Hundreds of thousands of well-wishers have poured into London eager for a glimpse of the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

They were rewarded with the news that the happy couple will brave the elements and travel from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace in the open-topped 1902 State Landau. Forecasters' warnings of rain showers over central London failed to dampen the mounting excitement about the long-awaited royal wedding.

Months of meticulous preparations will come to fruition when the couple say their vows in Westminster Abbey in front of 1,900 guests and a global television audience of two billion.

Scores of well-wishers have camped outside for days.

Friends Sue Heppell, 59, Susie Record, 67, and Ann Burch, 65, travelled from Newcastle to find a good spot outside Clarence House at midday on Thursday. Mrs Record said she met William when he went on an impromptu walkabout and he seemed very relaxed about his impending nuptials.

"He asked us whether we were sleeping out," she said. "He didn't seem surprised."

The trio, who slept in foil sleeping bags in camping chairs, also saw David Cameron wander the Mall shaking hands, describing the reaction to his appearance as a "stampede".

Miss Middleton, 29, will give her first full view of her dress when she steps out of the Rolls-Royce carrying her to the service. She will walk up the aisle on her father's arm as a commoner. Just over an hour later she will leave, with her new husband by her side, as an HRH, a Princess and a future Queen.

Invited guests include David and Victoria Beckham, Sir Elton John and Guy Ritchie and the Prime Minister. A host of politicians, clergy, military chiefs, ambassadors and more than 45 foreign royals will begin filling the abbey from 8.15am.

There too will be William's proud grandparents the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, his father the Prince of Wales and stepmother the Duchess of Cornwall, joined by some 40 members of the British royal family, as well as close friends and confidantes of the couple.