Practice for the big day? Kate Middleton holds an umbrella during a visit to the Darwen Aldridge Community Academy (DACA), in Darwen, northern England on April 11, 2011.
How very English.
Despite earlier predictions that sun would shine on Kate and Will’s big day, revised forecasts indicate a strong chance of thunder storms and brisk winds. “We wouldn’t rule out the odd lightning strike as well,” says Aisling Creevey, a forecaster at MeteoGroup. “At the moment we’re waiting to see how much sunshine is going to come off that day. If there’s more sunshine there’s more of a risk of heavier showers.”
(More on TIME.com: See TIME’s special coverage of the royal wedding)
If rain does fall, a retinue of lackeys will cover the bride-to-be with over-sized umbrellas as she enters the Abbey—potentially denying well-wishers on the street a glimpse of Kate and the most talked-about dress of the century. Prince William and Kate would also have to re-think their procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace following the ceremony. Rather than riding in the open-top, 1902 State Landau carriage, the pair would instead cruise in the Glass Coach—the same one Diana, Princess of Wales, took to her wedding at St Paul’s Cathedral in 1981. The rain won’t affect Kate’s transport to the wedding because she’ll arrive by car.
Officials at St. James’s Palace remain upbeat. “The rain will only add to the Britishness of the occasion,” a spokesman said. “I’m sure it won’t put people off coming to line the route.” And it certainly shouldn’t put them off from crowding around Buckingham Palace. Rain or shine, the couple will appear on the palace balcony at 1:25pm for their much-anticipated kiss. (via BBC)
(More on TIME.com: Meet a royalist who is camping outside of Westminster Abbey)