Celeb Best Blog

By Katie Nicholl, Mail On Sunday Royal Correspondent


Kate's second dress was a strapless white satin gazar evening dress with a circle skirt and diamante embroidered detail round the waist. William stuck to the safe bet of a dinner jacket and bow tie


-William and Kate leave Buckingham Palace by helicopter for honeymoon

-Couple spent first married night together at the Palace

-Prince Charles quipped about his son going bald during speeches

-Harry leaves party in minibus at 3am - while Chelsy Davy leaves in car with Beatrice and Eugenie

Prince Harry paid a moving tribute to his brother ‘The Dude’ and his new sister-in-law ‘The Duchess’ during a heartfelt speech at their evening wedding reception on Friday.

Harry also told the couple’s friends and family that he loved Kate ‘like a sister’ and how the story of the couple’s long romance ‘inspires’ him. According to several guests, Kate was ‘very emotional and touched’ by Harry’s tribute and even shed a tear during the evening’s festivities.

Harry delivered his best man’s speech, which he had been working on for the past fortnight, at 9.30pm after 300 of the couple’s close family and friends had enjoyed a three-course meal with vintage champagne.


He had asked his best friends Thomas Van Straubenzee and Guy Pelly to be a sounding board ahead of the speech and is understood to have dropped a reference to ‘Kate’s killer legs’ from the final edit.

‘Harry had some joke in about how he had immediately given Kate the thumbs up when William first brought her home because she had such a great pair of pins, but he didn’t want to embarrass her,’ said a friend.

According to sources inside the evening reception, Harry’s speech was ‘warm and affectionate’ and peppered with good humour and jokes.

One partygoer leaving Buckingham Palace event in the early hours of Saturday told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Harry said William was the perfect brother. It was exactly how you would expect a best man’s speech to be. He cracked loads of jokes about William.

He called him a “dude” several times. He kept coming back to it, saying “What a dude”.’

Harry described his brother’s relationship with Kate as ‘inspirational’ and to much applause added: ‘William didn’t have a romantic bone in his body before he met Kate, so I knew it was serious when William suddenly started cooing down the phone at Kate.’

Harry, famous for his impersonations, then did a high-pitched impression of Kate calling William ‘Billy’ and of his brother calling Kate ‘baby’, to much hilarity from the guests.


Charles's jokes at wedding breakfast
Earlier in the day it was the Prince of Wales who had been playing the joker, making a comment about his son’s thinning hair during the wedding breakfast at Buckingham Palace.

‘The thing about growing older is that your children get taller than you so they can see your bald spots. Now in my case, I can see his,’ Prince Charles remarked, to which William retorted: ‘You got there before Harry!’ to much laughter.

William delivered a brief speech at the wedding breakfast where he proudly introduced his wife as ‘Mrs Wales’ even though the couple will be formally known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

A heartfelt Prince William declared his new wife 'my rock' in the emotional speech, given to guests at the intimate reception.

In what was a tribute to the normality and security Kate provides him, William's words revealed just how indebted he is to Kate for her support.

‘It was received with cheers and shouts of hoorah,’ said one guest. ‘William and Catherine were amazingly relaxed, and although it was a formal affair, it felt very relaxed and intimate. Catherine was amazingly calm and said how thrilled she was with the day. She and William didn’t leave one another’s side. They said it was the happiest day of their lives.

‘William was very gracious and thanked absolutely everyone for making the day come together. He thanked everyone from the florist to the chef.’

Attentive: Prince William comments on the antics of bridesmaid Grace van Cutsem


How they watched themselves on TV

After the wedding breakfast the newlyweds returned to Clarence House in Prince Charles’s Aston Martin, which had been customised by the best man with balloons and a ‘JU5T WED’ number plate.

Harry returned shortly afterwards and he, Kate and William spent the afternoon relaxing and watching a replay of the wedding ceremony on television.

As they made their way to the reception with Charles and Camilla, William was heard talking about how his goddaughter bridesmaid Grace Van Cutsem, the three-year-old daughter of his friends Hugh and Rose Van Cutsem, had covered her ears with her hands because of the thunderous applause from the crowds at The Mall.

‘Did you see how terrified Grace looked?’ he remarked to his wife.

Party that rocked Buckingham Palace

As predicted, the evening celebrations continued into the early hours. The Queen and Prince Philip had left Buckingham Palace to William and Kate, and glitter balls had been hung in the throne room where a disco continued into the small hours.

Kate had changed out of her Alexander McQueen wedding dress and into a floor-length ivory satin gazar gown with a diamante-embroidered waistband and a cream-coloured angora bolero jacket, also designed by her wedding dress maker Sarah Burton. Her hairdresser James Pryce reprised her engagement day hairstyle for the evening event.

Kate left Clarence House to travel by car to Buckingham Palace with her husband, who was dressed in a dinner jacket and black tie. They were followed by Charles, also wearing a dinner suit, and Camilla, who wore a blue Anna Valentine dress.

4am girls: Her outfit looking a little worse for wear, Beatrice, left, leaves the unofficial afterparty at The Goring hotel having swapped her heels for trainers. Eugenie, meanwhile is still smiling despite the hour


Flamboyant: Princess Eugenie and Beatrice attended the wedding earlier in the day wearing outlandish outfits

As they filtered into the party guests were greeted by a military band in full uniform and serenaded with bagpipes. The atmosphere inside the Palace was described as ‘electric’ and ‘buzzing’ by a female band member who performed for the couple.

‘Kate looked beautiful. Absolutely serene. She had changed into a full-length white dress. It was stunning. I saw the couple together.

She and William both looked very, very happy and were smiling as people came over to them.’

At 8.30pm a three-course dinner was served by Swiss chef Anton Mossiman. He had brought 25 staff from his Knightsbridge restaurant into the Palace.

William, Kate and Pippa, Kate’s younger sister and Maid of Honour who has been instrumental in helping to plan the party, had visited Mosimann’s last month for a tasting and instructed the chef to create a ‘simple and unstuffy but sophisticated menu’.

Harry was seated next to his on-off girlfriend Chelsy Davy and gave his speech at 9.30pm after dinner was served.

‘Kate had been amazingly composed throughout the day, but she did look as though she had a tear in her eye when Harry gave his speech. She was very emotional,’ said a source.

The father of the bride delivered a speech that had the whole room roaring with laughter when he told the controversial story of William landing his Chinook in the back garden of the Middletons’ family home.

‘I knew things were getting serious when I found a helicopter in my garden. I thought, gosh, he must like my daughter,’ said Michael Middleton.

Speaking warmly of William, whom he called ‘one of the family’, Mr Middleton said: ‘I did wonder then how William was going to top this if they ever got engaged. I just thought, What will he do? You can’t get much better than that and we are certainly not used to Princes landing helicopters in the garden.'

Palace joker: Prince Harry takes his Master of Ceremonies duties carefully, clutching a microphone as he leaves Buckingham Palace in a coach on Friday night

Long day: Princesses Beatrice and Eugiene leave in a royal car with Chelsy Davy, centre

Princess Beatrice leaves the Palace in a purple and gold outfit after the evening celebration for 300 close friends and family

Morning after: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall is driven away from Clarence House this morning after last night's celebration at Buckingham Palace

All change: Pippa Middleton, right, and Carole Middleton, left, in fresh outfits for evening celebration

Just wed: Couple return to Buckingham Palace last night for the evening reception with 300 guests where Prince Harry delivered his best man speech

Celebrations: The indigo sky above Kate's hometown of Bucklebury is lit up with fireworks as villagers mark the occasion of the royal wedding with festivities

In the pink: A stunning scene over Bucklebury's local pub brings an end to a day of street parties and revelry

One last look: Unable to resist a backward glance, Kate leaves the balcony with her proud husband


Party-goers said that both William and Harry used the evening to pay moving tributes to their late mother, Princess Diana.

‘All the speeches mentioned Diana. Of course they did, she was their mother after all,’ said one.

After the speeches William and Kate took to the dance floor by themselves for the first dance, a rendition of Elton John’s Your Song sung by Ellie Goulding.

The 24-year-old singer – the only act to perform during the night – was chosen by the couple because she is their favourite artist.

‘It was an amazing honour to be asked by Kate and William to perform at their party. The atmosphere was incredible and it is a night I will never forget,’ she said yesterday.

The music continued until 2am. Among the songs played were You’re The One That I Want from the musical Grease. William had requested songs by rapper Tinie Tempah and the Body Rockers’ I Like The Way You Move.

Even the mother of the bride had a request and asked for the 1986 Jermaine Stewart song We Don’t Have To Take Our Clothes Off to be played.

Two female party-goers said the dancing was ‘fun and outrageous’, adding: ‘There was a chicken dance with lots of arm flapping, which was particularly good fun. Everyone was on the dance floor. The guests were really up for partying.’

Even back-room staff weren’t exempt – Buckingham Palace catering staff said the Palace threw a party for workers with bottles of Jacobs Creek wine, Boddingtons beer, vodka and gin on the menu.

Just after midnight the first guests began to leave. Among them were Charles and Camilla, the official hosts of the event, who were whisked through the main Palace gates at 12.20am looking happy and relaxed despite the long day.

At 2.45am loud cheers could be heard from over the Palace walls as a fireworks display was let off in the back garden. Partygoers whooped and cheered as red and white rockets were fired in short bursts.

By 3am only a handful of hardened party-goers were left inside the Palace, including Harry, Chelsy and Pippa.


source: dailymail

By MAYSA RAWI

Just married! HRH Princess Catherine emerges from Westminster Abbey, wearing an Alexander McQueen dress, holding hands with her new husband Prince William


Since the engagement was announced, the world has been waiting with bated breath for the moment Catherine Elizabeth Middleton would transform from commoner to royal bride.

And the smiling Duchess of Cambridge was the picture of poise as she walked down the aisle wearing a stunning ivory and satin Alexander McQueen gown designed by Sarah Burton - finally confirming the most well-kept secret in fashion history.



The 9ft train flowed from a skirt echoing an opening flower, with white satin gazar arches and pleats


The bride was heavily involved in designing the dress - working closely with Burton to ensure it would be a combination of both the traditional and the modern, yet in keeping with the Alexander Lee McQueen vision and attention to detail.

Kate has always divided critics with her elegant and simple wardrobe choices - though some accuse her of failing to be fashion-forward.

However, her classic gown is testament to her personality, remaining true to her demure sense of style.


The dress was made with Individual flowers hand-cut from lace and hand-engineered onto ivory silk tulle, with button detailing on the lace sleeves


The bride was heavily involved in the design and worked closely with Burton to ensure the design would be a combination of both tradition and modern


The veil was made of layers of soft, ivory silk tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers, which was embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework


Designing woman: Sarah Burton puts the last-minute touches to ensure the dress looks perfect


Cat's out of the bag: Sarah gave the game away when she was pictured outside the Goring hotel yesterday wearing a fur hood and her trademark silver belt


source: dailymail

By ROB COOPER

Double kiss: The newly-married couple share their first public kiss on the balcony as thousands of screaming well-wishers watch


William tells Kate 'You look beautiful' as she arrives at the altar

He jokes with Kate's father 'we're supposed to have just a small family affair'

Two BILLION people watch couple tie the knot

5,000 royals enthusiasts camped out overnight at the Mall

Prince struggles to get ring on Kate's finger

One million well-wishers line the streets to catch a glimpse of the couple
Prince William takes the title Duke of Cambridge and Kate becomes Duchess


Police officers stand in front of royal supporters on The Mall in London, along the Processional Route by the Palace moments before William and Kate emerged to share a kiss


It was the moment the world had been waiting for: the kiss to set the seal on a Royal love match that has lifted the hearts of the nation.

But the first public embrace of William and his bride Catherine was so fleeting that you would have missed it if you had blinked.

The loving couple leaned in for a brief, but loving kiss, after which he smiled broadly while she giggled. The crowd in The Mall below, chanting ‘We want Kate, We want Kate’ simply roared with delight.


Newly wed: Prince William and his new wife Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, wave as they travel in the 1902 State Landau carriage along the Processional Route to Buckingham Palace


'You look beautiful': Prince William speaks to his bride Kate as she holds her father's hand at the altar


Newly-wed: Prince William Duke of Cambridge and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge leave Westminster Abbey with her sister Pippa supporting her dress


Then, as an RAF flypast was sweeping towards the palace, William whispered to Kate and leaned forward for a second, slightly more lingering kiss.

This was the fairytale a million people had taken to the streets of London to see today. And they were not disappointed.

In a stunning ivory gown with lace applique floral detail designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, Kate walked up the red carpeted aisle a commoner.

At Westminster Abbey’s altar she became a royal.

She clutched a bunch of white flowers as she embarked on the short drive to Westminster Abbey, before starting her three-minute walk up the aisle to be with her groom.



The smiling bride: A veiled Kate Middleton and then, later, unveiled. An estimated two billion people tuned in for her wedding


Prince William and Kate Middleton exchange rings in front of the Archbishop of Canterbury during the ceremony


Kate Middleton arrives with her father Michael Middleton to join Prince William and his best man Harry at the altar


Thousands of people wave Union Jacks as the couple are taken to Westminster Abbey in their open-topped carriage. An estimated one million people lined the streets


Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, emerge from the church after the wedding ceremony with Prince Harry and Pippa Middleton in the background


An estimated 10,000 people were packed into Trafalgar Square to watch the ceremony on a giant screen


As the happy couple exchanged vows, William appeared to have trouble slipping the ring onto Kate's finger.

But to the relief of all, he finally pushed on the wedding band on and the ceremony passed without a hitch.

A staggering one million people had packed the streets of London to witness one of the most anticipated weddings the world has ever seen.

Well-wishers waved flags and many shed tears as William and his beautiful bride exchanged their vows.

As Kate joined the Prince at the altar, he told she looked 'beautiful'. Wearing the famous red tunic of the Irish Guards, William stared straight ahead as she started her long walk down the red carpeted aisle of Westminster Abbey.


Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William wave to the vast crowds as they travel to Buckingham Palace in a 1902 State Landau


Prince William and Kate Middleton sit down during the service after he put the wedding band on her finger


William appeared to have a moment of difficulty in slipping the ring onto Kate's finger... But the ceremony went without a hitch


The royal carriage glides past the deep crowds after the Royal Wedding at Westminster Abbey today


William and his wife Kate wave to onlookers as they leave Westminster Abbey after the wedding


ROYAL WEDDING KISS!!! PRINCE WILLIAM KATE CATHERINE MIDDLETON HIGH QUALITY HD


source: dailymail

By ROB COOPER

'You look beautiful': Prince William speaks to his bride Kate as she holds her father's hand at the altar


Couple will travel from Abbey to the Palace in an open-topped carriage

Two BILLION people to watch wedding today

5,000 royals enthusiasts camped out overnight at the Mall

Hundreds of thousands line the streets to catch a glimpse of the couple


Prince William and Kate Middleton exchange rings in front of the Archbishop of Canterbury during the ceremony


After months of waiting, Kate Middleton and Prince William today tied the knot at Westminster Abbey.

Wearing a flowing wedding dress with a long train and lace sleeves, Kate clutched a bunch of white flowers as she embarked on the short drive to Westminster Abbey, before starting her three-minute walk up the aisle to be with her groom.

As the happy couple exchanged vows, William appeared to have trouble slipping the ring onto Kate's finger.

But to the relief of all, he finally slipped the wedding band on and the ceremony passed without a hitch.

Earlier thousands of people filled the streets of London as royalty, leading politicians and top names from the showbiz world filed into the Abbey for the wedding of the century.


Kate Middleton arrives with her father Michael Middleton to join Prince William and his best man Harry at the altar



William appeared to have a moment of difficulty in slipping the ring onto Kate's finger... But the ceremony went without a hitch


Kate Middleton and her father, Michael, travel in a Rolls Royce to Westminster Abbey


Kate Middleton waves as she arrives with her father Michael Middleton and her sister Philippa Middleton to the West Door of Westminster Abbey in London for her wedding


Brilliant in white: Kate Middleton is taken up the aisle by her proud father Michael


He's here: Prince William, left, arrives at Westminster Abbey next to his proud younger brother and best man Harry with two billion people watching


First glimpse: Prince William gets out of his Bentley and walks into the Abbey - and waits for Kate


Proud father: Prince Charles arrives with William's stepmother Camilla


Showbiz royalty: David Beckham, wearing his OBE on his lapel, centre, and his wife Victoria arrive at the west door of Westminster Abbey as guests arrive for the 11am ceremony


At 10.10am Prince William and his brother Harry left Clarence House, both in full military uniform for the short drive. He was later followed by his bride who had successfully managed to keep her wedding dress a secret from the world.

Kate Middleton today left behind her commoner roots to become Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge after marrying Prince William.


Bridesmaids and page boys: Tom Pettifer laughs as he arrives with Master William Lowther-Pinkerton, Lady Louise Windsor and Margarita Armstrong-Jones


The royal couple officially became the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge after tying the knot. Prince William has also become the Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus.
David and Victoria Beckham, Guy Ritchie and Chelsy Davy were among the 1,900 guests in Westminster Abbey this morning.

There were squeals of joy from the crowd when Beckham waved to the crowd as he arrived. He was wearing a Ralph Lauren morning suit with the OBE he received in 2003 pinned to the right lapel, with his hair slicked back.


The Queen and Prince Philip take their seats



The day is here: A military band perform as they march on the Mall this morning hours before William and Kate marry at Westminster Abbey


His wife, who is pregnant with their fourth child, wore a dark blue dress she designed herself accessorised with a hat by celebrated milliner Philip Treacy.

William's close Eton friend Harry Meade was seen queuing to get into the abbey, as guests waited to take their seats.

On The Mall crowds waved flags and cheered when the Band of the Coldstream Guards marched down toward the Duke of York Steps.

Playing hits such as Barry Manilow's Copacabana, the 44-member band got spectators moving their feet.

The band was directed by Lieutenant Colonel Graham Jones alongside Drum Major Scott Fitzgerald. The historic band has been in existence for more than 200 years.

After William and Kate marry today, the pair will travel from Westminster Abbey to the Palace in an open-topped carriage despite forecasters saying earlier that there is a risk of rain.


Pippa Middleton walks into Westminster Abbey with three bridesmaids and two page boys


The nation's grandmother: The Queen arrives at Westminster Abbey for the Royal Wedding


The heavens are not expected to open until this afternoon - so William and Kate should stay dry as they arrive at the Palace.

The couple will pass the cheering crowds in The Mall after their wedding ceremony in a 1902 State Landau that was used by Charles and Diana 30 years ago.


Waiting time: Prince William and his brother Harry walk into the Abbey to wait for the commoner bride Kate Middleton to arrive


Proudest moment: Kate's mother Carole Middleton walks into Westminster Abbey after a last minute change of outfit



Samantha Cameron, centre, wearing a figure-hugging green outfit stands next to her husband Prime Minister David Cameron, left, and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, right


Wedding greetings: Prince William and his best man brother arrive at the Abbey


After weeks of rehearsals, the ceremonial guards perform prior to the Royal Wedding today


Earl Spencer talks to guests inside Westminster Abbey where guests were mingling ahead of the 11am ceremony


Guests arrive: There was almost a party atmosphere inside Westminster Abbey as guests mingled before Kate arrives later



Princes William and Harry arrive in Westminster Abbey for the wedding


Trees have been put up inside the Abbey to give it an outdoor feel. This morning there was a party atmosphere inside as they waited for William and Kate


Final preparations: Police officers walk down The Mall this morning ahead of the wedding at Westminster Abbey


Nick Clegg and his wife Miriam, wearing a dazzling polka-dot dress, arrive at Westminster Abbey, right. Inside, left, some guests mingle


Early start: Spectators line the route the royal carriage will take from Westminster Abbey to the Palace later. There will be 1,900 guests at the ceremony



Here come the guests: The first of the 1,900 people with invitations to the service arrive. Tony Blair and Gordon Brown will not be there


Prince William, centre, and his brother, are greeted by Receiver General Stephen Lamport. They walk up the aisle together where they wait for Kate


Huge support: Royal supporters wait along the processional route hoping to catch a glimpse of the couple as they make their way to the Abbey


First people arrive: The 1,900 wedding guests are arriving at Westminster Abbey ahead of the service scheduled for 11am


David and Victoria Beckham talk to Guy Ritchie inside Westminster Abbey as they wait for William and Kate to arrive


Waiting is over: Union Flags in The Mall this morning ready for the newly-married William and Kate to marry later

Royal Wedding Raw Video: "I Do"


KATE MIDDLETON WEDDING DRESS!! (WESTMINSTER ARRIVAL) ROYAL WEDDING PRINCE WILLIAM



source: dailymail