Move over Lady Gaga and the Black Eyed Peas. Prince William and Kate Middleton have announced they will be releasing their wedding vows on iTunes in an unlikely assault on the download charts.
The "iVows", which will be live recorded and made available just hours after the ceremony for as little as 79p, have been tipped by record companies to reach number one.
They will be available as part of an hour-long album of the ceremony set to take place in Westminster Abbey next month. It will be recorded by classical label Decca and released within six days of the wedding.
Gennaro Castaldo, a spokesman for HMV, said: "We're expecting huge demand for what, no doubt, will prove a highly collectable recording and piece of royal memorabilia.
"If enough people start to download their favourite parts of the service then the royal couple could find themselves at the top of the singles charts as well as reaching number one in the album charts. That would be unprecedented, but it's worth watching out for."
The album is set to include the full service from the Archbishop of Canterbury interspersed with sermons and music from the London Chamber Orchestra, the Fanfare Team from the Central Band of the RAF and the Abbey's own choir.
Rumours that Elton John and Paul McCartney would be performing were denied by St James's Palace.
Decca was also responsible for recording Princess Diana's wedding to Prince Charles and her funeral, but this is the first time that a royal ceremony will be available for near instantaneous download.
Decca has assured those without internet access that the royal wedding album will also be available on CD, vinyl and cassette.
But proposals to record the wedding in 3D have been turned down by the palace, much to the disappointment of Sky who filmed a mock wedding in 3D using stand-ins earlier this year.
One of the world's leading classical producers, Anna Barry, will be in charge of the recording. "This is a great honour and an enormous responsibility," she said. "The wedding means so much to millions of people all over the world – we have to capture every note and every nuance perfectly and have the recording ready within minutes of the end of the ceremony."
