Already have an account?
Get back to the

Prince William, Kate Middleton Rehearsing Their Balcony Kiss!

The royal wedding

London's more stressed-out than backstage at New York fashion week, which can only mean one thing: less than two weeks until the Royal Wedding!

The whole city is aflutter with last-minute prep — street cleaners frantically sand-blasting paving slabs, gardeners rushing to prune every tulip around Buckingham Palace's grounds, and it seems like all 1,800 guests have hired every decent tailor or seamstress in town, as they're all booked out until April 28!

Related: PHOTOS: Inside Kate's princess prep!

Basically, we're going mad.

However, surprisingly, all is rather calm on team WillKat. At last Friday's Westminster Abbey dress rehearsal, Kate Middleton looked radiant and composed.

With the company of Prince Harry, Carole and Pippa Middleton (and most pageboys and bridesmaids), she spent 90 minutes running through the entire ceremonial program.

Related: PHOTOS: Meet the royal wedding entourage

The Daily Express reported that the bride-to-be wore a mock train and even carried a fake bouquet down the 300 foot aisle. Considering there will be 72 in-house cameras, you can't blame them for such a precise drill.

The Dean of Westminster, The Very Reverend John Hall recently told me: "There is a real buzz at the Abbey. Everyone is excited and things are really starting to shape up." And Prince William and Kate's nerves? "Well, who wouldn't be nervous?" he laughed.

Related: PHOTOS: Most amazing royal wedding dresses of all time

But it's not just the ceremony that's being rehearsed. A palace aide tells me that every detail of the day is getting a dry run — even that 1:25 p.m. balcony kiss!

"It's not the actual kiss that needs rehearsing, I'm sure they know how to do that," the aide tells me. "However, the angle that they come in at needs to be correct, otherwise they could block the shot and the world will miss out on that momentous moment."

Related: PHOTOS: Princess Diana's wedding day

I'm told Kate, 29, and William, 28, have been told exactly where to stand and at what angle to lean in at, so it looks just right. Adds a second source: "It sounds crazy, but the balcony is their moment to greet the crowds and receive well-wishes. They don't want to disappoint."

William's finishing a final week of search-and-rescue work in Anglesey before he leaves for London, but Kate (who is staying at her parent's home in Bucklebury, Berkshire) is commuting back and forth for final dress fittings and Abbey rehearsals (both late at night).

Not long to go now!

By Omid Scobie, European Bureau Chief, for Us Weekly.

For more on the Royal Wedding, including rare photos, interviews with family and friends, details on Kate's new life as a princess and a tour of their lavish homes, order a copy of Us Weekly's Will & Kate: The Royal Wedding now.

In this article

Got a Tip form close button
Got a tip for US?
We're All Ears for Celebrity Buzz!