23 May 2004	Sunday	03 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

MADRID, May 22: Spain's Crown Prince Felipe and former journalist Letizia Ortiz married on Saturday at a glittering ceremony in Madrid's Almudena Cathedral that brought together some 30 royal families for the biggest royal gathering in two decades.

The ceremony began some 15 minutes after its scheduled 0900 GMT start when a smiling Ortiz, 31, arrived in driving rain that failed to dampen the festive mood as thousands of cheering Spaniards turned out for the occasion.

After planting a quick kiss on the 36-year-old groom's cheek, the former news presenter entered the cathedral to the strains of a Handel Organ Concerto, looking radiant in an ivory white dress with a wide pearl collar and veil.

The event was a far cry from the last time the family had gathered at the same venue two months ago for a memorial service for the 191 people killed in the March 11 train bombings in Madrid.

At the ceremony, Madrid Archbishop, Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, asked the couple to say their solemn vows.

Beside the king, Sofia looked on with a tear in her eye.

Security was tight on Saturday, mindful not only of the Madrid bombings two months ago but also of the Catalan anarchist who disrupted the last royal wedding in Spain 98 years ago by throwing a bomb which killed 23. Some 18,000 police and 200 rooftop snipers were deployed for the wedding.

Some 1,600 VIP guests attended the ceremony, while an estimated 1.2 billion people worldwide were expected to watch live television coverage.

The royal guests, including Britain's Prince Charles, arrived on Friday evening for a sumptuous banquet at the Pardo Royal Palace.

Other guests included Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, former South African president Nelson Mandela, and Queen Rania and Queen Noor of Jordan.

For Madrid Mayor Alberto Ruiz Gallardon the marriage was "just what Madrid needs following the worst suffering Madrid has experienced in decades," a reference to the bombings that blamed on Islamic extremists.

The couple were to head to a post-wedding banquet in an armour-plated, glass-topped Rolls Royce, passing close to Atocha station, which bore the brunt of the March 11 atrocity and where a "forest of the absent" has been planted in memory of the dead.-AFP