The role of the Armed Forces in the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton
Published
The Ministry of Defence is pleased to confirm the details and range of ceremonial Military Personnel who will play a key role in the formal elements of the wedding of HRH Prince William of Wales and Miss Catherine Middleton on 29 April 2011.
General Sir David Richards, Chief of the Defence Staff, said: “I am delighted that so many members of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces have the opportunity to be part of The Royal Wedding. It is a huge honour for those servicemen and women taking part and one that they and their families will remember with great pride. They reflect the sentiments of the whole of the Armed Forces who share their pride in supporting this national celebration.
“For those in the Path Lining party it will be a particular and poignant honour as many will have served alongside Prince William, and I am sure they will take great delight in being among the first to see His Royal Highness alongside his new bride.”
The military elements involved are:
Queen’s Guard
The 1st Battalion Irish Guards will be providing the Queen’s Guard at Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace and the Tower of London throughout the day. The Guard will turn out for the departure of the Royal Family from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey.
Guard of honour
A Guard of Honour comprising three officers and 101 other ranks from the Welsh Guards will be positioned in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace for the return of the members of the Royal Family.
Street liners
More than 1,000 military personnel and military musicians will line the route from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace. They will be made up of officers and other ranks from:
Royal Navy:
HMS Astute, HMS Campbeltown, HMS Chatham, HMS Cumberland, HMS Daring, HMS Dauntless, HMS Diamond, HMS Edinburgh, HMS Gloucester, HMS Illustrious, HMS Liverpool, HMS Monmouth, HMS Montrose, HMS Neptune, HMS Northumberland, HMS Vanguard, HMS York, Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, elements from Fleet Headquarters and Defence Equipment and Support, Bristol.
Army:
Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards, 7 Company Coldstream Guards, F Company Scots Guards, 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, 2nd Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment.
Royal Air Force:
RAF Benson, RAF Boulmer, RAF Chicksands, RAF Coningsby, RAF Cosford, RAF Cottesmore, RAF Cranwell, RAF Digby, RAF Fylingdales, RAF Halton, RAF High Wycombe, RAF Honington, RAF Kinloss, RAF Leeming, RAF Lossiemouth, RAF Lyneham, RAF Marham, RAF Odiham, RAF personnel from Permanent Joint Headquarters Northwood, RAF Scampton, RAF Shawbury, RAF St Athan, RAF Swanwick, RAF Valley, RAF Waddington, RAF Wittering, Queen's Colour Squadron, Defence School of Languages Beaconsfield, Joint Service Unit Cheltenham, Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit Northallerton, MOD Hospital Unit Peterborough, MOD Abbeywood, RAF personnel from the Defence College of Policing and Guarding, Southwick Park.
Bands and Musicians
Royal Navy:
The Royal Marines Band, Collingwood, located at Parliament Square.
Army:
On the forecourt of Buckingham Palace - the Band of Welsh Guards.
Along the route - the Band of Grenadier Guards at Marlborough Road; the Band of Coldstream Guards at Duke of York Steps; the Band of Scots Guards and the Corps of Drums, The Welsh Guards at Horse Guards; and the Corps of Drums, The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment by the Cenotaph.
Inside Westminster Abbey Eight Household Cavalry State Trumpeters, drawn equally from the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals.
Royal Air Force:
Along the route The Central Band of the RAF, located at Horse Guards Avenue/Whitehall.
Inside Westminster Abbey Eight RAF Fanfare Trumpeters.
Path lining outside Westminster Abbey after service
Personnel from each of the three Services will form a Path Lining party for when the couple leave Westminster Abbey. They are being chosen from a combination of those with a personal connection to Prince William, and those who have given an outstanding contribution to their Service.
Sovereign’s escort and Captain’s escort
The Life Guards and Blues and Royals of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment will form a Sovereign’s Escort for Her Majesty The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, and a Captain’s Escort for the Bride and Groom, as the wedding party travels to Buckingham Palace from Westminster Abbey. This will involve some 160 horses.
Flypast
At 13.30 a flypast will take place over Buckingham Palace. This will consist of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight‘s Lancaster, a Spitfire and a Hurricane; followed 30 seconds later by two Typhoons and two Tornado GR4s in box formation.
Military involved on the day will wear their respective Service ceremonial clothing.
Other members of the Armed Forces have received invitations to attend the wedding service in a private capacity.
Related content

The King and Queen, joined by Members of the Royal Family, will mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings







The Duke of Cambridge unveiled a new Submariners memorial

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The inaugural Earthshot Prize Ceremony Awards London

The Duke of Cambridge attended The Royal Foundation’s Emergency Services Mental Health Symposium

The Duchess of Cambridge marks 5th anniversary of London Baby Bank Little Village

A speech by The Duchess of Cambridge at the Royal Foundation's Forum on the Early Years
The Duchess of Cambridge has spoken of her ambition to put the Early Years on an equal footing with the other great social challenges and opportunities of our time during an...
The Duchess of Cambridge reveals the results of her 5 Big Questions survey


An Open Letter from The Duchess of Cambridge to Midwives


The King's Cup

The 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings

The Duke of Cambridge and the FA launch 'Heads Up' mental health campaign
A speech delivered by The Duke of Cambridge at a United for Wildlife Joint Taskforce meeting
It has taken a lot of hard work – and real commitment – to get to the point where you are all sitting here together today. And we should all feel proud that we’re starting to...
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex launch Shout

Remarks by The Duchess of Cambridge at The Royal Foundation’s ‘Mental Health in Education’ Conference
The scientific and other evidence is clear the first few years of a child’s life are more pivotal for development and for future health and happiness than any other single...

A speech by The Duke of Cambridge at the handover of the Defence & National Rehab Centre to the nation
The Duke of Cambridge's speech at the handover of the Defence & National Rehabilitation Centre to the nation, during which he read the winning poem from the DNRC National...
A speech delivered by The Duke of Cambridge at the Workplace Wellbeing Conference
I am delighted that The Royal Foundation and Mind will be launching a new Workplace Wellbeing Programme in September to support employers across the country
A speech by The Duchess of Cambridge at The Royal Foundation Forum
The mental health of children and adults is one area where a long-term view will make all the difference to future generations
A speech by The Duke of Cambridge at The Royal Foundation Forum
When we work together, we are greater than the sum of our parts." – The Duke of Cambridge on the impact of The Royal Foundation and its ability to bring people together to...
A speech by The Duke of Cambridge at the National Launch of Step into Health, London
Supporting veterans has always been a key plank of the work my brother and I have done through The Royal Foundation. The men and women of our armed forces who stand up to...

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry celebrate World Mental Health Day
09 October 2017

Reading by The Duke of Cambridge at the Last Post ceremony in Belgium
We extend our deep gratitude to the Last Post Association and the people of Ieper for this daily act of homage in honour of our fallen

A speech by The Duchess of Cambridge at the Best Beginnings "Out of the Blue" film series launch
Conversations are crucial for mental wellbeing and they should be part of everyday family life.