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| Is Westminster Abbey the ultimate royal wedding venue? | Is Westminster Abbey the ultimate royal wedding venue? |
| (4 days later) | |
| By Vanessa Barford and Nigel Pankhurst BBC News | By Vanessa Barford and Nigel Pankhurst BBC News |
| Speculation is rife that Westminster Abbey will be chosen as the venue for Prince William's wedding after fiancee Kate Middleton made a private visit to the historic site on Wednesday. | Speculation is rife that Westminster Abbey will be chosen as the venue for Prince William's wedding after fiancee Kate Middleton made a private visit to the historic site on Wednesday. |
| Palace officials have stressed that the abbey - which hosted the weddings of the Queen and Queen Mother - is only one of the options on the table. | Palace officials have stressed that the abbey - which hosted the weddings of the Queen and Queen Mother - is only one of the options on the table. |
| But bookmakers have been deluged by wagers on the church that was founded in the 10th Century. | But bookmakers have been deluged by wagers on the church that was founded in the 10th Century. |
| Richard Jenkyns, author of the book Westminster Abbey, says the "sheer depth of the historical association" between the abbey and both royalty and the nation makes it the outstanding choice for the wedding. | Richard Jenkyns, author of the book Westminster Abbey, says the "sheer depth of the historical association" between the abbey and both royalty and the nation makes it the outstanding choice for the wedding. |
| "The royal connections with the abbey are extremely long-standing. It's the coronation church and about two dozen kings and queens are buried there. | "The royal connections with the abbey are extremely long-standing. It's the coronation church and about two dozen kings and queens are buried there. |
| "But the tradition of marrying in the abbey is really a 20th Century thing," he says. | "But the tradition of marrying in the abbey is really a 20th Century thing," he says. |
| When Princess Patricia of Connaught, granddaughter of Queen Victoria, picked the venue for her marriage to the Honourable Alexander Ramsay in 1919, it was the first time the abbey had been used for a royal wedding in 650 years. | When Princess Patricia of Connaught, granddaughter of Queen Victoria, picked the venue for her marriage to the Honourable Alexander Ramsay in 1919, it was the first time the abbey had been used for a royal wedding in 650 years. |
| The wedding of Princess Mary, daughter of George V, in 1922 continued the trend, then in 1923 Prince Albert, the Duke of York, later King George VI, became the first prince to be married in the abbey. | The wedding of Princess Mary, daughter of George V, in 1922 continued the trend, then in 1923 Prince Albert, the Duke of York, later King George VI, became the first prince to be married in the abbey. |
| "The tradition had been for quite a long time that the royals would get married at Windsor or the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace," says Mr Jenkyns. | "The tradition had been for quite a long time that the royals would get married at Windsor or the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace," says Mr Jenkyns. |
| "Having a royal wedding on such a grand scale was quite an innovation. | "Having a royal wedding on such a grand scale was quite an innovation. |
| "Royal weddings became so popular that Prince Charles moved his wedding with Diana to St Paul's because it's much bigger." | "Royal weddings became so popular that Prince Charles moved his wedding with Diana to St Paul's because it's much bigger." |
| Royal weddings have certainly attracted an enormous amount of public attention since the arrival of television made them a mass audience event. | Royal weddings have certainly attracted an enormous amount of public attention since the arrival of television made them a mass audience event. |
| Mr Jenkyns says the need to cater for the ceremonials that surround a royal wedding would also work in the abbey's favour. | Mr Jenkyns says the need to cater for the ceremonials that surround a royal wedding would also work in the abbey's favour. |
| "It's really close to Buckingham Palace and you've got a natural procession route," he says. | "It's really close to Buckingham Palace and you've got a natural procession route," he says. |
| That route takes in a place very much of the people - Trafalgar Square - as well as the political epicentre of Whitehall. | That route takes in a place very much of the people - Trafalgar Square - as well as the political epicentre of Whitehall. |
| "I suspect it won't be St Paul's, which is very large and brings back memories of Charles and Diana, and the logistics would make it more difficult. | "I suspect it won't be St Paul's, which is very large and brings back memories of Charles and Diana, and the logistics would make it more difficult. |
| "Westminster Abbey seems to me to be the natural choice." | "Westminster Abbey seems to me to be the natural choice." |
| It is a view shared by many people who were visiting Westminster Abbey on Thursday. | It is a view shared by many people who were visiting Westminster Abbey on Thursday. |
| Christine and Albert Jones, 72 and 74 respectively, from Birmingham, think nowhere else in the country has the "pomp and significance" the ceremony deserves. | |
| "Even in these economic times, a royal wedding has to be special and splendid. | "Even in these economic times, a royal wedding has to be special and splendid. |
| "We are proud to be British - and the abbey is where our history is," says Christine. | "We are proud to be British - and the abbey is where our history is," says Christine. |
| Their friends Jeanette and Peter Price, 68 and 71, also from Birmingham, agree. | Their friends Jeanette and Peter Price, 68 and 71, also from Birmingham, agree. |
| "London is a lovely place. Westminster Abbey is big, beautiful and central; it would be fantastic if the wedding was here," says Peter. | "London is a lovely place. Westminster Abbey is big, beautiful and central; it would be fantastic if the wedding was here," says Peter. |
| Dania and Mohammed Naamani, from Lebanon, are won over by the architecture. | Dania and Mohammed Naamani, from Lebanon, are won over by the architecture. |
| "The image of the church, its connection with royalty and government - that's the way Britain presents itself to the rest of the world," says Dania. | "The image of the church, its connection with royalty and government - that's the way Britain presents itself to the rest of the world," says Dania. |
| But holidaymaker Miriam Chaves, 38, from Malaga in Spain, disagrees. | But holidaymaker Miriam Chaves, 38, from Malaga in Spain, disagrees. |
| "I think they will go for St Paul's. This is a bit like a cemetery, there are a lot of kings and queens buried in there, there are a lot of tombs. It is a bit sad for a celebration like a wedding." | "I think they will go for St Paul's. This is a bit like a cemetery, there are a lot of kings and queens buried in there, there are a lot of tombs. It is a bit sad for a celebration like a wedding." |
| Australians Ben Houseman, 28, and Larry Diamond, 29, say the decision should be left to the young royals. | Australians Ben Houseman, 28, and Larry Diamond, 29, say the decision should be left to the young royals. |
| Jody Orlando, 55, a wine business entrepreneur from Los Angeles, thinks the couple should elope. | Jody Orlando, 55, a wine business entrepreneur from Los Angeles, thinks the couple should elope. |
| "There is so much hype with royalty here - it is like your own Hollywood. | "There is so much hype with royalty here - it is like your own Hollywood. |
| "They are bound to compare it with Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding - but no-one wants to start a marriage with ghosts. | "They are bound to compare it with Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding - but no-one wants to start a marriage with ghosts. |
| "If they ran away it would be much more romantic." | "If they ran away it would be much more romantic." |