The Royal Wedding music to be released digitally for the first time

For the first time in history, when Prince William marries Catherine Middleton next month, the Royal Wedding ceremony will be recorded and immediately released digitally by Decca Records.

The Official Album of the event, to be held in Westminster Abbey on 29th April, will then be released into British stores and across the rest of the world from 5th May. Musicians already confirmed to perform at the ceremony include The Choir of Westminster Abbey, The Chapel Royal Choir, The London Chamber Orchestra and The Fanfare Team from the Central Band of the Royal Air Force. The Choirs will be under the direction of Mr James O'Donnell and The London Chamber Orchestra conducted by its Music Director and Principal Conductor Mr Christopher Warren-Green.

The physical album will include a special collector's booklet featuring the complete order of service, the readings, vows, hymns and blessings, and all the music from the event. The format of release will be digital download, CD, vinyl and even cassette to cater for all consumers.

The album will be produced by the well-known classical record producer, Anna Barry, who has produced over 500 recordings of distinction for over 25 years, ranging from works by Andrew Lloyd Webber to opera at the Mariinsky Theatre with Valery Gergiev, and many other legendary artists including José Carreras and Zubin Mehta.

Anna Barry said: "This is a great honour and an enormous responsibility. The wedding means so much to millions of people all over the world we have to capture every note and every nuance perfectly and have the recording ready within minutes of the end of the ceremony."

Dickon Stainer, President of Decca Records said: "This will be the first Official Royal Wedding Album ever to enter the worldwide digital charts. It will capture a piece of history for a new generation".

David Joseph, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music UK, said, "The Official Album for The Royal Wedding will complement everyone's personal memories of the event. Thanks to digital technology we will be able to deliver it worldwide almost instantly it will be the fastest we have ever released an album of this stature."