tonight on "nightline," deadly force. stunning destruction in the wake of giant tornadoes tearing through the south. we have the latest as the death toll passes 300. plus, a royal wedding. just hours to go until kate middleton and prince william walk down the aisle here at westminster abbey. with tens of thousand already assembling, we are in london where the day of the royal wedding has dawned. a special edition of "nightline" starts right now. >> announcer: from the global resources of abc news, with terry moran and bill weir in new york city, and cynthia mcfadden in london, this is "nightline,"

april 28th, 2011. >> good evening, i'm cynthia mcfadden. here in london where it is 7:35 in the morning, and in just a few hours, prince william, the future king of england, will enter westminster abbey behind me here and marry the woman whom he has asked to be his queen, katherine middleton. it is the same place his mother's funeral was held 14 years ago. last night when the prince greeted well wishers packing the parade route it was so like his mother, princess diane nate was indeed poignant. as is always the case of course when a parent is missing at the wedding of a child. before we turn to the celebration about to take place here in london we turn to the tragic story unfolding across a great swath of america. as thousands there are mourning tonight for loved ones lost in

the terrible tornado s that have brought unimaginable destruction over so much of the south. abc's jim avila is there in concord, alabama. >> reporter: a record-breaking 173 tornadoes tore through 14 states. super cells, biblical in size and strength, ripping through homes and devastating farm land. frightening scenes of nature's fury. the worst breakout of tornadoes in 40 years. the hardest hit state? alabama. john brown from severestudios.com was in tuscaloosa when this twister, packing 200-mile-per-hour winds and reaching a mile wide barrelled through the town. and he caught it all on tape. you've seen a few of these, i would imagine where does this rank? >> oh, worst that i've ever seen. and i think the actual data comes out on this one, we're going to see some high winds with this one. i've never seen anything like it, when we saw it, it was

really tear jerking to see it destroy people's lives and property. >> reporter: as dawn broke, humbled survivors sifting through what remains. a sea of debris. >> all of your photo albums are over there. >> reporter: judy cook hid in her closet to survive and came back to collect what she would find. >> where that red is painted, that was my carport. you see that truck way over there, had a tool box on it? and it's over in a tree. >> reporter: six of her neighbors died in the storm. and as the day went on, we learned of nearly 300 deaths and 1 million without power. have you been back yet? the dramatic story of those who narrowly survived are harrowing. >> i could see pieces of the roof just flying off. >> reporter: did you think your life was at risk? >> yes. >> reporter: here in concord, alabama, karen mundy, hand in hand with her husband, on her

first trip back to what was a two-story house. entering today through the front window. it's where her brother-in-law died yesterday, and she survived, by climbing in her bathtub. >> i was just like this. i was down like that. i just covered my head up. i was just holding on right here. >> reporter: could you feel yourself being pulled? >> i could feel, just feel it shaking me. >> even for those that didn't take a hit, insignificant to those like karen who lost their homes and loved ones. >> i don't have anything. it's gone. all gone. >> all gone. >> reporter: in a spring night they will never forget in a year that will go down in the weather records. i'm jim avala for "nightline" in

concord, alabama. >> thoughts and prayers go out to all the families of those lost and injured in the terrible storms. just ahead, the scene right before the wedding here in london. and the story of the royal bridegroom and the two women he has loved the most. the one he will marry, and the one who cannot be here to watch him walk down that aisle. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ introducing purina one beyond a new food for your cat or dog. if your racing thoughts keep you awake... sleep is here, on the wings of lunesta.

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>> announcer: this special edition of "nightline" continues from london with cynthia mcfadden. >> good evening again from london. everything now in place for this historic day, when the heir to the throne, will take a bride who is what they call here a commoner. it is a break with tradition and the country has seemed to

embrace it. i am joined now live from outside buckingham palace, where people have been camping out for days. jeffrey, paint a picture for me what it is look down there? >> if you want a front row seat on a fairy tale, this is where you want to be. literally in front of buckingham palace here. >> whoa! >> these people have been, camping, it's been cold for the night. they kept warm by huddling under sleeping bags, in tents, and singing songs all night. now the hour is upon us. in about two hours from now we will see the queen, driven down here on the way to her grandson's wedding. in about, 4, 4 1and a half hour, the royal landau will come back. if you upon the over there, we'll see the balcony where we will see the royal kiss. that's why these people wanted to be here. the people, all have union jacks, the british flag.

mick make no mistake. after brits, most common country of origin, united states of america. these people are all americans from five, six states. they wanted the front row seat. why do americans want to seep this? >> it's a fairy tale, cinderella story, romantic. >> that's the story. people just want a front row seat on spectacle. it doesn't get better than this. cynthia. >> thank you, jeffrey. of course the morning papers are out. perhaps "the sun" sums it up best. the feeling "mum would be so proud." what are the two women in the young prince's life, his bride-to-be and his beloved mother. how to understand the mother's legacy for the bride. once upon a time, last november, to be precise, their very first public moments as an engaged couple, there was that ring.

tying together the present and the past. >> very, very special. >> it's my mother's engagement ring. so, i thought it was quite nice. obviously she's not going to be around to share in the fun and excitement of it all. this is my way of keeping her sort of close to it all. >> reporter: in so many ways, she already is. at first glance, their stories seem similar. two beautiful young women marrying into the royal family, while the whole world watches. we remember diana as the people's princess. glamorous, outspoken and compassionate. qualities we see echoed in kate. but perhaps it's in their differences that we see diana's real legacy. >> he really chose the un-diana. i don't mean he didn't adore his mother, he absolutely did. but there was so much drama and craziness, so much tragedy, really, in his life as a child growing up that he really needed someone to be the anchor, not the drama in his life. >> reporter: as a 19-year-old

bride to be, diana was as much a girl as a lady. before they married, she had only met charles 13 times, and the pressure of public life was almost too much for her to bear. >> diana's body language was very closed. you could see that she wasn't comfortable with the cameras. you would see her looking down and allowing the fringe to cover her eyes because she didn't want to be photographed. >> reporter: her tortured relationship with the press would last throughout her life. she died trying to get away from the paparazzi, and none of us will ever forget this image. of william and harry solemnly following her casket through the streets of london. which is yet another reason while so many people are so invested in william's marriage. his mother's marriage was just as much of a spectacle. >> that real feeling of just joy and happiness. >> reporter: now, a designer, based in the bahamas, india hicks was there, just 13 when he godfather prince charles invited her to be a bridesmaid at the wedding.

her job was to deal with that gigantic 25-foot train. >> getting her back in that carriage, we just shoved it. i mean, the world was watching. we had a certain amount of time to get her back in that carriage so it was just shove it. >> reporter: she got to know diana in the weeks leading up to the wedding, attending fittings and rehearsals. >> it's interesting again, looking back, i never saw her with her mother or her sisters. she always came alone. i think it probably was the sign of a woman who was at sea already. she wasn't terribly grounded, even at that stage. >> reporter: at 29, catherine already seems more self-confident. perhaps as a result of growing up here, in what's been described as a chocolate box of a british village. buckleberry. kate grew up knowing the butcher, the baker and the candle stick maker. all of whom she's invited to her wedding. the owners of the local grocery store will be there. at the wedding. there it is. beautiful.

>> reporter: as will the owner of the local pub. and the butcher. >> it's going to be just such a fantastic day to see them married. i hope to be alive to see them crowned king and queen. >> reporter: kate seems to be beloved in bucklebury and throughout england. it is easy to see why. >> when she's out shopping, she's smiling, flicking her hair. she's very aware of her presence. that took diana years to master. >> reporter: some believe katherine middleton will have a smooth transition into royal life. >> kate's shown that she is trustworthy. she's discreet. even when the couple broke up, twice, she never muttered a word to anyone. ♪ the first day that i met you >> reporter: jules knight, a member of british boy band, blake, was friends with william and kate in college. he is not surprised kate has stood up to the pressure so far. >> she's not the kind of girl you would see falling out of a nightclub. you know, she's really a sensible girl. she's very, very engaging to

talk to. very down to earth and normal and very loving person. >> reporter: william and kate have lived together on and off for the past eight years. and they've tried to live as normal a life as possible. it's another lesson he learned from his mother. >> she took them to the cinema. she took them to mcdonald's. and i think all of these things, even if they weren't aware they were being taught, this was diana transferring her legacy and her humanness. >> reporter: and diana's ring will be on kate's finger as she walks down the aisle. a symbol that the mother william loved so dearly will always be with both of them. mom would be so proud. >> just ahead, the groom will wear his irish guard uniform. and the bride will wear white. but who designed it? i didn't realize i was drifting into the other lane. [ kim ] i was literally falling asleep at the wheel. it got my attention, telling me that i wasn't paying attention. i had no idea the guy in front of me had stopped short.

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time now until the big moment is truly short. the crowd can sense it. thousands of spectators gathered in front of westminster abby, below me, have begun to break into spontaneous cheers. this morning the two big questions are, will it rain? the answer, a tentative no. and what will the bride wear? for that, i hit the town with fashion guru tim gunn. what lasts longer than many royal weddings is the fashion commentary about them. was diana's dress too big? was camilla's hat a winner? >> off we go. so, cue the carriages. we brought america's top fashion guru, tim gunn, to london, to guide us through the dos and don'ts of what is poised to be the most watched wedding in history. first up, the dress. what should a royal bride wear? well, there's no place better to

go than to this boutique, one of london's top designers. >> no lack of wedding gowns. >> no, no lack of wedding gowns here. >> reporter: can kate wear strapless gown? >> most certainly not. she will definitely have her shoulders covered and will have a sleeve. that's just royal protocol. not to show cleavage. not to show too much of the back. it's just part of the expectation and that's the same actually for the guests, as well. >> i heard that if there is anyone risque, people may be tapped on the shoulder and taken away. >> can you imagine that? >> anything can happen. >> reporter: so, how would she dress kate, if she could? >> i can see kate in this. >> this sort of silhouette would look fantastic on her. she's tall. she's got the perfect figure for it. >> reporter: do we have one more? oh, how beautiful. >> this is gorgeous. >> reporter: i love this dress. it might be my favorite. and we know you were asked to do a sketch. >> absolutely. i thought it would be fantastic if she arrived in a silk duchess

coat. >> so, there's a reveal? i wish we could air the piece before the wedding. because kate could see this. >> it's too late for kate. >> reporter: moving on, no princess bride would be complete without the tiara. and there's really only one place to buy one. garrard's. caretakers of the crown jewels for over 160 years, and the oldest jeweler in the world. >> so we have a -- we happen to have four in stock. like these. >> don't you love that. stocked tiara. >> reporter: i think this is very linda carter, wonder woman. what do you think? >> this looks silly. this is not good for me. >> reporter: not a good look. what about the ring? tim? >> stunning. >> reporter: after all, prince charles bought diana's famous engagement ring, which sits now on kate middleton's finger, right here. this is beautiful. how much would this ring cost? 24,000 pounds? >> $40,000? >> reporter: oh, and i just -- i can't get it off. and if you are lucky enough to

be one of the women in those 1900 invited guests, you better be sporting that most british of accessories -- the hat. next stop, the workshop of phillip tracy. the most famous hat maker in the world. from lady gaga to the duchess of cornwall. he made this hat for kate. the women in his workshop are burning the midnight oil. creating the confections that will grace the heads of royals and regulars when kate and william wed. >> everything is completely hand made. it's fun for us to work with kind of hard core english aristocrats where we can say, is there any possibility you can bring in some diamonds? and they do. >> how wonderful. >> reporter: this is for somebody for the royal wedding, in a navy satin. she's beautiful, gorgeous and --

>> has her own fashion company. >> reporter: yes. he's not allowed to tell us, but we think we know who he means. and what about the royal clientele? >> princess eugenie when she steps out of her tar with her dad at the wedding will be wearing this. and it's going to grow. we've only started it. >> reporter: so, back to catherine middleton -- >> she came here one day to have a hat made and she is very beautiful. more beautiful in real life. she will be a brilliant ambassadoress for british fashion. or for fashion in general. >> reporter: she loves hats. >> well, she has to. >> reporter: after all, she's british. and mine's a fake. thank you for watching abc news. stay with us tonight on the west coast for a special "jimmy kimmel live." jimmy has his own way of toasting the royal wedding. my colleague diane sawyer will be contributing.