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PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT

The Royal Wedding

Aired April 30, 2011 - 21:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


PIERS MORGAN, HOST: I'm Piers Morgan. And, tonight, you're invited to the wedding of the century as Prince William and his bride, Kate Middleton, say "I do."

MORGAN: I'm here in London with every must-see moment, from the first glimpse of the bride and groom

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The mystery of the dress is over.

MORGAN: -- to happily ever after. The ceremony.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I pronounce that they be man and wife together.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MORGAN: The spectacle.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MORGAN: It's amazing. I mean, there are lots of wonderful occasions around the world, but there is nothing quite like this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MORGAN: And the celebration.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MORGAN: Widespread jubilation, not just here but we have been seeing scenes all over the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MORGAN: Every bit of it unforgettable and it starts right now.

This is a special edition of PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT, the royal wedding.

(MUSIC)

MORGAN: Good evening and welcome to the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. In the next hour, you'll see all the most important moments from the ceremony itself to the happy ever after.

We begin with Kate's arrival at Westminster and the world's most highly anticipated glimpse of that dress.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(CHEERS)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.

MORGAN: The mystery of the dress is over. We were right, it's Sarah Burton.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So good.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's listen to how the crowd reacts to the dress.

MORGAN: Beautiful dress.

(CHEERS)

(MUSIC)

MORGAN: We're now inside Westminster Abbey, and you can hear the first hymn. The first hymn, "Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer" -- the significance of this, I think it was the last hymn of Princess Diana's funeral in the Abbey in 1997. It's a very famous Welsh rugby anthem. It's called "Bread of Heaven." And William is a big rugby fan and he would have chosen this for a number of reasons.

(MUSIC)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MORGAN: We'll take a short break now. But when we come back, those all-important vows.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARCHBISHOP WILLIAMS: I, William Arthur Philip Louis --

PRINCE WILLIAM: I, William Arthur Phillip Louis --

ARCHBISHOP WILLIAMS: -- take thee Catherine Elizabeth --

PRINCE WILLIAM: -- take thee Catherine Elizabeth --

ARCHBISHOP WILLIAMS: -- to be my wedded wife --

PRINCE WILLIAM: -- to be my wedded wife --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MORGAN: Welcome back to PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT, the royal wedding from London.

We have now come to the moment where William and Kate become husband and wife. Let's listen to their vows.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REV. DR. JOHN HALL, DEAN OF WESTMINSTER: We are gathered here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony, which is an honorable estate, instituted of God himself, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence and first miracle that he wrought in Canaan of Galilee and is commended in holy writ to be honorable among all men. And, therefore, is not by any to be enterprised nor taken in hand unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly, but, reverently, discreetly, soberly and in the fear of God, duly considering the causes for which matrimony was ordained.

First, it was ordained for the increase of mankind according to the will of God, and that children might be brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord and to the praise of his holy name.

Secondly, it was ordained in order that the natural instincts and affections implanted by God, should be hallowed and directed aright; that those who are called of God to this holy estate, should continue therein in pureness of living.

Thirdly, it was ordained for the mutual society, help and comfort, that the one ought to have of the other, both in prosperity and adversity. Into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. Therefore, if any man can show any just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter, forever hold his peace.

MORGAN: That was Dr. John Hall, the dean of Westminster. Now, we have the archbishop of Canterbury.

DR. ROWAN WILLIAMS, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY: -- to be disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment why you may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony, you do now confess it. For be well assured that so many as are coupled together otherwise than God's word doth allow, are not joined together by God; neither is their matrimony lawful.

William Arthur Philip Louis, wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together according to God's law in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her so long as ye both shall live?

PRINCE WILLIAM OF WALES: I will.

WILLIAMS: Catherine Elizabeth, wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together according to God's law in the holy estate of matrimony, wilt thou love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him so long as ye both shall live?

KATE MIDDLETON: I will. WILLIAMS: Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?

I, William Arthur Philip Louis --

PRINCE WILLIAM: I, William Arthur Philip Louis --

WILLIAMS: -- take thee Catherine Elizabeth --

PRINCE WILLIAM: -- take thee Catherine Elizabeth --

WILLIAMS: -- to be my wedded wife --

PRINCE WILLIAM: -- to be my wedded wife --

WILLIAMS: -- to have and to hold from this day forward --

PRINCE WILLIAM: -- to have and to hold from this day forward --

WILLIAMS: -- for better for worse --

PRINCE WILLIAM: -- for better for worse --

WILLIAMS: -- for richer for poorer --

PRINCE WILLIAM: -- for richer for poorer --

WILLIAMS: -- in sickness and in health --

PRINCE WILLIAM: -- in sickness and in health --

WILLIAMS: -- to love and to cherish --

PRINCE WILLIAM: -- to love and to cherish --

WILLIAMS: -- until death us do part --

PRINCE WILLIAM: -- until death us do part --

WILLIAMS: -- according to God's holy law --

PRINCE WILLIAM: -- according to God's holy law --

WILLIAMS: -- and thereto I give thee my troth.

PRINCE WILLIAM: -- and thereto I give thee my troth.

WILLIAMS: I, Catherine Elizabeth --

MIDDLETON: I, Catherine Elizabeth --

WILLIAMS: -- take thee William Arthur Philip Louis --

MIDDLETON: -- take thee William Arthur Philip Louis --

WILLIAMS: -- to be my wedded husband --

MIDDLETON: -- to be my wedded husband --

WILLIAMS: -- to have and to hold from this day forward --

MIDDLETON: -- to have and to hold from this day forward --

WILLIAMS: -- for better for worse --

MIDDLETON: -- for better for worse --

WILLIAMS: -- for richer for poorer --

MIDDLETON: -- for richer for poorer --

WILLIAMS: -- in sickness and in health --

MIDDLETON: -- in sickness and in health --

WILLIAMS: -- to love and to cherish --

MIDDLETON: -- to love and to cherish --

WILLIAMS: -- until death us do part --

MIDDLETON: -- until death us do part --

WILLIAMS: -- according to God's holy law --

MIDDLETON: -- according to God's holy law --

WILLIAMS: -- and thereto, I give thee my troth.

MIDDLETON: -- and thereto, I give thee my troth.

(CHEERS)

WILLIAMS: Bless, o Lord, this ring and grant that he who gives it and she who shall wear it may remain faithful to each other and abide in thy peace and favor and live together in love until their lives end, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

WILLIAMS: With this ring, I thee wed.

PRINCE WILLIAM: With this ring, I thee wed.

WILLIAMS: With my body, I thee honor.

PRINCE WILLIAM: With my body, I thee honor.

WILLIAMS: And all my worldly goods, with thee I share.

PRINCE WILLIAM: And with all my worldly goods, with thee I share.

WILLIAMS: In the name of the Father.

PRINCE WILLIAM: In the name of the Father.

WILLIAMS: And of the Son.

PRINCE WILLIAM: And of the Son.

WILLIAMS: And of the Holy Ghost.

PRINCE WILLIAM: And of the Holy Ghost.

WILLIAMS: Amen.

PRINCE WILLIAM: Amen.

WILLIAMS: Let us pray.

Eternal God, creator and preserver of all mankind, giver of all spiritual grace, the author of everlasting life, send thy blessing upon these, thy servants, this man and this woman, whom we bless in thy name, that living faithfully together, they may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, whereof this ring given and received is a token and pledge, and may ever remain in perfect love and peace, together, and live according to thy laws, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

CROWD: Amen.

WILLIAMS: Those whom God has joined together, let no man put asunder.

For as much as William and Catherine have consented together in holy wedlock and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a ring and by joining of hands, I pronounce that they be man and wife together in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, amen.

CROWD: Amen.

WILLIAMS: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you, the Lord mercifully with his favor look upon you and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace, that you may so live together in this life, that in the world to come, ye may have life everlasting. Amen.

CROWD: Amen.

(MUSIC)

MORGAN: And that's it. Prince William and Kate Middleton are formally married. They have become duke and duchess of Cambridge in what has been an extraordinary day of celebration for Britain and for the rest of the world. They are now singing a hymn that was a tribute to Charles and Camilla. It was played at Charles and Camilla's wedding in 2005 at St. George's Chapel and is another great tub-thumping British hymn. Enjoy this.

(MUSIC)

(END VIDEOTAPE) MORGAN: And there's much more of the wedding ceremony to come. So, stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC)

MORGAN: I'm Piers Morgan in London. Welcome back to the royal wedding.

We now go back to Westminster Abbey for a reading by the bride's brother.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMES MIDDLETON, KATE MIDDLETON'S BROTHER: I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable, and perfect.

Let love be genuine. Hate what is evil. Hold fast to what is good. Love one another with mutual affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord, rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering persevere in prayer, contribute to the needs of the saints, extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep.

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.

Do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

MORGAN: And now we'll hear an address by the right reverend -- right Honorable Dr. Richard Chartres, who is the Lord Bishop of London.

DR. RICHARD CHARTRES, LORD BISHOP OF LONDON: Be who God meant you to be, and you will set a world on fire, so said Saint Catherine of Siena whose festival day it is today. Marriage is intended to be a way in which man and woman help each other to become what God meant each one to be. Their deepest and their truest selves.

Many people are fearful at the prospects for our world, but the message of the celebrations in this country and far beyond its shores is the right one. This is a joyful day. It is good that people in every continent are able to share in these celebrations. Because this is, as every wedding day should be, a day of hope.

In a sense, every wedding is a royal wedding, with the bride and the groom as king and queen of creation, making a new life together, so that life can flow through them into the future. You have both made your decision today.

I will. And by making this new relationship, you've aligned yourselves with what we believe is the way in which life is spiritually evolving, and which will lead to a creative future for the human race.

I pray that all of us present and the many millions watching this ceremony and sharing in your joy today, will do everything in our power to support and uphold you in your new life.

And I pray that God will bless you in the way of life that you have chosen. That way which is expressed in the prayer that you have composed together in preparation for this day.

"God, our Father, we thank you for our families, for the love that we share, and for the joy of our marriage. In the busyness of each day, keep our eyes fixed on what is real and important in life, and help us to be generous with our time and love and energy. Strengthened by our union, help us to serve and comfort those who suffer. We ask this in the spirit of Jesus Christ." And we all say amen.

ASSEMBLY: Amen.

MORGAN: Inspiring words there from the Bishop of London. And other inspiring words we're hearing were that Prince William apparently said to his bride as she arrived at the altar, "You look beautiful."

We're now going to hear the Motet, which is a very interesting story. A young man called Paul Mealor, who wrote this and the special couple heard it up at St. Andrews and said we want this at our wedding. And he's a completely unknown composer until now. This will change his life forever.

(SINGING -- THE MOTET "UBI CARITAS")

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MORGAN: When we come back, a blessing and a moment that will bring tears to the eyes of any Englishman.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SINGING -- THE MOTET "UBI CARITAS")

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon at the CNN World headquarters in Atlanta. Here's what we have coming up at the top of the hour. I want you to take a live look now at the White House Correspondents' Dinner -- one of this year's biggest events in the nation's capital. There you see President Barack Obama. We're going to go live there this hour coming up in a little bit for his remarks at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. There's a live picture. In the meantime, we have some breaking news to tell you about tonight. One of the sons of Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi has been killed. Libyan government says Saif Al-Arab Gadhafi died in a NATO air strike in Tripoli. We're told Muammar Gadhafi and his wife were in the same house when it happened, but both of them were alive. We're going to have a live report -- a full report coming up at the top of the hour for you.

I'm Don Lemon. I'll see you at the top of the hour.

MORGAN: Back now with PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT. The Royal Wedding from London. Now the blessing of the newly married royal couple.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHARTRES: Let us pray. Almighty Lord and everlasting God, vouchsafe we beseech thee to direct, sanctify, and govern both our hearts and bodies, in the ways of thy laws and in the works of thy commandments, that through thy most mighty protection, both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul, through our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.

ASSEMBLY: Amen.

CHARTRES: The blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always.

(SINGING -- Amen.)

MORGAN: And now the moment that is going to absolutely raise the roof all over Britain, the national anthem. Prepare for this.

(SINGING -- "GOD SAVE THE QUEEN")

MORGAN: And if that doesn't make you proud to be British, then nothing will. Amazing scenes behind this at Buckingham Palace here as the whole crowd joined in with the national anthem. We're now going to have the bride and bridegroom and their witnesses moving to the shrine of St. Edward the confessor for the signing of the marriage registers.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(SINGING)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MORGAN: When we return, the streets of London erupt in wild celebrations as the newly married couple emerge from the Abbey.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MORGAN: Back now from London with the moment the crowds have all been waiting for, the happy couple emerge from Westminster Abbey to greet the ecstatic members of the public. Let's watch.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(CHEERING)

MORGAN: It's been an incredible day, I think.

CAT DEELEY, CNN WEDDING CONTRIBUTOR: And the roar of the crowd.

MORGAN: What a service, just perfectly pitched. And Kate Middleton, all the pressure, hasn't put a foot wrong, even got William's name right, unlike Diana.

DEELEY: It's true.

MORGAN: I'm incredibly impressed by her. I think she's just held herself together.

DEELEY: She just has such poise, I think --

(CHEERING)

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 now for the last, 10, 15 years, suddenly we're seeing now with this occasion widespread jubilation not just here, but we've been seeing scenes all over the world, people watching this, two billion people joining in the celebration. It's quite amazing.

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 superstar in Kate Middleton.

This is her life, 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 her today, the way she has held herself together, the way she's kept her poise.

This really, I think, augers well to her future as a potential queen. Because you have to be able to handle this stuff.

And the sun has come out. I mean, this is -- I cannot tell you how rare this is, to be in April, have a whole week of sunshine. It's unheard of.

So the Gods have blessed on this too, which is an amazing thing.

To me, I mean, there are lots of wonderful occasions around the world, but there is nothing quite like this. I mean, 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, you troupe -- the color, of course, looking utterly magnificent, with the throngs of millions of people.

DEELEY: And the press (INAUDIBLE).

MORGAN: The world's needed. This is just about as big as any occasion can get. I mean, that just gives you goose bumps. I actually 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 completely doolally -- I thought it was just wonderful, wonderful.

I think they've just shown everyone today what the future of the monarchy will look like.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MORGAN: Coming up, the perfect way to sum up the day, the royal couple's double kiss.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MORGAN: A quite amazing sight from the people massing outside Buckingham Palace, waiting to see the newly married William and Kate.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MORGAN: Breaking news, a curtain is twitching on the balcony. So we are about to go.

Listen to this crowd when they come out.

(CHEERS)

MORGAN: Here they come.

DEELEY: That wasn't enough for me.

MORGAN: It was a great big juicy smacker.

DEELEY: No, it wasn't!

MORGAN: Good on you, Wills. That was much, much better than Andrew and Fergie's. And I would say it was longer and more passionate than Charles and Diana's.

(CROSSTALK)

That was a great kiss. Those two love each other.

I can't believe he did that. That boy does his own thing because he would have been told one kiss and enough. And he's gone back for more.

DEELEY: It was really cute, because he was talking and he kind of egged her on. He was like, come on, then, let's give them one more.

MORGAN: If I was still the editor of a major British newspaper, my headline would be "Get a Room." It won't do. They can't take their eyes off each other.

That was just a wonderful moment, wasn't it? With the RAF doing the fly-by at the same time. It is reminding us that William is, of course, a member of the armed forces. He flies helicopters. He's -- Harry's been to war in Afghanistan.

These boys are proper heroes.

I think it's great. That single moment there will be what flashes around the world. And it just shows that William is his own guy. You know, because the palace would have said do this, do that, do this. Everything would be done at the last second. And just in the flash of a moment, he heard the crowd and exactly as Diana would have done towards the end of her life, when she was just her own woman, he just did what came naturally. And I love that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MORGAN: A beautiful moment to end an absolutely spectacular day. It all went off without a hitch. Even the weather stayed good. It made me very proud to be British.

Thank you for watching. And we've got some blockbuster shows coming up on PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT all next week. Watch out for Rob Lowe, Jessie James, Christy Turlington and a wild Chelsea Handler. They're all coming on PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT.