Britain’s Prince William and Kate Middleton marry at Westminster Abbey

Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton married at Westminster Abbey on Friday in a sumptuous show of British pageantry that attracted a huge world audience and breathed new life into the monarchy.

One million well-wishers watched military bands in black bearskin hats and household cavalrymen in shining breastplates escorting the beaming couple in a 1902 open-topped state landau carriage after the ceremony.

The newly-weds then appeared on the balcony of Queen Elizabeth's Buckingham Palace in central London where they cheered the crowd who waved flags and banners.

Middleton became the first "commoner" to marry a prince in close proximity to the throne in more than 350 years.