It’s time to get those pinkies in the air and dust off the cucumber sandwiches: Prince William and his beguiling betrothed Kate Middleton will be pledging their eternal vows to one another at one of the most anticipated events of the year, The Royal Wedding.

The ceremony, taking place at London’s Westminster Abbey, starts tomorrow at 12 noon (11am over there) and will be witnessed by a whopping 1 900 guests. And that’s not counting the expected 2 billion viewers that will be breathlessly following the proceedings from home.

One of the most pressing questions hanging in the air, apart from what the bride will be wearing of course, is what will be on the menu.

Contrary to expectations, the 650 guests attending the extravagant afternoon ’do in Buckingham Palace’s ballroom will not be treated to a grand sit-down luncheon. Instead, they’ll be expected to get their balancing acts in order, sampling a constantly replenished array of canapés with one hand, while quaffing flutes of freely flowing champagne with the other.

Designed to be inhaled in a matter of seconds (addressing passing dignitaries with bulging cheeks is an imperial no-no), the diminutive snacks are to be expertly crafted by Chief Royal Chef Mark Flanagan and his team. Although kept tightly under wraps, Flanagan reveals that the menu will feature the best of British produce along the lines of boiled quails’ eggs sprinkled with celery salt, miniature Yorkshire puddings with roast beef and horseradish, salmon-topped beetroot blinis and duck terrine with smoked duck and pear chutney.

Guests with a sweet tooth will be treated to a slice of the traditional multi-tiered fruit cake, which will be adorned with iced English roses, Welsh daffodils and Scottish thistles, as crafted by pastry chef Fiona Cairns. Adding a touch of whimsy, the second sweet, an unbaked McVitie’s chocolate biscuit cake, is one of the Will’s childhood favourites and made according to a secret royal recipe.

The Royal Wedding Dinner will be decidedly more intimate, proffering a three-course sit-down dinner for around 300 of William and Kate’s nearest and dearest. Reported to be catered by British restaurateur Anton Mosimann, this bill of fare is also a closely guarded secret. Asked for his predictions, formal royal chef Darren McGrady forecast traditional favourites like Gaelic steaks and even cottage pie. Well, there you have it. All fit to feed a royal army.

Sources: 
• http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/02/11/a-feast-fit-for-a-queen-princess-dianas-chef-predicts-the-royal-wedding-menu/#ixzz1JshDsbUo
• http://wonderwall.msn.com/entertainment/palace-chef-whats-on-the-royal-wedding-menu-1614165.story
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/apr/20/royal-wedding-knitting-pattern-corgi
• http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/20/dining/20royal.html?_r=1
• http://www.theroyalweddingwilliamkate.com/the-royal-wedding/information-and-facts
• http://www.ivillage.com/royal-wedding-menu-0/3-a-342283
• http://huisgenoot.co.za

Images: Courtesy Flickr

By Annette Klinger