Crowds gather at Westminster Abbey for royal wedding

The crowds lined up near Westminster Abbey on Friday as Prince William and Kate Middleton prepared to marry, in Britain’s biggest royal wedding in 30 years. Two hours before the ceremony, the doors of the Abbey opened to admit the 1,900 guests in the most extravagant display of royal pageantry since 1981, when William’s late mother Diana married Prince Charles.

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More than two billion television viewers were expected to watch the young couple wed, and thousands of people camped out in front of The Mall, the boulevard leading to Buckingham Palace, in anticipation of the event.

William and Kate will be granted the titles of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, which was a wedding gift from William’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. William will also assume the titles of Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus, while Kate will also be Princess William of Wales.

Kate will not officially be Princess Catherine since she was not born a princess, although she may be known colloquially as such.

Princess Diana’s eldest son William, and the second in line to the throne, began dating commoner Kate Middleton eight years ago when they were students at St. Andrews University in Scotland.

Amongst the guests will be 50 members of the royal family, dozens of foreign royals and celebrities, including David and Victoria Beckham and Elton John.

More than 8,500 journalists and technical staff will cover the royal wedding for a global audience.