Eve of the royal wedding – in pictures

A girl waves a souvenir flag with a picture of Prince William and his soon-to-be wife Kate Middleton in London on the day before the royal wedding Photograph: Marcelo del Pozo/Reuters

Members of the public walk past the stand holding media crews opposite Westminster Abbey Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Tourists wear souvenir crowns outside Buckingham Palace Photograph: Ian Langsdon/EPA

A Guardsman sporting the traditional helmet with mane sits on his horse on Whitehall Photograph: Nir Elias/Reuters

Passersby photograph street art depicting Prince William and Kate Middleton in north London Photograph: Olivia Harris/Reuters

Five women from Texas and Louisiana set up their spot on the Mall. They show off their matching replica engagement rings like the one Kate Middleton has, bought for $10 each back home Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Two boys take a little rest from all the excitement on the pavement outside Westminster Abbey Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

Two police officers walk by the media studios installed in front of Buckingham Palace on the eve of the wedding Photograph: Kerim Okten/EPA

Members of the Household Division ride down the Mall Photograph: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP

A sewing machine is delivered to the Goring hotel for last minute adjustments to Kate Middleton's dress Photograph: Willi Schneider/Rex Features

Royal family fan Jane Giannoulas, from San Diego, USA, waits on the Mall Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

Packed crowds take photographs outside the gates of Buckingham Palace Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Young women stand opposite the Goring hotel in central London, where the Middletons are spending the night Photograph: Paul Hackett/Reuters

Regent Street decorated with union flags Photograph: James D Morgan/Rex Features

Royal family fan William Willis walks along the Mall in London wearing a suit covered in images of Prince William, Kate Middleton and other members of the royal family Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

Workers carry in sections of the red carpet in preparation for the royal wedding at Westminster Abbey Photograph: Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Royal wedding spectators camp out on the pavement outside the entrance to Westminster Abbey Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters