(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Britains Prince William has been given the title the Duke of Cambridge by his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II to mark his wedding day.
The royal is set to wed Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey today and has been given the highest rank in British peerage to mark his marriage to his long-term love.
Kate will be known as the Duchess of Cambridge alongside her new husband, Buckingham Palace announced this morning.
They royal pair have also been given two other titles. Their Scottish names will be
Earl and Countess of Strathearn and in Northern Ireland they will be Baron and Baroness Carrickfergus.
"The Queen has today been pleased to confer a Dukedom on Prince William of Wales, Buckingham Palace said in a statement. "His titles will be Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus. Prince William thus becomes His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge and Miss Catherine Middleton on marriage will become Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge."
Kate will also technically become Princess William of Wales, although she will more than likely adopt the name Princess Catherine or Princess Kate by the media and public.
The soon-to-be-married prince made an appearance last night with his brother Harry to greet crowds who had gathered ahead of the big day. The pair emerged from Clarence House, the royal residence, where they spent the night before the wedding. William admitted he was feeling nervous ahead of the massive event.
I hope Im not too nervous tomorrow, he is quoted as saying to fans. Make sure you wave at Charles and Camilla, he joked, referring to his father and step-mother.
Prince Harry said the raucous crowds drew the pair to come outside to greet fans. The younger brother of William revealed that the crowds excitement was rubbing off on him and his elder sibling.
The atmosphere is fantastic. Thats why we came out. In there we can hear it, he added.
The marriage vows will be conducted by The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dr. Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England and Metropolitan. He has revealed his thoughts about the pairs decision to marry ahead of the highly-anticipated wedding today.
Just getting to know the couple and seeing how they think about it has been a very positive thing, he told Sky News. They struck me as deeply sensible, realistic but also people with strong ideas about marriage and other things. I think with this particular couple theres a very, very strong feeling that whats at the heart of it, the essentials have to be in sharp focus. So when all the extravaganza is set aside, at the heart of it is two people who for this day is very, very special. (C) Cover Media