The Royal wedding watchers

The Royal wedding watchers

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Only 1900 guests were invited to the wedding of Britain's Prince William to Kate Middleton, but an estimated two billion people watched it on television around the world.

Included in this figure was Ayesha Walker, 44, who watched it at a 'Pyjamas and Tiaras' live viewing party at 3 a.m.

Video

Prince William marries Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey in central London.

. Munich, Germany. Reuters/Michael Dalder

In Germany people watched it at a public viewing in a local cinema in downtown Munich.

. Hong Kong, China. Reuters/Bobby Yip

In Hong Kong British citizens waved the Union Jack with portraits of Prince William and Kate Middleton as they watched a live broadcast in a pub.

. Herat, Afghanistan. Reuters/Mohammad Shoiab

Afghans gathered around a television in a restaurant to watch a live telecast.

. London, United Kingdom. Reuters/Nir Elias

Royal fans dressed as brides watch near Buckingham Palace.

Britain's royal wedding in numbers

Britain's Prince William, second in line to the throne, married long-term girlfriend Kate Middleton in a ceremony full of pomp and pageantry in central London at Westminster Abbey.

Below is a story of the wedding in numbers.

  • 9:03 a.m. The time at which Prince William Arthur Philip Louis was born at St Mary's Hospital Paddington on June 21, 1982. The royal baby weighed 7lb 1-1/2 ounces. Similar details are not given in the biographies supplied by St. James's Palace for Catherine Elizabeth Middleton, who was born on January 9, 1982.
  • 1,900 The number of people invited to the service at Westminster Abbey. Around 650 people were invited to a lunchtime reception given by the Queen at Buckingham Palace after the service and about 300 were invited to a dinner given by Prince Charles that evening.
  • 9 The number of "grey" horses that formed the escort for the royal procession. Eleven horses who demonstrated a "good and calm" temperament were selected in advance of the day.
  • 5 The number of horse-drawn carriages in the procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace. The first carriage was the 1902 State Landau or Glass Coach carrying William and Kate.
  • 5,000 Some 5,000 police officers were on duty in London to deal with potential threats ranging from international Islamist militants to anarchists and stalkers.
  • 20 The height in feet of eight trees - six English Field Maple and two Hornbeam - that were included in floral displays in the Abbey.
  • 1910 The year in which luxury London hotel The Goring was opened. Kate Middleton and her family stayed in the hotel the night before the wedding.
  • 10:51 a.m. The precise time at which Kate Middleton and her father left the hotel for Westminster Abbey.