Hundreds of thousands of people were gathering along the flag-lined streets of London to catch a glimpse of cavalrymen in shining ornamental breastplates, groomed horses and the ornate carriages that will carry senior royal figures from the service.
Some 8,000 reporters and support staff have descended on the capital to capture the occasion in words and images, and, while some question a British government estimate of a global audience of two billion, hundreds of millions are sure to tune in.
Die hard fans camped out across the street from the abbey to ensure a front-row view of the royal couple and their guests, who started arriving at the abbey at about 8: 30 a.m. (3: 30 a.m. and) in plenty time for the 11 a.m. (6 a.m. and) start of the service.
Tourism chiefs expect an extra 600,000 visitors to London for the wedding.
The weather is likely to have a bearing on the turnout, with the Met Office forecasting the possibility of heavy showers around lunchtime.
'Once-in-a-lifetime'
The throng of curious tourists, dedicated monarchists, souvenir vendors and others turned the Union Jack-bedecked streets into a scene of festive chaos early on Friday.
"It's a once in a lifetime thing." "Not many kings-to-be are going to be married anytime soon," said 26-year-old Sarah White, camped out with her sister, Liz.
"the atmosphere has been truly amazing, the crowd is buzzing," Canadian Jay Edmonds told Reuters as dawn broke outside Westminster Abbey on Friday. "I managed to catch just a few hours sleep in a doorway but I don't mind."
India Marlow-Prince, a 17-year-old from London, was with two friends who had painted their faces with the Union Jack and wore tiaras and matching hot pink T-shirts with the homemade slogan "will and Kate forever."
"she is the (princess) Diana of our generation." "and wills is a babe," Marlow-Prince said. "We are a little annoyed at her for taking him, but there's always (Prince) Harry."
Even astronauts on the International Space Station offered best wishes to the couple in a video posted on YouTube.
Among 1,900 guests at Westminster Abbey, the coronation site for the monarchy since William the Conqueror was crowned in 1066, will be David and Victoria Beckham, Elton John, royalty from around the world, politicians and friends of the couple.
' Her Royal Highness'
Buckingham Palace announced early Friday that the couple would be known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
The second duke of Cambridge, Prince Adolphus Frederick, was the seventh son of King George III. Defying the Royal Marriage Act, he married his mistress, Sarah Louisa Fairbrother, an actress and a commoner, in 1847. Since the marriage wasn't legal, his children were all illegitimate.
Palace officials have gradually released many of the details of the service and subsequent events on Friday, but the big secret remains the identity of the designer of Middleton's dress.
That closely guarded information will only be known as she steps out of her car and walks into the abbey. But the Palace did announce Friday what William would be wearing: a ceremonial Royal Navy uniform with a blue sash and a Royal Naval Sword.
'Just a wedding'
The marriage is providing some welcome light relief amid general economic gloom in the U.K.
The year-old Conservative - Liberal Democrat coalition government is in the process of introducing swinging spending cuts designed to cut the deficit.
New figures for the first three months of 2011 showed that the U.K.'s GDP grew by just 0.5 percent, prompting the leader of the opposition Labor Party, Ed Miliband, to claim Wednesday that the economy had "flat-lined."
But while the wedding might lift the spirits of many in the country, some slightly dour economists have estimated that the extra public holiday created to allow people to join in the celebrations will cost billions of pounds, with one even saying it will knock a quarter of a percentage point off second - quarter GDP growth.
And not all Britons are celebrating. An Ipsos MORI poll for Reuters this month found 47 percent of Britons were either not very or not at all interested.
"It's just a wedding," said 25-year-old Ivan Smith. "Everyone is going mad about it. I couldn't care less."
However, for the majority, the marriage between William, second in line to the throne, and Middleton, dubbed "waity katie" for their long courtship, has cemented a recovery in the monarchy's popularity.
Three-quarters of those polled by Ipsos MORI for Reuters on the wedding said they favored Britain remaining a monarchy. And a survey in the Daily Mail newspaper showed 51 percent of people believed the wedding would strengthen the monarchy.
Updated 31 minutes ago 4/29/2011 8: 15: 11 AM + 00: 00 Royal wedding: Britain abuzz with anticipation has frugal Britain considers cost of royal wedding On the royal occasion, remembering Diana Wedding planners set for royal-style requests How Kate and William's wedding cakes stack up How much is Queen Elizabeth worth? Who's invited to the royal wedding? UK: Syrian official not welcome at royal weddingA series of scandals involving senior royals, Britain's economic difficulties and Princess Diana's death in 1997 aged 36 in a because crash after her divorce from Prince Charles led many to question the future of year institution rooted in the imperial past.
Video: How Princess Diana shaped William's ideals (on this page)
But William's image as a more rounded, remote less figure than his father, and the fact that Middleton, 29, is the first "commoner" to marry a in prince close proximity to the throne in over 350 years, appear to have worked in the monarchy's favor.
William, 28, has deliberately tried to keep the memory of his mother alive and gave Middleton his mother's sapphire and diamond engagement ring.
"Their marriage will breathe new life into the monarchy as the queen enters the twilight of her reign, bringing new blood and a fresh perspective to an institution that faces criticism for being elitist and out of touch," royal biographer Claudia Joseph told Reuters.
In 2005, a survey found 65 percent thought the marriage between Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles would weaken it.
Security will be tight on the day, with Britain on its second highest threat level meaning an attack by militant is considered "highly likely", and police have been carrying out thorough searches along the road.
Militant Islamists and Irish republicans, anarchists, and stalkers are all seen by security experts as possible risks.
Reuters, The Associated Press and NBC News contributed to this report.
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