Watch CBS News

Royal wedding live blog: Thursday, April 28

Prince William and Catherine Middleton
An official photo of Prince William and his fiancee Catherine Middleton, released April 28, 2011. Mario Testino/Art Partner

(CBS) Here's where we'll be posting all our royal wedding news, pictures and video for Thursday, April 28. We'll be updating throughout the day, so be sure to check back here to see what's new.

Complete coverage: Britain's royal wedding

9:15 p.m. EDT Is Sarah Burton the mystery woman entering Kate's hotel?

A woman resembling the Alexander McQueen creative director was spotted Thursday rushing into London's Goring Hotel, which is where Kate Middleton and her family are staying ahead of the royal wedding.

Burton, 36, is considered the frontrunner of all the designers rumored to be making Middleton's much anticipated wedding gown.

6:13 p.m. EDT UK police make three arrests related to royal wedding

Police say three people have been arrested in a security clampdown related to Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding.

The Metropolitan Police said the three were detained in south London Thursday night on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance and breach of the peace.

5:30 p.m. EDT Foreign royals descend on London

Royals near and far attend a gala dinner on the eve of Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding.

4:35 p.m. EDT Gallery: Kate's last night as a commoner

The royal-to-be arrives with her family at London's Goring Hotel, where she will spend the night before her wedding to Prince William

4:31 EDT Prince William greets well-wishers before wedding

Prince William took an impromptu walk down to The Mall to greet fans gathered there on the eve of his wedding to Kate Middleton.

The 28-year-old spent several minutes shaking hands, chatting and posing for pictures with royal watchers near Buckingham Palace, according to the BBC.

2:46 p.m. EDT Nervous, Kate? Just picture Charles in his knickers

Martha Stewart Weddings Deputy Editor Cara Sullivan on Kate Middleton's possible pre-wedding jitters.

The Royal Wedding is officially one day away, and if we had to guess, Kate Middleton is officially the most nervous woman on the planet. How could she not be?

In just a few hours, she'll make the four-minute journey down the aisle of Westminster Abbey, exchange vows with her longtime love, and in a split second, transform from a beloved commoner to Princess Catherine of Wales.

2:26 p.m. EDT The Wedding Planner: A party in Trafalgar Square (VIDEO)

CBS News royals contributor Victoria Arbiter, reporting from London, will be giving CBSNews.com readers daily updates on plans for the April 29 royal wedding.

London mayor Boris Johnson says he wants Friday to see the biggest street party the country has ever experienced. Trafalgar Square is expecting 20,000 people. What will happen when revelers drinking Pimm's and champagne make for the water fountains?

2:22 p.m. EDT Comedy about the royal wedding? No, thank you

If there's any recent news event that's screaming for comedy, it's the royal wedding. Unfortunately, an agreement between Clarence House (Prince William's office) and broadcasters has put the kibosh on that notion.

The use of "footage of the ceremony being used in 'any drama, comedy, satirical or similar entertainment program or content'" has been forbidden, reports the Independent.

2:18 p.m. EDT Chelsy Davy wearing two dresses to royal wedding

Chelsy Davy will be dressed in green - and then blue - when she attends Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding on Friday.

Italian designer Alberta Ferretti designed two different gowns for Prince Harry's on-again, off-again girlfriend to wear to the ceremony and reception.

1:30 p.m. EDT Gallery: London gets ready

On the eve of a royal wedding, London puts its best foot forward

12:36 p.m. EDT Camilla: Royal family is "excited" for the wedding

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, said the royal family is "all ready" and "very excited" for Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding on Friday.

The Duchess left Clarence House and went on an impromptu walk Thursday afternoon to greet royal fans camping out along the Mall.

12:20 p.m. EDT Royal wedding bridesmaids dress designer revealed?

There's just one day left until the royal wedding, and Kate Middleton's wedding dress designer is still under wraps. But the designer behind her bridal party's dresses may have been revealed.

People magazine reports that British designer Nicki Macfarlane will be dressing the bridesmaids for the royal wedding.

11:47 a.m. EDT Wedding music for Prince William and Kate Middleton

The music for Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding service has been announced. In keeping with the overall tone, it's largely British (though non-British wedding favorites, such as Johann Sebastian Bach, make appearances).

There are some newly commissioned pieces and music used at Prince Charles and Camilla's wedding in 2005.

11:29 a.m. EDT Evening Standard publishing twice Friday to grab wedding readers

How big a deal is it to publish a photograph of Prince William and his bride, Kate Middleton, kissing on the balcony at Buckingham Palace? Big. So big that the London Evening Standard will publish two editions Friday.

The paper, a free Monday-Friday daily, is also breaking with its own tradition of not publishing on a Bank Holiday; it hasn't done so in more than 50 years, reports the Guardian.

11:11 a.m. EDT London police conduct raids ahead of royal wedding

Police conducted proactive raids at three residences in London on Thursday, just a day before Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding.

Twenty people were arrested as part of an "intelligence-led operation," according to the Metropolitan Police.

9:58 a.m. EDT  Britain's crown jewels: The bling of kings

CBS News has been bringing you "The Early Show" all week from the iconic Tower of London - with co-anchor Erica Hill standing just a few hundred yards from Britain's stunning and priceless collection of crown jewels. It's a collection which, quite literally, requires a fortress for their safe keeping.

In its storied 1,000-year history, the Tower of London once secured England's most notorious criminals, but today it secures the monarchy's most prized treasure.

8:13 a.m. EDT  Wedding guests be able to tweet Friday morning

Scotland Yard and the Metropolitan Police have refuted reports on Yahoo.com that signal-blocking technology at Westminster Abbey will make mobile phones there inoperable.

CBS was told by Scotland Yard Wednesday night that it was not aware of any such device being installed. Met police spokesman Eddie Townsend said Thursday morning, "The story is not true, rubbish."

7:46 a.m. EDT  Wedding program available

Britain's royal family released details Thursday of the official wedding program, which includes a written message from the young couple.

"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," reads the statement. "The affection shown to us by so many people during our engagement has been incredibly moving, and has touched us both deeply. We would live to take this opportunity to thank everyone most sincerely for their kindness."

The official program is available to view at Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding website, or through the Apple iBookstore, but to get an official hard copy, you'll have to wait until Friday morning -- and be in London.

6:39 a.m. EDT  Britain revokes wedding invite for Syria envoy

The royal wedding invitation to the Syrian ambassador has been revoked because Syria's regime is violently attacking protesters there.

A release by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office reads in part, "In the light of this week's attacks against civilians by the Syrian security forces, which we have condemned, the Foreign Secretary has decided that the presence of the Syrian Ambassador at the Royal Wedding would be unacceptable and that he should not attend."

5:31 a.m. EDT  Another wedding rehearsal taking place

Another wedding rehearsal is now going on at Westminster Abbey, Clarence House has confirmed.

The bride, Kate Middleton, is there but her fiance, Prince William, is not. The royal family is represented by Prince Harry, who will be best man for his brother.

Also at the rehearsal are the bridesmaids, the pages and some members of the royal family. Clarence House says this is the last rehearsal before the Friday morning wedding that will include Middleton and members of the royal family, although the Abbey may hold additional rehearsals.

5 a.m. EDT  Wedding program released

The official program for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton was released at 8 a.m today on the royal wedding website.

It includes the order of the service at Westminster Abbey, a personal message from the prince and his bride, and a photo of the couple taken by photographer Mario Testino at the time their engagement. It features Prince William's recently updated coat of arms on the front cover and Middleton's new coat of arms on the back cover.

The program can be downloaded for free on the royal wedding website and will be sold by scouts on Friday in Green Park, Hyde Park, St James's Park and Trafalgar Square, with proceeds going to The Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.