>>>
we are back in london as we count down to the
royal wedding
. all eyes will be on
westminster abbey
on
april 29th
. we were taken on a
private tour
by the man who will conduct the ceremony. dr. john haul, westminster's dean. founded in 960 and steeped in over 1,000 years of history,
westminster abbey
is known as the church of kings. 38 monarchs have been crowned here. the most recent,
queen elizabeth
in
1953
. it has also been the site of many royal weddings. from
queen elizabeth
and
prince philip
to the recent wedding of
prince andrew
to
sarah ferguson
in
1986
. but in just six weeks,
prince william
will greet his bride as she walks into this historic and sacred church. if you could set the scene for us,
kate middleton
will walk down this aisle. what will she see at this point?
>>
there will be guests, friends, facing inwards. she'll come through the
choir screen
into the choir area here where there will be some very important people, no doubt it shall -- government representatives.
>>
in the choir area?
>>
in the choir area.
high commissioners
, ambassadors. when you get to the middle of the choir, the choirs themselves will be sitting either side. there will be a row of boys in front and the westminster
boys choir
in behind. she comes into this space when the abbey opens up. you have the
north and south
trancept with poets, musicians, and statesmen.
>>
they are names you may have heard of. newton, darwin and shakespeare, all buried or memorialized in the abbey.
>>
this is the place of the acclamation of coronation and this is the point at which she will encounter members of her
family and friends
, the
royal family
on the right.
>>
the
royal family
is here.
>>
and the middleton family on the left.
>>
where will the queen be?
>>
just here, nearest the steps with other members of the
royal family
. of course the prince of wales and
duchess of cornwall
. catherine will come to this point. i expect william will meet her here and together they will walk up the steps to the kneelers, this extraordinary
16th century
area.
>>
absolutely.
>>
and the marriage itself will begin here.
>>
now, the maid of honor, her sister pippa and the best man,
prince harry
, will they be here at the base of the steps?
>>
the normal convention is the best man is beside the bridegroom and maids of honor are behind.
>>
right. what is your role?
>>
i will be leading the bride and her father up through the church. then the bridesmaids and page boys. the usher of canterbury is marrying them quite rightly. the
bishop of london
will give an address. it will all happen in this space.
>>
they take their vows here and they go behind to sign?
>>
and they will emerge from the other doors and on their way.
>>
this is your first
royal wedding
you have officiated.
>>
yes.
>>
you have been dean since
2006
. what does it mean to row?
>>
of course it's tremendously exciting. it's going to be a wonderful occasion. we are delighted for
prince william
and for catherine. we wish them every blessing under god and for the whole of their life together.
>>
they are talking about possibly 2 billion
people watching
the wedding.
>>
alarming, isn't it? wonderful. there is a lot to depress us just at the moment. one of the things that i once heard
prince william
say is he hoped it would be uplifting for people, a moment of joy. i think people will be engaged with it.
>>
what advice do you give the couple?
>>
i hope they will really enjoy the occasion, that they will have a strong sense of making their vows to each other in the presence of god.
>>
is there something in particular you will say to them before you walk kate down the aisle?
>>
when the moment comes, i will be there to greet her and her father when she arrives. i hope that she'll be able to steady herself.
>>
steady herself?
>>
yeah.
>>
westminster abbey
also serves as the location of the funeral of
princess diana
. the dean told me that celebrating both happy and sad occasions is what creates a connection with your church. so william will definiteliy feel a deep connection
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