Today in rural Berkshire the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with Prince Harry and several other esteemed guests arrived for the wedding of Pippa Middleton and James Matthews.

Resplendant in a bespoke white dress

Very shortly after 11:15 this morning, in a 1951 vintage Jaguar, Pippa Middleton arrived with her father Michael at St Mark’s church Englefield for the forty-five minute ceremony. Resplendent in a bespoke white dress by Giles Deacon and veil by Stephen Jones, Pippa was greeted by crowds of local residents who had been allowed in to the churchyard to watch guests arriving.

Those living nearby had been asked to carry ID, due to the tight security measures in place, and not to speak to the press. The members of the public had also been presented with commemorative wristbands to mark the occasion, printed with the date 20.04.17.

The ring

The thirty-three year old sister of the Duchess of Cambridge had been engaged to racing driver come hedge-fund manager James Matthews, now forty-one, since summer of last year. The ring is reported to have cost around £250,000, though no further details concerning the wedding band have been released.

"simple and pretty"

David Emmanuel, wedding dress designer to Princess Diana, earlier told the BBC that he found the dress to be “simple and pretty”.

The bride’s outfit was completed with a pair of ivory satin shoes by Manolo Blahnik, and a Maidenhair Fern tiara. Niece and Nephew, Princess Charlotte and Price George were in attendance as a flower girl and page boy for the occasion. Save for a downpour, which ended a few minutes short of the end of the service, the day had been largely dry and warm keeping both guests and spectators

wedding of the year

Among other esteemed guests were the Princess Eugene, Roger Federer and best man Spencer Matthews.

The younger brother of the groom, a reality TV star from the scripted channel four show Made In Chelsea, will later make his best man’s speech as the wedding party are due to travel to the nearby Englefield House for a champagne reception. Later the group will move on to the Middleton family home in Bucklebury, where a giant glass marquee has been erected, to continue celebrations into this evening.

It is reported however, that Spencer has been advised not to play any of his usual comical pranks on his older brother’s big day. With Pippa's parents making their fortune in party supplies, the evening ahead looks set to be one to remember.

Royal fans took to twitter this afternoon to express their delight and congratulations, with some calling it the “wedding of the year.”
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