Someone has to know what it’s like to walk in Kate Middleton’s shoes... we murmur to ourselves as we rock up to Westminster Abbey on an ‘undercover’ reconnaissance mission to: 1. Walk in Kate Middleton’s shoes and 2: Find out where exactly, within this colossal monolith of a building, those two little words, “I do,” will change ‘the royal wedding’, to ‘the royal wed’.

Big doesn’t come close to describing this meteoric stone-clad structure that has become something of a focal point for royal-pilgrims since the 29 April countdown was announced. Despite the busy tourist throng, once inside we’re humbled by its mere magnitude; we’re told that back in the 1950s it held upwards of 8000 people for the Queen’s coronation. Whoa, that’s a lot of invites however you look at it.

We’re brought past the route of the official Great West Door into the church (tourists currently use the Great North Door). This must be the same one that Kate will take! Operation ‘walk in Ms. Middleton's shoes' is in effect!

We’re led past ornate, stone tombs of medieval knights, prime ministers, statesmen and history book kings and queens, onwards through the gilt carved gateway of the nave and into the Quire – where the choir sit and where they’ll sing on the wedding day. Our hearts beat faster as we slip into a steady, ‘bridal’ step, casting a quick glance side to side at our imaginary choristers as we move onwards, approaching the central altar or ‘Sacrarium’. We’re at the end of our journey, having reached the stone steps in front of the altar’s beautiful Italian Cosmati floor mosaic. Although we can go no further, this is where Kate Middleton and Prince William will say their vows...

“It’s about time we had another royal wedding,” said our Abbey guide with a smile, rousing us from out of our daydream. Suddenly we’re back in the Abbey again, shoulder-to-shoulder with headset wearing tourists.

For a moment, we had a brief inkling of what it might be like for Kate and Wills on their wedding day. Despite the fact that they’ll be surrounded by family, friends, the worldwide media and thousands of well wishers outside, what our visit has shown us in the hundred year old masonry, is that as simple a phrase as “I do” can fill an Abbey.

More from the royal wedding, including Kate’s dress predictions, the order of service and fashion inspiration for the mother-of-the-bride, here