The Royal Wedding Order of Service

See the Order of Service for the wedding ceremony of Prince William and Catherine and find out what music will be played.

The Marriage of His Royal Highness
Prince William of Wales, K.G.

with

Miss Catherine Middleton

29th April, 2011, 11.00am

Members of the Congregation are kindly requested to refrain from using private cameras, video, or sound recording equipment. Please ensure that mobile phones, pagers, and other electronic devices are switched off.

The whole of the church, with the exception of the transepts, is served by a hearing loop. Users should turn their hearing aid to the setting marked T.

Before the service, the bells of the Abbey Church are rung by the Westminster Abbey Company of Ringers.

The service is conducted by The Very Reverend Dr John Hall, Dean of Westminster.

The marriage is solemnized by The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England and Metropolitan.

The service is sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey and the Choir of Her Majesty's Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, conducted by James O'Donnell, Organist and Master of the Choristers, Westminster Abbey.

The organ is played by Robert Quinney, Sub-Organist, Westminster Abbey.

The State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry are conducted by Trumpet Major Grant Sewell-Jones, Band of The Blues and Royals.

The Fanfare Team from the Central Band of the Royal Air Force is directed by Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs, Principal Director of Music, Royal Air Force. The fanfare Valiant and Brave, after the motto of No 22 Squadron (Search and Rescue Force), Royal Air Force, was specially composed for this service by Wing Commander Stubbs.

Music before the service:

James McVinnie, Assistant Organist, Westminster Abbey, plays:

Fantasia in G (Piece d'orgue a 5) BWV 572 - Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Veni Creator Spiritus - Peter Maxwell Davies (b 1934)
Prelude on St Columba Op 101 no 6 - Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924) from Sonata for Organ Op 28, i. Allegro maestoso, ii. Allegretto - Edward Elgar (1857-1934)

The London Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Christopher Warren-Green, plays:

Serenade for Strings in E minor Op 20, i. Allegro piacevole, ii. Larghetto, iii. Allegretto - Edward Elgar
Courtly Dance V: Galliard, from Gloriana (Symphonic Suite) Op 53a no 7 - Benjamin Britten (1913-76)
Fantasia on Greensleeves - Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Farewell to Stromness - Peter Maxwell Davies
On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring - Frederick Delius (1862-1934)
Touch Her Soft Lips and Part, from Henry V Suite - William Walton (1902-83)
Romance for String Orchestra Op 11 - Gerald Finzi (1901-56)

The Assistant Organist plays:

Canzona, from Organ Sonata in C minor - Percy Whitlock (1903-46)

At 10.15am the Bridegroom and His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales are received at the Great West Door by the Dean and Chapter of Westminster and escorted to the Lantern. All remain seated.

From 10.20am Members of Foreign Royal Families are received at the Great West Door by the Dean and Chapter and conducted to their seats in the Lantern. All remain seated.

Mrs Michael Middleton and Mr James Middleton arrive at the Great West Door and are conducted to their seats in the Lantern. All remain seated.

From 10.30am Members of the Royal Family are received at the Great West Door by the Dean and Chapter and conducted to their seats in the Lantern. All remain seated.

The Choir of Westminster Abbey and the Choir of Her Majesty's Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, proceed to their places in Quire.

At 10.42am Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall are received at the Great West Door by the Dean and Chapter. All stand.

At 10.45am a fanfare is sounded. All remain standing.

Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh are received at the Great West Door by the Dean and Chapter. All remain standing until The Queen's Procession has reached the Lantern, and then sit.

The London Chamber Orchestra plays:

March, from The Birds - Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (1848-1918)

THE PROCESSION OF THE QUEEN

The Dean's Verger
The Dean of Westminster
Her Royal Highness, The Duchess Of Cornwall, His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales
His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh, HER MAJESTY, THE QUEEN

The Sub-Organist plays:
Prelude on Rhosymedre - Ralph Vaughan Williams

At 10.55am the Procession of the Clergy moves to places in the Sacrarium. All remain seated.

THE PROCESSION OF THE CLERGY

A Verger
The Lord Bishop of London and Dean of Her Majesty's Chapels Royal
The Primatial Cross of Canterbury
The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England and Metropolitan
A Verger
The Cross of Westminster and Taperers
The Chaplains
The Minor Canons of Westminster
The Canons' Verger
The Canons of Westminster

All stand. The Bride, accompanied by her father, is received at the Great West Door by the Dean.

THE PROCESSION OF THE BRIDE

during which THE INTROIT is sung

I WAS glad when they said unto me: We will go into the house of the Lord.
Our feet shall stand in thy gates: O Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is builded as a city: that is at unity in itself.
O pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
Peace be within thy walls: and plenteousness within thy palaces.

Charles Hubert Hastings Parry - Psalm 122: 1-3, 6-7

The Dean's Verger
The Dean of Westminster
Mr Michael Middleton, THE BRIDE
Miss Eliza Lopes, Miss Philippa Middleton, Miss Grace van Cutsem
The Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, The Honourable Margarita Armstrong-Jones
Master Tom Pettifer, Master William Lowther-Pinkerton

All remain standing to sing.

THE HYMN

GUIDE me, O thou great Redeemer,
pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
hold me with thy powerful hand:
Bread of heaven,
feed me till I want no more.

Open now the crystal fountain
whence the healing stream doth flow;
let the fiery cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through:
strong Deliverer,
be thou still my strength and shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death, and hell's Destruction,
land me safe on Canaan's side:
songs of praises
I will ever give to thee.

Cwm Rhondda
John Hughes (1873-1932)
arranged by James O'Donnell (b 1961)
William Williams (1717-91)
translated by Peter Williams (1727-96) and others

All remain standing. The Dean gives

THE WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

DEARLY beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God and in the face of this congregation, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony; which is an honourable estate, instituted of God himself, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought, in Cana of Galilee, and is commended in Holy Writ to be honourable among all men; and therefore is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly; but reverently, discreetly, soberly, and in the fear of God, duly considering the causes for which matrimony was ordained.

First, it was ordained for the increase of mankind according to the will of God, and that children might be brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord, and to the praise of his holy name.

Secondly, it was ordained in order that the natural instincts and affections, implanted by God, should be hallowed and directed aright; that those who are called of God to this holy estate, should continue therein in pureness of living.

Thirdly, it was ordained for the mutual society, help, and comfort, that the one ought to have of the other, both in prosperity and adversity.

Into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined.

Therefore if any man can shew any just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace.

The Archbishop of Canterbury says to Prince William and Catherine:

I REQUIRE and charge you both, as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgement when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony, ye do now confess it. For be ye well assured, that so many as are coupled together otherwise than God's word doth allow are not joined together by God; neither is their matrimony lawful.

THE MARRIAGE

The Archbishop says to Prince William:

WILLIAM Arthur Philip Louis, wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together according to God's law in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?

He answers:

I will.

The Archbishop says to Catherine:

CATHERINE Elizabeth, wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together according to God's law in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love him, comfort him, honour and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?

She answers:

I will.

The Archbishop continues:

Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?

The Archbishop receives Catherine from her father's hand. Taking Catherine's right hand, Prince William says after the Archbishop:

I, WILLIAM Arthur Philip Louis, take thee, Catherine Elizabeth to my wedded wife, 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 us do part, according to God's holy law; and thereto I give thee my troth.

They loose hands. Catherine, taking Prince William by his right hand, says after the Archbishop:

I, CATHERINE Elizabeth, take thee, William Arthur Philip Louis, to my wedded 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 us do part, according to God's holy law; and thereto I give thee my troth.

They loose hands. The Archbishop blesses the ring:

BLESS, O Lord, this ring, and grant that he who gives it and she who shall wear it may remain faithful to each other, and abide in thy peace and favour, and live together in love until their lives' end. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prince William takes the ring and places it upon the fourth finger of Catherine's left hand. Prince William says after the Archbishop:

WITH this ring I thee wed; with my body I thee honour; and all my worldly goods with thee I share: in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

The Congregation remains standing as the Couple kneels. The Archbishop says:

Let us pray.

O ETERNAL God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, giver of all spiritual grace, the author of everlasting life: send thy blessing upon these thy servants, this man and this woman, whom we bless in thy name; that, living faithfully together, they may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, whereof this ring given and received is a token and pledge; and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Archbishop joins their right hands together and says:

Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.

The Archbishop addresses the Congregation:

FORASMUCH as William and Catherine have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a ring, and by joining of hands; 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.

The Archbishop blesses the Couple:

GOD the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favour look upon you; and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace, that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting. Amen.

All sing

THE HYMN

LOVE divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven, to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling,
all thy faithful mercies crown.

Jesu, thou art all compassion,
pure unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation,
enter every trembling heart.

Come, almighty to deliver,
let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return, and never,
never more thy temples leave.

Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray, and praise thee, without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.

Finish then thy new creation,
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see thy great salvation,
perfectly restored in thee,
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise!

Blaenwern
William Penfro Rowlands (1860-1937)
arranged by James O'Donnell
Charles Wesley (1707-88)

All sit. Mr James Middleton reads

THE LESSON

I APPEAL to you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect. 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. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Romans 12: 1-2, 9-18

All remain seated. The Choirs sing

THE ANTHEM

THIS is the day which the Lord hath made: we will rejoice and be glad in it.
O praise the Lord of heaven: praise him in the height.
Praise him, all ye angels of his: praise him, all his host.
Praise him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars and light.
Let them praise the name of the Lord.
For he shall give his angels charge over thee: to keep thee in all thy ways.
The Lord himself is thy keeper: the Lord is thy defence upon thy right hand;
so that the sun shall not burn thee by day: neither the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: yea, it is even he that shall keep thy soul.
The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in: from this time forth for evermore.
He shall defend thee under his wings.
Be strong, and he shall comfort thine heart, and put thou thy trust in the Lord.

John Rutter (b 1945)
commissioned by the Dean and Chapter of Westminster for this service
Psalms 118: 24; 148: 1-3, 5a; 91: 4a, 11; 121: 5-8; 27: 16b

THE ADDRESS

by The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Dr Richard Chartres KCVO, Lord Bishop of London and Dean of Her Majesty's Chapels Royal

All remain seated. The Couple moves to the High Altar as the Choirs sing

THE MOTET

UBI caritas et amor, Deus ibi est. Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor. Exsultemus et in ipso jucundemur. Timeamus et amemus Deum vivum. Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero. Amen.

Wherever charity and love are to be found, God is there. The love of Christ has brought us together as one. Let us rejoice and be glad in him. Let us fear and love the living God; and let us love one another with sincerity in our heart. Amen.

Paul Mealor (b 1975)
after 1 John 4

The Reverend Michael Macey, Minor Canon and Precentor, says

THE PRAYERS

Let us pray.

All kneel or remain seated.

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.

OUR Father, which art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come; thy will be done,
in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil. Amen.

O Lord, save thy servant and thy handmaid;
who put their trust in thee.
O Lord, send them help from thy holy place;
and evermore defend them.
Be unto them a tower of strength;
from the face of their enemy.
O Lord, hear our prayer;
and let our cry come unto thee.

The Dean and the Archbishop say:

O GOD of our fathers, bless these thy servants, and sow the seed of eternal life in their hearts; that whatsoever in thy holy word they shall profitably learn, they may in deed fulfil the same; that so, obeying thy will, and alway being in safety under thy protection, they may abide in thy love unto their lives' end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O MERCIFUL Lord and heavenly Father, by whose gracious gift mankind is increased; bestow, we beseech thee, upon these two persons the heritage and gift of children; and grant that they may see their children christianly and virtuously brought up, to thy praise and honour; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O GOD, who hast taught us that it should never be lawful to put asunder those whom thou by matrimony hadst made one, and hast consecrated the state of matrimony to such an excellent mystery, that in it is signified and represented the spiritual marriage and unity betwixt Christ and his Church: look mercifully upon these thy servants, that both this man may love his wife, according to thy word (as Christ did love his spouse the Church, who gave himself for it, loving and cherishing it even as his own flesh), and also that this woman may be loving and amiable, and faithful to her husband, and in all quietness, sobriety, and peace, be a follower of holy and godly matrons. O Lord, bless them both, and grant them to inherit thy everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ALMIGHTY God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, pour upon you the riches of his grace, sanctify and bless you, that ye may please him both in body and soul, and live together in holy love unto your lives' end. Amen.

All stand to sing

THE HYMN

AND did those feet in ancient time
walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
on England's pleasant pastures seen?
And did the countenance divine
shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
among those dark satanic mills?

Bring me my bow of burning gold!
Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!
I will not cease from mental fight,
nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
till we have built Jerusalem
in England's green and pleasant land.

Jerusalem
Charles Hubert Hastings Parry
arranged by Edward Elgar
William Blake (1757-1827)

All remain standing. The Dean pronounces

THE BLESSING

Let us pray.

O ALMIGHTY Lord, and everlasting God, vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to direct, sanctify, and govern both our hearts and bodies, in the ways of thy laws, and in the works of thy commandments; that through thy most mighty protection, both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

THE blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always.

The Choirs sing:

Amen.

A fanfare is sounded. All remain standing to sing.

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

GOD save our gracious Queen.
Long live our noble Queen.
God save The Queen.
Send her victorious,
happy and glorious,
long to reign over us:
God save The Queen.

arranged by Gordon Jacob (1895-1984)

All sit.

The Choirs sing
BLEST PAIR OF SIRENS

during which the Bride and Bridegroom and their witnesses move to the Shrine of St Edward the Confessor for the signing of the Marriage Registers.

The Procession of the Clergy moves to the Great West Door.

BLEST pair of Sirens, pledges of heaven's joy,
sphere-born harmonious sisters, Voice and Verse
wed your divine sounds, and mixed power employ
dead things with inbreathed sense able to pierce;
and to our high-raised phantasy present
that undisturbed song of pure concent,
aye sung before the sapphire-coloured throne
to him that sits thereon,
with saintly shout, and solemn jubilee,
where the bright Seraphim in burning row
their loud uplifted angel-trumpets blow,
and the cherubic host in thousand quire
touch their immortal harps of golden wires,
with those just spirits that wear victorious palms,
hymns devout and holy psalms
singing everlastingly:

That we on earth with undiscording voice
may rightly answer that melodious noise;
as once we did, till disproportioned sin
jarred against nature's chime, and with harsh din
broke the fair music that all creatures made
to their great Lord, whose love their motion swayed
in perfect diapason, whilst they stood
in first obedience, and their state of good.

O may we soon again renew that song,
and keep in tune with heaven, till God ere long
to his celestial concert us unite,
to live with him, and sing in endless morn of light.

Charles Hubert Hastings Parry
John Milton (1608-74)
At a Solemn Musick

As the fanfare Valiant and Brave is sounded, all stand for

THE PROCESSION OF THE BRIDE AND BRIDEGROOM

during which the London Chamber Orchestra plays:

Crown Imperial
William Walton
THE BRIDE AND BRIDEGROOM

The Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, The Honourable Margarita Armstrong-Jones
Master Tom Pettifer, Master William Lowther-Pinkerton
Miss Philippa Middleton, His Royal Highness, Prince Henry of Wales
Mrs Michael Middleton, His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales
Mr Michael Middleton, Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall

All remain standing for

THE PROCESSION OF THE QUEEN

The Dean's Verger
The Dean
His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh, HER MAJESTY, THE QUEEN

The Sub-Organist plays:

Toccata, from Symphonie V
Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937)

'Pomp and Circumstance' March no 5
Edward Elgar

arranged by Iain Farrington (b 1977)

The bells of the Abbey Church are rung by the Westminster Abbey Company of Ringers in a peal of Spliced Surprise Royal comprising 5,040 changes, conducted by David Hilling.

Members of the Congregation are requested to remain in their places until invited by the Ushers and the Honorary Stewards to leave the Abbey.

The copyright of the Alternative Services: Series One, material from which is included in this service, is assigned with effect from 1 July 1978 to the Central Board of Finance of the Church of England, and with effect from 1 January 2005 to The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England.

Download the official programme here