The official royal wedding program has been released, detailing Prince William and Kate Middleton’s order of service for their marriage tomorrow.
The official 27-page wedding program was released by Buckingham Palace, a day ahead of the royal wedding. It is available to view or download at officialroyalwedding2011.org.
The wedding program includes a personal message of thanks from William and Kate and a new black and white photograph of the royal couple, taken by official photographer and invited wedding guest Mario Testino.
The personal message from Prince William and Kate Middleton reads:
“We are both so delighted that you are able to join us in celebrating what we hope will be one of the happiest days of our lives.
“The affection shown to us by so many people during our engagement has been incredibly moving, and has touched us both deeply. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone most sincerely for their kindness.”
The order of the service also includes full details on the processions, music, hymns, prayers and reading for the royal wedding.
The program reveals that Kate – like Princess Diana – will break with royal tradition by not promising to “obey” her new husband William. Instead, she will vow to “love, comfort, honour and keep” him.
William and Kate’s full vows to each other are detailed in the programme. After they are married, the couple will say:
“I (groom/bride’s name), take thee (bride/groom’s name) to my wedded wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God’s holy law; and thereto I give thee my throth.”
Kate’s brother, James Middleton, will give the only reading at the royal wedding from Romans 12: 1-2, 9-18, which says: “Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour.”
Fifty thousand copies of the royal wedding program will be sold for £2 each in London’s Green Park, Hyde Park, St James’s Park, and Trafalgar Square on April 29, with proceeds going to the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry.
Photo: © Mario Testino / art partner
