Nation cheers for royal newlyweds (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Nation cheers for royal newlyweds

1:51pm Friday 29th April 2011 in Mellor © Press Association 2013

Cheering crowds greeted royal newlyweds William and Kate as they were driven through the streets of London in an open-topped carriage.

William and his new princess smiled and waved at well-wishers lining the route from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace after a historic fairytale ceremony.

And despite fears that rain would spoil the occasion, a shaft of sunlight fell across The Mall amid the joyous scenes as the radiant bride and her handsome prince laughed and smiled.

The future king and his beautiful bride, who will now one day be queen, pledged their love for one another in the ancient surroundings of the abbey, watched by billions across the globe.

In a stunning ivory gown with lace applique floral detail designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, Kate walked up the red carpeted aisle a commoner. But with her new husband at her side and a ring on her finger, the former Miss Middleton became HRH the Duchess of Cambridge - William was earlier made a duke by the Queen.

Kate left the abbey a princess, the newest member of the Royal Family and a future Queen Catherine.

She was dubbed "Waity Katie" for her patience during her long courtship with William as she waited for her prince to pop the question. And now she has become a royal wife.

As she recited her vows, William smiled encouragingly. The service was flawless but there was a tiny moment of drama as the prince struggled to place the ring on Kate's finger.

After the couple said their vows, in which the modern-thinking bride did not promise to obey William, the Archbishop of Canterbury declared: "I pronounce that they be man and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."

Cheers erupted down The Mall and across the country as their union was sealed in front of a congregation of 1,900, with an estimated TV audience of two billion watching around the world.