Charles and Camilla wed

The Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles were married today at a private civil service at Windsor Guildhall, formalising a relationship that has spanned nearly 35 years.

Prince Charles and his bride, who is to be known as the Duchess of Cornwall and who is now the second most senior female member of the royal family, emerged from Windsor Guildhall at around 12.50pm with their arms linked.

They were greeted with cheers from some of the thousands of well-wishers lining the streets of Windsor.

The civil ceremony, attended by just 28 guests, was not witnessed by the Queen but she is attending a blessing service which started at 2.30pm at St George's chapel in nearby Windsor Castle.

The couple had arrived together at the Guildhall at around 12.25pm in a Phantom VI Rolls-Royce, which had carried them the short distance from the castle.

Shortly earlier a bus carrying guests had arrived, including Princes William and Harry. Prince William, who was one of the witnesses, was seen slightly nervously checking his pocket to make sure he had the rings.

For the civil service, Mrs Parker Bowles wore an oyster silk basket-weave coat and a chiffon dress created by the design team Robinson Valentine, while the prince wore a morning suit.

There were a handful of boos when the couple arrived but most of the crowd were supportive. After acknowledging the crowd, and as a band played the tune Congratulations, the couple went into the Guildhall and the doors were closed.

Then, around 25 minutes later, the newlyweds emerged and again waved to the crowds before being driven back to Windsor Castle.

The televised blessing service is being led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. The prime minister, Tony Blair, foreign royals and VIPs are among the 800-strong congregation.

The duchess changed for the service into a long porcelain blue silk dress.

Celebrities who were attending the service include Rowan Atkinson, Phil Collins, Kenneth Branagh, Joanna Lumley, Richard E Grant, Jools Hooland and Stephen Fry, who sported a top hat.

Speaking to the BBC, Fry praised the duchess and said she was looking "gorgeous" and complemented her sense of humour. Grant said: "She could not be more down to earth."

After the blessing service, the Queen will host a private reception for the chapel congregation. Later the couple are due to depart for their honeymoon in Scotland via the castle's Henry VIII gate at around 5.45pm.

Police estimated that around 15,000 people were in Windsor for the wedding, which is around 5,000 less than came out for Prince Edward's marriage to Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999. Around 600,000 spectators turned out for Charles's first wedding to Lady Diana Spencer in 1981 in St Paul's Cathedral in London.

A hardcore of royal watchers braved freezing temperatures overnight to ensure they got a good position. Barbara Murray, 41, from Attleborough, Norfolk, camped on the pavement with three generations of her family. She said: "We have come to give Charles our support as he doesn't seem to have much support, things have gone wrong for him and Camilla this week so we felt a bit sorry for him."

But not everyone shared her feelings. Father Paul Williamson, 56, a priest at St George's Church in Feltham, west London, lodged an official objection at civic offices in Windsor that were opened specifically to hear protests against the marriage. All protests were dismissed.

The prince's spokesman Paddy Harverson acknowledged that the wedding was not popular with some people, but predicted that the public would warm to the duchess.

Some of those at Windsor today waved banners honouring the late Princess Diana, from whom Prince Charles was divorced and who died almost eight years ago in a car crash in Paris. "She broke up their marriage," said Yvonne Williams, 67, who raised a banner that read "Long live the Queen, Diana Forever: King Charles, Queen Camilla - Never."

Ms Parker Bowles has technically become the Princess of Wales - a title she wishes to avoid using, in deference to memories of Diana and she will be known instead as the Duchess of Cornwall. When Charles takes the throne, she will legally be queen, but wishes to be known as Princess Consort - a bow to opinion polls that show 70% of the population opposed to Queen Camilla.