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CNN Live Event/Special
The Royal Wedding: Prince William of England is Wed to Catherine Middleton
Aired April 29, 2011 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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PIERS MORGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Fantastic fanfare you're hearing from the central band of the Royal Air Force, directed by wing commander Duncan Stubs, valiant and brave, the number 22 squadron search and rescue helicopters, which of course is what prince does for a living.
We also heard the state trumpeters of the household cavalry by grant Jones and the blues and royals, the organ being played by Mr. Robert Quinney, organist of Westminster Abbey, and the stunning singing from two choirs, one the choir of Westminster Abbey and her majesty's Royal James palace by Mr. James O'Donnell, organist of Westminster Abbey.
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ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: We're watching the procession now to the Buckingham Palace where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, their new titled, they were married, heading to Buckingham Palace, 1902 state Landau, the same coach used to bring Prince Charles and his new bride Diana.
MORGAN: Amazing sight, Anderson. Look at that. The household cavalry in all their glory, beautiful bride, future king, saluting. It's been an incredible day, I think.
CAT DEELEY, CNN WEDDING CONTRIBUTOR: The roar of the crowd.
MORGAN: What a service, perfectly pitched. Kate Middleton, all the pressure, hasn't put her a foot wrong, even got William's name right, unlike Diana.
DEELEY: It's true.
MORGAN: I'm incredibly impressed by her.
DEELEY: She had such poise.
COOPER: We're going to see a procession, the likes of which we rarely have seen with the 1902 landau with the duke and duchess in it. We'll also see four other carriages, horse drawn carriage, the procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham palace. It's not great distance, but it is a magnificent procession we're witnessing.
MORGAN: Have you seen anything quite like that, Anderson? COOPER: Not since Charles and Diana. Obviously I was here for the funeral of Diana, which was a procession of a different sort. But as you were saying earlier, this really does feel like giving new energy to the monarchy.
MORGAN: This is -- you can sum up the whole day. The monarchy is back, the British monarchy. The battered British monarchy which has been on the ropes the last, 10, 15 years, suddenly we're seeing now with this occasion widespread jubilation not just here, but seeing scenes all over the world, people watching this, two billion people joining in the celebration. It's quite amazing.
COOPER: We're here with Cat Deeley, and Hamish Bowles, "Vogue" contributing editor, and the European editor, editor at large. What do you make of the dress? Is the dress everything you thought it was going to be?
HAMISH BOWLES, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "VOGUE": It certainly is, yes. Sort of prayed to the fashion Gods and I think, you know, we were just saying she hasn't got a foot wrong, I think, in choosing Sarah Burton and collaboration and the dress they've produced is sublime, really.
I mean, I think it's worthy - it's worthy of the abbey, it's worthy of the historic occasion. I think it's a great tribute to Alexander McQueen, whose work has been celebrated.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Some British fashion statement, isn't it?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a huge British fashion statement. There's been a collective gasp sigh of relief amongst all the British fashion press and indeed the international press because I think everyone was quite worried she might go for maybe a quieter designer.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And this really is making a grand statement on a world stage.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's one of the most beautiful dresses I think I've ever seen in my life. Don't you think?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean, the way it fit and the choice of fabrics and -- the French lace and Chantilly lace.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everything so exquisitely done.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It actually wore a dress for a modern bride. It didn't feel as though it was huge. It didn't feel that was kind of taking over her. It was very much like she was confident and had poised and she was wearing the dress. The dress wasn't wearing her.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's a nice element of showing some flesh. It wasn't too covered up either. I think it's a very feminine dress and I think the use of corsetry, which McQueen is very well known for, does that brilliantly.
And let's talk about the tiara as well. It was the queen mother's tiara.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: American viewers will love this, a king speech link here, this tiara was made by Carteir in 1936, but it was bought by the duke of York who became King George VI, the famous stuttering king, duchess she was then became Queen Elizabeth, the queen mother.
And the tiara was given to the current queen when she was a princess and it's the queen who has given it to Kate for this special day. That's a remarkable piece of history, sitting on her head.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And then the earrings she's wearing were by Robinson Pelum and they were actually a gift from her parents for her wedding day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They just went through Horse Guard Arch about halfway to Buckingham Palace. Also joining us, Vera Wang in New York. Vera, as you have watched Kate Middleton, what has gone through your mind?
VERA WANG, FASHION DESIGNER: Well, I think she's made her very own, strong personal statement as to who she really is. It's not only about the dress, to me, whatsoever. I mean, I think it's that she is really her own person. That she has a sense of her own elegance and what is appropriate.
I think she's showing the world that she's not here to only dress the fashion. She's here to dress for herself in a very elegant and dignified manner. And I think that says volumes about who she is and the task that lies ahead for her.
I think it's not only an emotional statement. It's a very intellectual and realistic one. And my favorite part of it all is the way that the veil just hangs behind her face. Veils are very complex to cut and they can come in all different shapes and sizes, but such a simple veil over such a beautiful dress in its classes.
And of course, the McQueen workmanship so beautifully set. To see a dress executed this beautifully with understanding of the accessories as well is really unbelievable to me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, Anderson, after Diana died, a lot of people in Britain felt that the kind of bright light of the royal family had gone, that we had lost our superstar, if you like, in Diana. As I watch these scenes, I mean there's no doubt we have got a new super star in Kate Middleton.
COOPER: Which has incredible charisma.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Already, something so poised. COOPER: The dress, everything.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The fairy tale.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Modern couple as well.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Very modern.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is -- her life is never going to be the same. This is a day that is going to propel her into the stratosphere of celebrity status and media attention.
What I like about the whole thing we've seen from today, the way she's held herself together, kept her poise. This really, I think, all goes well for her future as a potential queen because you have to be able it to handle this stuff.
COOPER: You know, I think Prince Charles said at one point, they've been practicing long enough. She really has had years to get a sense of what lies ahead.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And the sun has come out. I cannot tell you how rare this is to be in April and have a whole week of sunshine. It's unheard of.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's true.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The gods have blessed on this too, which is an amazing thing.
COOPER: So much fear about rain and whether this would be kind of washed out.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All the news reels last night were predicting rain. Something happened.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Suddenly --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As they came out of the abbey.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's amazing, there are lots of wonderful occasions around the world, but there is nothing quite like this.
When you watch the household cavalry escorting this gold, very old carriage, up to Buckingham Palace, where you see the guards all waiting, the guards looking utterly magnificent and the throngs and millions of people.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And the press waiting.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The world's media. This is just about as big as any occasion can get. I'm getting overexcited. We're British, man, and we are loving this!
COOPER: It is remarkable the history that is infused throughout all of the coach built for King Edward VII back in 1902 to be used at his coronation.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We saw the bridesmaids there. They put their name and date of the wedding inside the lining of each of their dresses.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From where they are now, they are very, very close, and this area behind us, is about to absolutely explode because they will go crazy when this carriage arrives.
It reminds me of Diana's wedding. My mother was on the left there overnight with my little brother and sister. They had their tent and they were there.
COOPER: As we continue to look at these pictures as well, Becky Anderson, down in the crowd. If we can split screen this. Becky, the crowd is no doubt about to erupt as the duke and duchess are moments away.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Yes. You're absolutely right, Anderson. Here they come. You can see the flags starting to wave. It's absolutely electric atmosphere down here on the mall. As we see them approaching now, what must they be thinking?
A couple of minutes now away from Buckingham Palace. Let me tell you, I can it tell you what's going to happen when they get in. There's one man who's got an awful lot of pressure on him now, it's the photographer, Hugo Burnand. He has an hour to basically match the pairs. Here they come.
COOPER: Let's listen to the crowd.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That just gives you goose bumps. Feel quite emotional watching this, I really do. I actually feel emotional. I mean, watching that scene as they came up here and watching this huge crowd, just go completely crazy. I thought it was wonderful.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Absolutely.
COOPER: There is something extraordinary about seeing them in person and it does seem like from another time and yet, it's right here and very much alive and modern.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're seeing history. It's so thrilling. You're seeing history now transforming into a modern monarchy for the modern age.
These young kids that we've seen here today, William and Kate and harry and, you know, Beatrice and Eugenie and the others, I think they've just shown everyone today what the future of the monarchy will look like.
COOPER: And there are so many young people in the crowd which is startling.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Extremely popular. The princes are, and so is Kate as well. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My middle son Stanley, 13 years old, has just texted me to say happy wedding day. Now that is a good sign for the monarchy when teenage boys are doing that.
COOPER: We should tell you where they're heading now. They're at Buckingham Palace. The queen is giving a lunch time reception for them.
It's going to be a private gathering, guest drawn from the congregation who were in Westminster Abbey. There's going to be about 600 people at this. It's not a sit down breakfast or lunch. It's actually buffet style, which is quite unusual.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't get too turned by this, the biggest, greatest, lavish buffet in the history.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not all you can eat.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Followed by dinner in the evening.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is what they used to call a wedding breakfast. Have it as kind of a reception afterwards.
COOPER: She arrives at Buckingham Palace. For the first time as the duchess and now the queen is just now arriving also at Buckingham Palace.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One thing to point out here, it's how highly trained these horses are. I mean, can you imagine leading this kind of contingent of horses and they've all been absolutely perfect nothing has gone wrong with this. It's been a remarkable example of pageantry at its best.
COOPER: Well, even to polish the boots for these cavalry officers can take up to 50 hours.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It can.
COOPER: They use a blow torch to melt the beeswax to get the proper shine.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Anderson cooper, attention to detail, shiny shoes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Before he comes on air, best dressed man in American television.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's Prince Charles, Camilla Parker Bowles, Duchess Of Cornwall.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The little kids on shoulders as equally delighted about everybody parades past, the moms and dads and grandmothers and grandfathers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a thrilling spectacle. One of those things you'll rarely see this again in your lifetime. You won't see a future king of England get married.
Hopefully this marriage will survive a long time until he takes to the throne. This may be the last time we see a future king get married.
COOPER: Always for visitors to London you're lucky to see the changing of the guard. There's a certain pageantry in that to see an event like this, to witness it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can imagine - sorry, after you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We put it on for Americans.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Americans love it but also, I'm getting tweets here, apparently the CNN Twitter, CNN TV the hash tag today, send us your thoughts.
We want to hear from what you say all over the world. We would like to hear what you think of this. We're getting reports of literally every corner of the world following every moment of the ceremony.
COOPER: There's Prince Andrew and his daughters returning to Buckingham Palace.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Beatrice and Eugenie.
COOPER: You want to stay tuned because during this buffet breakfast, I guess -- wedding breakfast.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Might even be meringues for you.
COOPER: During the wedding breakfast the duke and duchess of Cambridge as they're called, Prince William and his wife Kate will actually emerge on to the balcony and that's where we anticipate seeing them kiss for the first time, because we still have not seen them kiss. I thought they might have a little peck in the carriage, but no.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sneak a kiss.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To give you an idea of the historical importance, we have never seen Prince William kissing Kate Middleton.
COOPER: Really?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We saw him kiss her on the cheek on the slopes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Never a smacker on the lips.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Never a smacker.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This crowd is waiting for one thing, that moment. COOPER: So that will be on the balcony. There's also going to be a flyover of jets, several flyovers as a matter of fact. And tonight is really sort of the big private party, some 300 guests invited. The Prince of Wales is giving a private dinner followed by dancing at Buckingham Palace.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's been rumors about the party, Elle Golden might be performing, I think, might be performing there.
PIERS MORGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Giant disco balls are in there right now.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pippa apparently, Pippa said I want giant disco balls.
MORGAN: Really?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
MORGAN: Am I the only one, by the way, that thinks Prince Harry and Pippa Middleton?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Maybe romance will develop over those bacon (INAUDIBLE) early morning.
MORGAN: Sort of throw that out there.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE).
ANDERSON: Let's watch the Queen and her husband arrive and see if they say anything.
And as rightly pointed out, now that she's married, to be referred to as Catherine, not Kate.
MORGAN: Well, Diana became Princess Diana, but everyone carried on calling her Di. So I'm afraid, Catherine, you may be called Duchess of - what was it?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Cambridge.
MORGAN: There were three other places. But the reality is, she will I think be Kate and that's it. Around the world. That's what we're going to know and love her for.
COOPER: Becky Anderson is down in the crowd watching right outside Buckingham Palace. Becky, I think this crowd has certainly felt that they've gotten what they've been waiting for so far. Certainly, the kiss is what a lot will want to see.
ANDERSON: Oh, yes, absolutely, Anderson. Some of these people have been here for days, camping out. But you wouldn't have known that when they came just past moments ago, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as they are now called. The atmosphere has been absolutely electric here. You've got young to very, very old, all with their parascopes hoping to get a sight of the royal couple. They absolutely did. What a broad smile on the face of the Queen earlier on as she drove past. She looked really proud of her grandson.
Tell you earlier, going on inside there now, the photographer Hugo Burnand, now has an hour, thing of this. This is the guy with the pressure on his head now, an hour to effectively match all the pairs before the couple come out on to the balcony for what we hope will be the royal kiss. He's got to get everybody together now. He was the photographer who took the photos of Camilla and Charles. He has also taken many photos of William and Harry in the past. He's also taken photos of Victoria Beckham, I believe as well. She will feel very regal today.
I believe the last time he did this, he had to have a horn in his hand to actually get everybody to do what he wanted for that hour. The pressure is on Hugo Burnand at this point. After that, of course, they come out on to the balcony, we'll get the royal kiss, and we certainly hope we will, and then you'll get the fly past as you were saying. This crowd will go electric once they see and hear that.
After that, of course, you got a canopy reception thrown by the Queen for about 600 dignitaries and then you got the big party which we believe will be in the throne room, turned into a disco for the 300 specially invited guests from Prince Charles for the happy couple. So stick with us as you get reaction from the crowd who are not going anywhere, Anderson.
COOPER: Yes. That balcony appearance should be in about 50 minutes from now as the guests are still continuing to arrive. But they're going to take a break from the party, come out on the balcony and they'll also be taking those wedding photographs and I think really one of the nicest traditions after the wedding photos are taken, the bride actually returns her bouquet to the tomb of the unknown soldier in Westminster Abbey which is a tradition which began -
MORGAN: It began with the Queen mother. Because her brother died in the great war -
COOPER: In 1915.
MORGAN: And she wanted to commemorate him when she was there. It's been continued ever since. It's a wonderful tradition.
I think we're going to Monita Rajpal, a CNN correspondent, I'm being told on route, but I'm afraid when you're in Britain, you are firmly en route. Monita, are you there?
MONITA RAJPAL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I am here, Piers (INAUDIBLE) I'm at the mid-point between Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace and people are making their way towards Buckingham Palace because they want to see that what will be an iconic moment in history, that kiss.
One of the things that I think a lot of people have been talking about is the dress. It was a very Grace Kelly-esque dress. It was not the dress that I was expecting to see, which I guess is a good thing in the sense that it was what the Duchess of Cambridge, as she is known now was continuing to surprise people. That's what fashion insiders think.
She will continue to surprise people with her fashion sense. I met Sarah Burton a few months ago when she had just taken over from Alexander McQueen after he died at the House of Alexander McQueen and she is an incredibly talented, talented woman. She had worked alongside Lee McQueen for 14 years.
We're seeing there just a bit of a military parade taking place, changing of the guard as well. But she worked beside Lee McQueen for 14 years when she took over and she's just this really soft spoken, she understands a woman very, very well and she's just really succeeded with this dress, Piers.
COOPER: And (INAUDIBLE) for a woman like that, for a designer like this, being seen in this venue, I mean it changes her life completely.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, it takes it to a whole different stratosphere. I think the fashion world has really applauded her and what she's done at the House of McQueen. You know, she's taken the technique, talent and tradition of McQueen and feminized it a little. Brought a bit of herself to it and she's done some sensational collections. But this, of course, is just taking it to the wider world.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And how much will Kate have worked with her on the design, do you think?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it was a very close collaboration. I mean, looking at the dress, there is certainly elements of Grace Kelly's dress that Helen Rose created for her. There's a little bit of Princess Margaret's wedding dress in there too in the silhouette and the simplicity of the line and the neckline, in fact. But you know, the embellishment and the choice of fabric and everything is very, very Sarah Burton.
MORGAN: Sorry to interrupt. Look at the scenes in Hyde Park. This is unbelievable. You don't see this.
COOPER: Large video monitors in Hyde Park. Again, the last time I saw this was for Princess Diana's funeral.
MORGAN: Hyde Park is one of the biggest. This is just unprecedented.
COOPER: There you're seeing David Beckham leaving the Westminster Abbey as well.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He still hasn't put his top hat on. I think it would mess up his hair too much.
MORGAN: I don't think you can really wear top hats at a wedding.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
MORGAN: It's slightly a bit of a fashion faux pas. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's an accessory.
MORGAN: I also think (INAUDIBLE) you're not supposed to wear your medals on the side of the chest that he put his medals. So a bit of a double fashion faux pas from Becks (ph) today. But his wife, his wife, I have to say, one of the most stylish women at the wedding.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's a triumph today.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She really is.
COOPER: 200,000 plus people at Hyde Park right now is the latest number that we have heard. But as the event now moves to Buckingham Palace, we anticipate seeing more people kind of leaving the area around Westminster Abbey and trying to move closer to Buckingham Palace, perhaps moving to Hyde Park, or areas where video monitors have been set up.
We have our own Richard Quest who is outside Westminster Abbey. We haven't been able to talk to him for some time. Let's bring him in now. Richard, the guests are still slowly exiting, correct?
RICHARD QUEST, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Yes, indeed. I am indeed, Anderson and indeed, what we've seen in the last few minutes, of course, the main congregation leaving the abbey. These bells, by the way, there are 5,000 - 5,000 changes in the ring. This is going to go on for three hours. I'll be deaf by the end of it.
People here have basically an hour to get the 600 people from the abbey to Buckingham Palace for the first reception and for the other 1,400 or so, 1,300, they just basically go home without a cup of coffee or glass of champagne.
COOPER: We're going to have a cup of coffee or glass of champagne. We're going to take a quick break. Our first commercial break in about an hour and a half or two hours. Our coverage continue though for many, many more hours. Stay with us. We'll be right back.
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COOPER: What a day it has been so far. What a day it yet will be as we anticipate the royal kiss, the first time we have seen the royal couple actually kissing. We anticipate that in about 40 minutes or so. Watching some of the ceremonial bands outside the Buckingham Palace. Just listen in for a few moments.
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COOPER: Our continuing coverage here with Piers Morgan, Cat Deeley, and Vassi Chamberlain, the "Vogue" contributing editor and (INAUDIBLE) European editor at large for both magazine. You really do not see anything like this in the United States or really anywhere else in the world. The kind of pomp and pageantry and ceremony and the kind of embrace of history, no one does it like they do here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No one does it like this. I mean, I'm so intoxicated, sitting here seeing it all.
MORGAN: And remember, these aren't, as I said earlier, not the ceremonial bands you're watching here. These are fighting soldiers.
COOPER: These are units which have served in Afghanistan, and served in Iraq.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Absolutely. And they are some of the bravest soldiers that Britain has. I think that's what adds spice to the whole affair, is that this is a big deal. They would be on the battlefield, these guys, and they've come back to do this for their monarch. You know, it's a really huge privilege for them. The guardsmen that get to be at the palace, are the cream of the cream. Very special soldiers indeed.
COOPER: We have to take a quick break. Our coverage continues in just a moment.
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ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: And now, you're watching a really extraordinary sight, the crowd that was along the parade route by Westminster Abbey, is now being allowed to walk in an orderly fashion toward Buckingham Palace. That's the location where we are right now. Of course, this is the location now exactly where you want to be because we anticipate in about 35 minutes, the royal family will appear on the balcony at Buckingham Palace and there for the first time, we'll see the duke and duchess.
PIERS MORGAN, CNN ANCHOR: I was saying earlier, Anderson, the horses had all been absolutely impeccable. Apparently one rider was thrown off his horse.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why?
MORGAN: About 30 meters ahead of William and Kate and the carriage, and the horse bolted off down Whitehall. So, I think they're both OK, horse and rider.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
MORGAN: But quite a dramatic moment earlier.
COOPER: But the precision of these marchers is extraordinary. I mean, the --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And the crowd control.
MORGAN: It's been an immaculately run operation involving the military and police. I mean, ultimately, Anderson said earlier about the boot cleaning alone, 50 hours of polishing. You know, these guys, they take this kind of thing so seriously.
COOPER: Fifty hours, I find that so hard to believe.
MORGAN: It's absolutely -- it's true.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's very symbolic of the British army and how it always has been the attention to detail and the precision of everything that they do.
MORGAN: What you're seeing here, the commoners converging on their great commoner, Kate. And they will be here soon. When they get here, these scenes will be extraordinary.
COOPER: In Hyde Park, CNN's Kiran Chetry is standing by some 200,000-plus people we're told are in Hyde Park right now.
Kiran, the crowd there, they've been watching on large video monitors, correct?
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: Yes. It's a JumboTron. The best way to describe it, Times Square. I mean, just packed with people. Those are the types of crowds we are talking about.
They said they were expected about 200,000. I have a feeling that at a time when the actual wedding was taking place, we might actually have had much more than that. The funniest thing is, a jubilant crowd, everybody in great spirits, waving the Union Jack flag, some people had on tiaras and some on wedding veils.
But when the actual ceremony was taking place, you could have heard a pin drop. Of course, that wasn't the case for the rest of it. But also a lot of excitement when they saw Kate Middleton's dress for the first time, very approving gasps were heard.
But one thing I want to show you right now is even the littlest fans are in the spirit of the royal wedding, we have a four future princesses and maybe a future prince.
Welcome all of you. How did you decide to come out to Hyde Park today? Why did you decide to do it?
UNIDENTIFIED GIRL: Because we wanted to see the wedding. It would be better to se it here than just on TV.
CHETRY: You wanted to share it with everybody, right?
UNIDENTIFIED GIRL: Yes.
CHETRY: What did you think of the dress?
UNIDENTIFIED GRIL: It was amazing. The veil was so pretty.
CHETRY: She did look beautiful, didn't she?
UNIDENTIFIED GIRL: Yes. I love the tiara. It was really pretty.
CHETRY: What about you, little prince, did you like being out here with all the girls?
UNIDENTIFIED BOY: Yes. It was really fun watching him. The dress was really long. All I saw was the big white veil. It was really, really nice.
CHETRY: Well, it was nice to see you. I hope you have a blast today with your Union Jack flags, enjoy yourself. Big party here in Hyde Park. It continues. No sign of stopping here, guys.
Back to you.
COOPER: There was this remarkable moment during the ceremony when -- and I don't know if you could hear it inside the abbey when they -- when Catherine said "I do" or "I will," the crowd roared all around London who are watching on monitors. Their voices were being projected.
MORGAN: And, Anderson, there was a poignancy actually to the bishop of London's address there because he's has been a counselor to Prince Charles and he was to William after Diana died. He was also officiating when William was confirmed at a very young age. And so, he's played a very, very strong spiritual role both for Charles and William for a long time.
And I thought his words actually were very, very inspiring. He talked about in terms of their relationship and marriage. This is a time to transform, when you get married, no the reform. Don't try and change the person that you are marrying.
I thought it was really sensible advice. And I think that will come back, that address, many times in the next few days.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Clearly, the dress was a big hit with the crowd from young to old. Why is that so relevant at this exact moment?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is tremendously exciting, because on Monday, at the (INAUDIBLE) Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York inaugurates a show celebrating the queen's life and work. And with the gala, which is Monday (INAUDIBLE)
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- a lot to live up to. And so, it's just so wonderful to see the queen's tradition carried on in this thrilling way and to see that Sarah Burton really can carry the torch and has the talent and sophistication --
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COOPER: I bet they have never had so many commoners advance on the palace without any ill intentions, you know?
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COOPER: Exactly. Look at the just excitement. There is such pride, I think, for people just being, as you said, Piers, earlier, just being British today and being in this country.
MORGAN: It makes you burst with pride. What is so great about it, as I've said earlier, is what you are seeing is undoubtedly, the resurgence of the British monarchy, which could have gone the other way. You know, many European monarchies have fallen by the wayside. And the British monarchy is one of the last great ones left.
And people were saying after Diana, why bother. And now, I can see a future for many, many hundreds of years to come and it's all down to today.
COOPER: And we still await the appearance on the balcony, the royal fly-over, the British military jets and, of course, the kiss. Our coverage continues in just a moment.
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COOPER: And welcome back. Live in London, as crowds, thousands of people heading towards Buckingham Palace, hoping to get as close as they can to get one more glimpse of the newlyweds, most of these people probably got a glimpse as they came by in the carriage. We saw them leaving Westminster abbey, but they'd like to get more glimpse. And, of course, the iconic moment most are waiting for, the kiss.
MORGAN: I don't think I have seen anything like this in my lifetime in Britain. I really haven't. I just think it's absolutely extraordinary.
COOPER: Different than 1981?
MORGAN: It feels bigger to me. I think the reports of 200,000 in Hyde Park, I think they are severely underestimated because the amount of people I am seeing converging on the palace now, this is a huge crowd.
COOPER: It is amazing to see. Also, this is the most televised. I mean, this is covered from so many angles. During the Super Bowl, there is about 30 or 32 cameras to use in the American Super Bowl. There were more, I think 60-plus cameras inside Westminster Abbey alone to cover the wedding.
MORGAN: This is getting 20 times the global audience of the Super Bowl. So, from an American view, try to understand the scale of this. That's all you need to know.
This is absolutely -- it's bigger than the soccer World Cup, the Olympics. There is nothing like this. This is the biggest event I think in terms of television attention in my lifetime.
COOPER: And in terms of the honeymoon, we still don't know where they are going to be going. There's been different stories. Prince William, then-Prince William had said, the last time they were in Australia, that perhaps he'd like to -- he sort of jokingly said maybe he'd come back on their honeymoon.
MORGAN: I suspect we won't see them. They will not want to be photographed and not release pictures. I think they will go to one of the European royals resort homes, someone like Jordan, for example, very, very close to the British royal family. I think they have a holiday there before.
COOPER: Also, Catherine actually grew up, spent a year or two in Amman, living in Amman.
MORGAN: I wouldn't be surprised if they go to the home of the royal family in Jordan. They had a couple of resorts.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE) maybe.
MORGAN: Yes. It won't be somewhere where they can be photographed. So, you can rule out most of the world.
COOPER: The other option is that there's the island, Mustique, in the Caribbean which many members of the Middleton family has invited many people from the island of Mustique.
MORGAN: (INAUDIBLE)
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE) tennis coach.
COOPER: So, they'd be well-welcomed, I think, in the island of Mustique.
MORGAN: This is incredible. The Mall here.
COOPER: This is the Mall, which is the road that leads to Buckingham Palace.
MORGAN: Anderson, it's the Mall, all right?
(LAUGHTER)
MORGAN: A mall is where I buy your cheap suits. It's a Mall.
COOPER: It's really a Mall.
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: Mall, OK.
MORGAN: We are now at the root of the Mall.
DEELEY: How is her dress going to affect the fashion of future weddings to come?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I think what's interesting is that she has taken history and but she's modernized about it, you know? There is something streamlined and contemporary about it -- a sense of history. I think it is the detailing and the fabrication, her choice (INAUDIBLE) for instance.
