Royal wedding live blog: Wednesday, April 27

Britain's Queen Elizabeth made a visit to Cambridge today, fueling speculation that Duke and Duchess of Cambridge may be among the titles she will confer on her grandson Prince William and his bride Kate Middleton when they are married Friday.

The queen's visit to open a science lab at Cambridge University  is the kind of thing she does on a regular basis but its appearance in the news this week has given it new significance.

The queen can confer as many titles as she wishes; Prince Andrew got three on his wedding day. But how many and which ones  William and Kate will get remain a closely guarded secret. The palace is expected to announce titles on its website on the morning of the wedding.

7:10 a.m. EDT Pre-dawn wedding rehearsal

Mounted officers paraded along Whitehall during a military dress rehearsal for the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton on April 29. With only two days to go a full military rehearsal for Friday's Royal Wedding started at 2 a.m. with hundreds of police and soldiers taking part.

9:20 a.m. EDT Kate Middleton, sister beset by paparazzi

It's been a busy week for those involved in Friday's big wedding. But it looks like Kate Middleton is taking a rare moment out to be with her family one last time before she's a married woman.

CBS News Royal Contributor Victoria Arbiter told "Early Show" co-anchor Erica Hill a slew of paparazzi were outside Kate's house on Tuesday, snapping shots of Kate and her now-famous sister, Pippa.

10:27 a.m. EDT David Letterman wants royal wedding invite

David Letterman sensed opportunity when he heard Bahrain's crown prince, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, had turned down an invitation to Friday's wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince Charles, and wasted no time trying to seize it.

Speaking by phone Tuesday night on the "Late Show" with Britain's Minister for Tourism and Heritage, John Penrose, Letterman joked that he knew the perfect person to get that suddenly freed-up invite: himself!

12:33 p.m. EDT Royal couple expected at wedding rehearsal

Britian's Sky News is reporting that Prince William and Kate Middleton will attend a private wedding rehearsal at Westminster Abbey this evening.

Early this morning, a military rehearsal of the wedding procession took place, but the groom and bride-to-be weren't present. A Middleton lookalike stood in for the future princess during that rehearsal, according to People magazine.

1:17 p.m. EDT Royal Wedding: A viewer's guide

CBS News will begin coverage of the royal wedding of Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton at 4 a.m. EDT on Friday, April 29, 2011.

Here's a look at what you can expect to see on that day. Times are approximate. (Read more here.)

1:34 p.m. EDT Pippa Middleton to put glitter balls in the throne room?

When you're the bride's sister at the wedding of the century (and also a party planner), apparently you get to put a glitter ball in the Buckingham Palace throne room.

The Daily Mail reports that Pippa Middleton, Kate Middleton's sister and bridesmaid, has organized an event that will cater to a younger crowd of about 300 on Friday evening. (Read more here.)

1:55 p.m. EDT Report: Chelsy Davy helping Prince Harry with best man speech

Chelsy Davy, Prince Harry's on-again/off-again girlfriend, was reportedly spotted shopping for wedding accessories in Chelsea on Tuesday.

Harry's relationship with her is back on, according to the Daily Mail. Friends told the paper the "combustible" romance she and Harry have has apparently rekindled. (Read more here.)

4:20 p.m. EDT Prince William, Kate Middleton at final wedding rehearsal

Prince William and Kate Middleton visited Westminster Abbey for a final rehearsal on Wednesday evening, just two days before their wedding.

Clarence House confirms the rehearsal is a private one for the couple. William, Middleton, her parents, her sister, Pippa, Prince Harry and clergy involved in the ceremony were in attendance. (Read more here.)

4:33 p.m. EDT Katie Couric to host CBS News primetime special: "Modern Majesty"

Since Nov. 7, 2010, when Britain's Prince William of Wales asked for Catherine Middleton's hand in marriage, all eyes have been on London: from the royal blue sapphire engagement ring that belonged to Princess Diana, to the flock of fashion designers vying to create Middleton's wedding gown, to the elaborate preparations at Westminster Abbey. Millions around the world have been captivated by the future Prince and Princess and are anxiously awaiting the biggest royal wedding since Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. It's projected a global audience of nearly two billion people will tune in for the big day on April 29. While Britain is facing some daunting economic challenges over jobs and budgets, the royal wedding gives the residents of the country a moment in history - a time to reflect - a time to ponder their future under a more modern monarchy.

In CBS News' primetime special "The Royal Wedding: Modern Majesty," "CBS Evening News" anchor and managing editor Katie Couric takes you inside the day's most intimate and historic moments. The special broadcast will feature a look at how the House of Windsor is enthusiastically embracing the digital age. Wedding-watchers will be able to attend the nuptials virtually from their own homes using YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and other social media tools. Well-wishers can send their thoughts and messages directly to the Royal Family using Facebook and Twitter. (Read more here.)

5:00 p.m. EDT British royal brides

In the May 2, 2011, issue of the New Yorker, Lauren Collins writes, "Queen Victoria, with her white dress and 12 bridesmaids, basically invented the royal wedding as we know it, in 1840."

With that in mind, and with Prince William and Kate Middleton's April 29 wedding maybe the most anticipated royal wedding since William's father, Princes Charles, married Lady Diana Spencer on July 29, 1981, we take a look at British brides of the past. (Read more here.)