Royal wedding: Westminster Abbey arrivals include Elton John, David and Victoria Beckham, Earl Spencer
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Hundreds of elegantly clad guests arrived at Westminster Abbey through the North Gate for the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on Friday.
Elton John and partner David Furnish waved to crowds as latecomers to the venue, but gladly took their front-row seats. Onlookers gave them a rousing cheer; John was a close friend of the late Princess Diana.
Princess Diana‘s brother and Wills’ uncle Earl Spencer arrived with his new fiancee, philanthropist Karen Gordon. London Mayor Boris Johnson arrived with his wife.
Chelsy Davy, Prince Harry‘s on-off girlfriend, smiled in a custom-made teal Alberta Ferretti dress. A dapper and smiling David Beckham was accompanied by the sleekly polished and very pregnant Victoria Beckham, wearing a Philip Treacy hat and a dark navy dress from her own line. Wills is good friends with the soccer star and the couple will sit in the nave of the Abbey, according to the BBC.
Wills’ chum Ben Fogle wore an electric blue tie that shone almost as brightly as British socialite Tara Palmer-Tomkinson‘s electric blue dress and Philip Treacy fascinator. With extravagant toppers perched on the heads of female guests, those on the invite list joined many onlookers making the most of the opportunity to wear hats.
John Bercow, the speaker of the House of Commons, and his wife, Sally, made their way down the red-carpeted aisle to their seats among royalty, religious leaders and numerous guests. Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard also attended, despite being an avowed republican. Representatives from more than 50 governments including the Commonwealth came out to be part of the big day.
British Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife, Samantha, left their residence at 10 Downing Street just an hour before the ceremony was set to begin. He arrived wearing tails, though his office had earlier caused controversy by suggesting he would just wear a suit.
Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, will not be attending, though her ex-husband Prince Andrew and daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie will. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and his stylish Spanish wife traipsed into the venue shaking hands and smiling.
A band from the Royal Air Force marched through the London streets sounding off jubilant music to cheering crowds, and black cars made their way to the ceremony to the same cheers.
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-- Nardine Saad, with Henry Chu reporting from London
