White House congratulates royal couple on their wedding

[News_Editor]

White House congratulates royal couple on their wedding

2011-04-30 17:03:47 GMT+7 (ICT)

LONDON (BNO NEWS) -- The White House has congratulated Prince William and Princess Catherine on their wedding at London's Westminster Abbey on Friday.

"We congratulate Prince William and Catherine Middleton [..] on their wedding and wish them a lifetime of happiness together," said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney. "The United States has no closer friend in the world than the United Kingdom."

Carney added that the American people extend heartfelt congratulations to the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, which consists of 54 independent member states. "[We] share in their hopes for a bright future for the Royal couple," he added.

U.S. President Barack Obama did not attend Friday's marriage service as it was not classed as a state occasion since Prince William is not yet heir to the throne. An estimated two billion people watched the royal wedding on television and online.

When Carney was asked aboard Air Force One whether or not Obama and his wife had watched any of it on television, the press secretary said the president had been able to see some of it.

"I haven't spoken with the First Lady about it, but the President did mention that he caught a little bit of it this morning over breakfast, but obviously was busy getting ready for this trip," Carney said, referring to Obama's trip to Alabama which has been devastated by tornadoes.

Prince William is second-in-line to the British throne.

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