bridal gown.

The wedding dress is an ivory gown with lace applique floral detail designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, it was announced today.

Made of ivory and white satin gazar, the skirt resembles “an opening flower” with white satin gazar arches and pleats.

And Kate’s bridal flowers contain a touching tribute to her husband to-be – her bouquet includes sweet William.

The dress’s beautiful, intricate train measures just two metres 70 centimetres - modest in comparison to many previous royal brides.

The train and bodice are decorated with delicate lace applique flowers, handcrafted using the Carrickmacross lace-making technique, which originated in Ireland in the 1820s.

Through the windows of the Rolls-Royce Phantom VI, the bride could be seen to be wearing ivory dress with long sleeves and open neck, with a veil covering her face.

Miss Middleton was travelling to the ancient gothic Abbey as a commoner.

In just over an hour’s time, she will retrace her route amid the pomp and splendour of a carriage procession with her husband at her side, the newly titled Duke of Cambridge.

William’s grandmother the Queen gave him a traditional wedding-day dukedom so when the happy couple leave the abbey they will not just be man and wife, they will be the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The last Duke of Cambridge, like Prince William, married a commoner for love. He wed the actress Sarah Louisa Fairbrother in 1847.

Kate will take on the title when the Archbishop of Canterbury pronounces the couple man and wife in front of a congregation of 1,900 and an estimated worldwide TV audience of two billion.

The bride managed to keep details of the bridal gown top secret in the run up to the big day.

The dress, like the other outfits she has worn in recent weeks, is likely to spawn a raft of copycat creations for other brides and set a trend for many years to come.

Kate spent the night apart from William as is the tradition at the Edwardian Goring surrounded by family and friends.

Her morning was a busy one, preparing for her grand entrance with her hairdresser and couturiers on hand.

Her historic journey was taking her past Buckingham Palace where she is one day likely to live, down The Mall and Whitehall, to the royal church, where William has spent a nervous 40 minutes waiting.

The rest of the Royal Family, including the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh and William’s father Prince of Wales and stepmother the Duchess of Cornwall, were all taking their places in the church.

There too was mother of the bride Carole Middleton and Kate’s younger brother James Middleton.

As music sounded out around the abbey, the stunning wedding venue with its gothic towering arches, ornate altar and impressive stained glass window was filled with friends and families of the couple all clutching their orders of service, as well as politicians, dignitaries, kings and queens from across the globe and celebrity guests including Sir Elton John and David Beckham and his pregnant wife Victoria.