In pictures: Final preparations for Edinburgh royal wedding

Published on Friday 29 July 2011 14:56

FINAL preparations were being made today in Edinburgh for the wedding of the Queen's granddaughter, Zara Phillips, to England rugby player Mike Tindall.

• Police stand guard outside the Canongate Kirk today

The couple will exchange their vows in Edinburgh's Canongate Kirk tomorrow in front of their families and friends in a private ceremony.

The reception will be held a short distance from the church, in the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official Scottish home of the Queen.

Lothian and Borders Police have been working with the palace and the city council to ensure the smooth running of the wedding.

Superintendent Ivor Marshall, the commander responsible for security arrangements, said the event is expected to attract significant public interest, despite being a private affair.

He said the church's location, near the Scottish Parliament, on the busy Royal Mile presented unique challenges.

While some roads will be closed, businesses will remain open.

He added: "The police planning unit is well-versed in assisting in the organisation of high-profile and large-scale events in Edinburgh, including the recent Royal Week, the Papal visit last year and the festival. Therefore we will be drawing on that experience to keep policing costs to a minimum and ensure it's an enjoyable day for the couple, their guests and the public."

Officers have surrounded the kirk since yesterday and barriers line the Royal Mile in anticipation of the crowds.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh will join Zara's parents, the Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips, at the wedding.

Anne's second marriage to Timothy Laurence was the last Scottish royal wedding, taking place in 1992 at Crathie Kirk near Balmoral.

Also believed to be attending tomorrow are the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, or the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay as they are known in Scotland; the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge; Prince Harry; and the Duke of York and his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

The event, in contrast to the recent wedding of William and Kate, will be private. The doors of the kirk will be closed to the media and public.

The decision to keep the event private has drawn criticism after it emerged that around 500,000 of taxpayers' money will be spent on policing, while several roads will be closed with many more facing parking restrictions.