Prince William and Kate Middleton became husband and wife - and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - at London's Westminster Abbey this morning.
The royal wedding, pegged the greatest and grandest affair since Prince Charles and Princess Diana's 1981 nuptials, marked a magical chapter in their fairy tale love story, which began at college and will continue throughout their lifetime.
"I, William Arthur Philip Louis, take thee, Catherine Elizabeth, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse," he vowed. "For richer, for poorer. In sickness and in health. To love and to cherish, till death us do part."
With brother and best man Prince Harry, in the uniform of Captain of the Household Cavalry, by his side, William wearing the scarlet uniform of the Colonel of the Irish Guards, slipped a traditional Welsh gold wedding band on Kate's finger.
"With this ring, I thee wed," he said.
The couple also wrote their own prayer for the grand occasion:
"God our Father, we thank you for our families; for the love that we share and for the joy of our marriage. In the busyness of each day keep our eyes fixed on what is real and important in life and help us to be generous with our time and love and energy."
"Strengthened by our union help us to serve and comfort those who suffer."
Middleton, 29, arrived to the Abbey in burgundy-and-black-colored Rolls-Royce, not a carriage, opting for a "lower-key arrival," a palace source said.
Guests such as Elton John and Victoria and David Beckham, just a few of the A-listers among the 1,900 who received an invitation, sat in chairs faced inward toward the aisle as she walked toward William during the hour-long ceremony.
Afterward, Queen Elizabeth II was set to host a post-wedding breakfast at Buckingham Palace for 600 guests. At 7 p.m., Prince Charles will throw a dinner dance for about 300 guests in another one of the palace's state rooms.
Before the wedding, the bride spent her last night as a single woman in the Royal Suite of the Goring Hotel, a stone's throw from Buckingham Palace. William, meanwhile, stayed with his father and brother at the Clarence House.
Another magical moment is still to come.
The couple are expected to arrive on the balcony of Buckingham Palace at 1:25 p.m. for a much-anticipated kiss – in the very same spot that William's parents, Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, famously kissed 30 years ago.
Will bring you that and a full assortment of Royal Wedding photos later today. For now, send your congratulations to the prince and princess below!
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