Royals gather for Zara's wedding - BBC News

29 July 2011 Last updated at 20:42 ET

Senior royals are to gather in Edinburgh later to celebrate the marriage of Zara Phillips and England rugby player Mike Tindall.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are among guests expected at the wedding in Canongate Kirk on the Royal Mile.

As Scotland's first royal wedding in almost 20 years it is set to draw crowds of well-wishers.

Prince Charles and Camilla, Prince William and Catherine, and Prince Harry are also thought to be attending.

Other guests are likely to include Prince Andrew and his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

The private afternoon ceremony will be followed by a reception at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

The couple hosted a pre-wedding party on the royal yacht Britannia, which is moored in Leith, on Friday night.

They had previously attended a rehearsal for the ceremony at the kirk with the bride's parents, Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips.

Princess Anne's second marriage, to Timothy Laurence, was the last Scottish royal wedding in 1992.

'Sports stars'

Lothian and Borders Police said they had been working with the Palace and Edinburgh City Council to ensure the event's smooth running.

Supt Ivor Marshall, who is the Silver Commander responsible for overseeing security arrangements, said the event was expected to attract significant public interest, despite being a private affair.

He added that the kirk's location, close to both the Scottish Parliament and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, yet set on the busy tourist hub of the Royal Mile, presented unique challenges.

While some road closures will be in place, local businesses will remain open and residents, who have been contacted by Edinburgh City Council, will be relatively unaffected.

The doors of the Canongate Kirk are to be closed to the press and public, but large crowds are still expected in Edinburgh's Old Town to watch the arrival of the royal family.

Mr Tindall, who plays for club side Gloucester and has been capped more than 60 times for his country, is likely to have invited some of England's best-known rugby players to the wedding.

He and best man Iain Balshaw were part of England's winning 2003 rugby World Cup squad in Australia, where the couple were introduced by Zara's cousin Prince Harry.