By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Nervous? Kate Middleton leaves her family home with a protection officer


With less than 48 hours to go, preparations for Friday's royal wedding are now at fever pitch, with family, military and security staff making last minute adjustments for the big day.

As hundreds of members of the armed forces had a dress rehearsal of the drill ahead of Friday's ceremony, the family of the bride and groom were spotted making final preparations for Friday.

Kate Middleton herself was seen driving out the family home in Bucklebury, Berkshire - for possibly the last time as a single woman - earlier today, accompanied by a protection officer.


Two days to go ... Kate's sister Pippa and mother Carole drive away from their family home in Bucklebury



Already there: Michael Middleton arrives at the Goring Hotel where Kate and her family are to stay in the run up to the Royal Wedding


Showing no sign of nerves, the bride-to-be, dressed in a demure cream suit, was without her future husband, who is believed to be in London.

Her family was also on the move today, heading for the capital - together with all the essentials for her wedding to Prince William.

A suspiciously long dress bag, together with hat boxes and other finery, belonging to the Middleton family were seen moving into the luxury Goring Hotel.


What's this then? The Middleton family wedding wardrobe, including a suspiciously long dress, arrives at the Goring


Careful with that: The Middletons wedding wardrobe is moved into their temporary home ahead of the wedding celebrations


There's more? Bags and a hat box follow the wardrobe into the hotel


Just around the corner from Buckingham Palace, the five-star establishment will be home to Kate's family and friends, who will decamp there for the wedding.

Kate's mother, Carole, and sister Pippa, were seen driving out of their £1m home, seeming in high spirits, smiling at photographers and both dressed in classic navy outfits.

But for Her Majesty the Queen it was business as usual. Looking dazzling in bright blue ensemble, and a hat with jaunty red trim, she went to Cambridge for a lunch and reception to mark the 500th Anniversary of St John's College.

The rest of the Royal family were keeping under the radar, with Prince Andrew preparing for Friday at Royal Lodge in Windsor with daughters, Eugenie and Beatrice.

The Duchess of Cornwall is believed to be at Clarence House, while her husband, Prince Charles, is up in Scotland.

He is opening the newly refurbished Dumfries House for the 2011 season in Ayrshire.


Radiant: The Queen arrives at St John's College Cambridge for a lunch and reception to mark its 500th Anniversary, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh

An early morning rehearsal, timed to the minute, saw soldiers, sailors and airmen parade through the streets of London.

With a worldwide audience of billions, military leaders know the eyes of the world will be on them.

A music rehearsal is scheduled to be held today with clergy and broadcasters due to take part in a full dress rehearsal tomorrow at the abbey.

However, in a stark reminder of the scale of the security problems faced by the services, a bomb scare saw an area of Whitehall near to the Abbey cleared.



Scare: A bomb scare near to the Abbey in Whitehall

Will Prince William and Kate Middleton Have Rain on the Royal Wedding Day - GMA



Royal wedding planning - Prince William and Catherine Middleton - CBS Evening News


'Special branch' in Abbey, click here...


source: dailymail