Royal bride to arrive in car attacked by students

Prince William's bride-to-be Kate Middleton will arrive at her wedding next month in the limousine attacked by students during riots in London three months ago, royal officials said.

Middleton will travel to Westminster Abbey for the marriage service in the Rolls-Royce Phantom VI car which angry protesters targeted during protests in December while William's father Prince Charles and his second wife Camilla were on board.

During the incident, the car was kicked, white paint was thrown over it, a window was cracked, and Camilla came into "contact" with protesters; she was reportedly poked with a stick.

The couple were unhurt but a picture of Camilla and Charles open-mouthed in horror became the defining image of the trouble which erupted over plans to raise university tuition fees.

Crown Equerry Colonel Toby Browne, who runs the Royal Mews which provides transport for the monarch, said the car would be repaired for the big occasion.

"It's not extensive, it's just minor damage following the incident before Christmas. It will be ready in time," he said of the vehicle, a 1978 present to Queen Elizabeth from carmakers to mark 25 years on the throne.

"One of the problems (is) it's such a special car there are details that have to be reproduced and are not available off the shelf.

"The claret paint is specific to (all royal) cars and certain bits of glass had to be made, but it's really a minor detail you won't notice."

After the ceremony, the royal couple will go to Buckingham Palace for the reception in an open-topped horse-drawn carriage -- the same one used by Charles and William's mother, the late Princess Diana, after their wedding in 1981.

The 1902 State Landau, built for the coronation of King Edward VII, will take the newlyweds past the crowds escorted by mounted soldiers from the Household Cavalry.

Glass coach

However, if it is raining, the couple will be transported in the Glass Coach, a carriage dating from 1881 which is normally used to take a royal bride to her wedding.

"This was the carriage that Diana and Sarah Ferguson used to go from Clarence House to their churches," said Martin Oates, the Senior Carriage Restorer who is responsible for the upkeep of all the vehicles.

"Because we're only doing one way this year, from the Abbey to Buckingham Palace, we won't be actually using it as what they class as the bridal carriage, but this is the carriage that everybody wants to see."

William, other members of the royal family and Middleton's parents will travel in fleet of state cars to the service.

Carriages will then be used to take Prince Harry -- William's best man, the queen and her husband Prince Philip, the bridesmaids, page boys, and the Middletons and Charles and Camilla to the reception.

"It's been a lot of preparation, and obviously it's just nice to be part of the big day and hopefully everyone will be watching what I do," Oates said.

"It's a bit of a worry as well because if something does go wrong, I'll be in trouble."