By TOM LEONARD

Coming to a halt: Despite the early start, thousands gathered in New York's Times Square to watch the ceremony on the big screens


Proudly republican America predictably led the charge as the world celebrated the royal wedding with wall-to-wall media coverage and celebrations as far away as Antarctica and even outer space.

The event drew an estimated two billion television viewers around the world, with many broadcasters scheduling royal-themed programmes long into the day.

Some of the biggest names in US broadcasting, including Barbara Walters, Katie Couric and Diane Sawyer, had decamped to London in an operation comparable in scale to a presidential election.


Big fans: Mardi Cockburn, left, and Margo Flewelling hold up their flag showing the Royal couple at Old Government House in Fredericton, New Brunswick


Personal greeting: These astronauts at the International Space Station sent a celebratory message to the couple


Molly Davis, left, and Amanda D'Aquila joined the large crowd in Times Square to watch the royal wedding on the screens


Aided by squads of British analysts, they provided American viewers with advice on such crucial etiquette questions as who will now courtesy to whom as well as the inevitable minute dissections of the wedding dress.

The royal theme continued on many channels with daytime show hosts and audiences alike wearing hats and tiaras in studios kitted out in Union flags and suits of armour.


Better weather than London: Under cloudless skies, hundreds of Britons watched a live broadcast of the ceremony on a beach in the Gulf emirate of Dubai


The ABC network even found their own all-American William and Kate to marry on air. However, the presenters on the American morning talk show The View marred the celebrations with controversial comments.

Comedian Joy Behar said the Queen had dressed like a 'bumble bee' while comedian Sherri Shepherd asked 'where are all the black people?'

There were wedding parties, often accompanied by full English breakfast, across the US.

Hundreds gathered in New York’s Times Square, waving Union flags and wearing fancy hats, to watch on a giant TV screen.


In the swing of things: These four Brits model masks of the Royal family as others watch events unfold at Westminster Abbey


'It brought tears to my eyes,' said Heather Mauro, 28, an occupational therapist. 'Everything was perfect, prim and proper, just like the English do.'

More than 250 guests wore prince and princess attire to watch the event in the wedding pavilion at Walt Disney World in Florida.

About 220 miles above Earth, NASA broadcast TV coverage of the royal wedding live to the international space station where the crew watched it and sent a congratulatory message to the couple.


Party time: Members of the 4SCOTS pose with a wedding cake (and the happy couple) made by army caterers in Helmand province


Time out: Soldiers from across the Army took time off from their duties in Kabul, Afghanistan, to enjoy a drink during the wedding ceremony


Cheers! Expatriates raise a glass to the Duke and Duchess as they watch the wedding on a TV in Kabul


Down in Antarctica, British scientists battled outside in high winds to toast them at the Halley survey station.

France could have been expected to be more lukewarm, especially given the Sarkozys’ absence from the guest list.

But despite complaints from L’Express newspaper that ‘not one Frenchie is invited to the wedding of the century’, the Gallic media gave the wedding top billing with all major TV channels providing live coverage.


Fancy dress: One reveller in Sydney, Australia, used the occasion to don their best Prince Charles mask


Wedding reception: Dressed in their best dresses, crowns and other royal theme costumes, party-goers at Sydney's Lord Dudley hotel, react as they watch the wedding


Dressed for the occasion: People drink champagne from the bottle as they concentrate on the wedding at the Palace Theatre in Ontario, Canada


Something to remember: These two women take photos of others at an early morning breakfast at a hotel in Nova Scotia


Union flags and pictures of William and Kate dominated front pages with Le Figaro offering a 79-page supplement entitled “So British”.

In Italy, there was rolling coverage of the wedding both on state and commercial TV, with four channels broadcasting live from London.



Big screen event: Franziska von Bergmann, Marlies Koepke and Jennifer Tapp follow the wedding in a cinema in Munich


We remember the last one: Elderly residents of this retirement home in Hamburg watch events unfold on the TV


Tear-jerker: Two women can barely contain their delight as they watch the wedding at a shopping centre in Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong


In one of countless ex-pat wedding parties around the globe, British residents of Rome gathered to watch events on a giant TV screen and eat specially-made Sicilian chocolates decorated with images of the couple.

In Germany, wedding fans had to take the day off to watch it as employers enforced a strict ban on following it on workplace TVs and computers.

Bild newspaper bemoaned the sorry state of German nobility on its front page, pointing out the '25 most embarrassing' to its readers and asking; 'Why don't we have royals like the Windsors?'


Not missing out: These British tourists in the Turkish city of Aydin watched the ceremony in a local cafe


Patriotic: Three women show off their Union Flag dresses and William and Kate bags in a pub in Aydin


Formal affair: British Ambassador to Romania Martin Harris and his family watch the Royal Wedding at the British embassy


At Tsinghua University in China nearly 200 couples tied the knot at a collective wedding ceremony that coincided with events in London.

The international joy was not universal. The Iranian state news channel groused that the “people of this monarchical country” were having to pay for the "most expensive" royal wedding in British history at a time of “economic stagnation”.

It added: 'The people of this country are forced to work around-the-clock so that princesses can pile up cash.'


source: dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Full over joy and not a care in the world: William and Kate smile broadly as they stand arm-in-arm in the official wedding album


Clarence House today released the official Royal Wedding album that shows the beaming bride and groom in the throne room at Buckingham Palace.

Prince William and Kate posed for the stunning photographs shortly after getting married in a moving ceremony that captivated the world yesterday.

The newly-titled Duke and Duchess of Cambridge appeared to be lost in matrimonial bliss as they smiled for the traditional wedding day photo album taken by Hugo Burnand.

No sooner had they arrived at Buckingham Palace from the service at Westminster Abbey did the rapturous family assume their positions for the pictures.

In the first photograph the couple stand arm-in-arm together against a stunning rich red velvet backdrop trimmed with gold.


Happy: William and Kate surrounded by, clockwise bottom right, The Hon. Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Miss Eliza Lopes, Miss Grace van Cutsem, Lady Louise Windsor, Master Tom Pettifer, Master William Lowther-Pinkerton


The second official photograph shows William and Kate sat more informally on a step. Kate's wonderful dress flows onto the floor around them as she clutches her bouquet.

Sitting around the newlyweds are two pageboys and four bridesmaids. They are from clockwise from the bottom right The Hon. Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Miss Eliza Lopes, Miss Grace van Cutsem, Lady Louise Windsor, Master Tom Pettifer, Master William Lowther-Pinkerton.


The family photo: Front row left to right is Grace van Cutsem, Eliza Lopes, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Queen, Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Louise Windsor, William Lowther-Pinkerton. Back Row left to right is Tom Pettifer, Camilla, Charles, Prince Harry, Prince William and Kate, Michael Middleton, Carole Middleton, James Middleton and Philippa Middleton


In the third photograph, the newlyweds pose for the traditional wedding photograph flanked by their families.

To the left of Kate stands her father Michael Middleton, mother Carole Middleton, brother James Middleton and sister Philipa Middleton.

Standing by William's side is Prince Harry, followed by Prince Charles,Camilla and Master Tom Pettifer.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh sit on the front way with Miss Grace van Cutsem and Miss Eliza Lopes to their right.

One the other side of the front row in front of the Middleton family is the Hon. Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Lady Louise Windsor, Master William Lowther-Pinkerton.


First day as husband and wife: Newlyweds William and Kate emerged holding hands into the morning sunshine at Buckingham Palace before they left by helicopter for their honeymoon at a mystery location


Married life began for newlyweds William and Kate today when they left London for a mystery destination.

The couple spent last night partying at Buckingham Palace with their close family and friends in celebration of their wedding.

But this morning they left Buckingham Palace by helicopter for an undisclosed destination.


source: dailymail

By ROB COOPER

Newly-weds: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge walk hand in hand from Buckingham Palace as they prepare to board a helicopter to fly off on their honeymoon


William and Kate spent first night together at Buckingham Palace

Newlyweds William and Kate will not go on honeymoon this weekend - and Prince William will be back at work on Monday.

The couple, who flew out of Buckingham Palace this morning, will spend the weekend together at a private location in the UK.

After spending their first night as a married couple together at the Palace, they walked out hand in hand before boarding the aircraft.


Royal honeymoon: Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, fly off from Buckingham Palace this morning


Newly-weds thanked Buckingham Palace footmen and spoke briefly to the pilot before boarding the helicopter this morning


Although they are not jetting off this weekend, they are expected to go on honeymoon to an undisclosed location at a later date.

They emerged today hand in hand from the palace's garden entrance, located at the side of the imposing building.

In bright sunshine, they strolled along the gravel path and out into the open space where the maroon helicopter was waiting.


Morning after: William and Catherine, casually dressed, head out of Buckingham Palace this morning after a huge party for 300 family and friends last night


The Duke's new wife wore a light blue dress, dark jacket and platform shoes, while he was dressed in his trademark chinos with a pale blue shirt and navy jacket - a casual look in complete contrast to yesterday.

The couple stopped briefly to chat to two Royal Household footmen and appeared to be thanking for them after their stay.

When they finished, William put his hand on the small of his wife's back and they went over to talk to the helicopter pilot before climbing on board.


Palace joker: Prince Harry leaves Buckingham Palace in a coach - while wedding guest Chelsy Davy left in a royal car with Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie


Before they got on the aircraft, palace staff had carried out some of their luggage, which included a bouquet of white blooms.

The couple are said to still be on a high after their wedding day which was both an intimate family affair and a global event televised across the world.

Kenya is thought to be the most likely destination as a punter tried to put £5,000 on William and Kate heading back to the country where he proposed last year.

But the Caribbean, Australia, Jordan and Scotland are among the destinations that the couple may have chosen.

They spent last night partying at the Palace with their close family and friends in celebration of their wedding.


His father's car: William drives Catherine to Clarence House from Buckingham Palace in his father's soft-top Aston Martin decorated with balloons yesterday


The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge walk hand in hand after a lavish bash for 300 people last night


Prince William, his wife Catherine and their bridesmaids and page boys Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Miss Eliza Lopes, Miss Grace van Cutsem, Lady Louise Windsor, Master Tom Pettifer, Master William Lowther-Pinkerton


Flashback: William drives his new wife in his father's soft top, decorated in balloons, out of Buckingham Palace and down to Clarence House

source: dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

The masterpiece: Fiona Cairns, stands next to the wedding cake that she and her team made for Prince William and his wife Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, in the Picture Gallery of Buckingham Palace

They celebrated their love for each other today in a lavish Royal Wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey and this is the extraordinary cake that they enjoyed at the reception.

Prince William and his bride Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, cut the first slice of the magnificent eight-tiered wedding cake this afternoon as they celebrated their marriage with friends and family.

The confectionery masterpiece covered in cream and white icing and decorated with up to 900 delicate sugar-paste flowers was centre-stage at the Buckingham Palace reception held in the picture gallery.


Hard work: The project has left cake-maker Fiona Cairns exhausted but elated after working for five weeks on the project


The project has left cake-maker Fiona Cairns exhausted but elated after working for five weeks on it which has tested her skills and those of her team to the limit.

Ms Cairns, 56, whose confections are sold in Harrods, Selfridges and Waitrose, was contacted by St James's Palace in February and asked if she would make William and Kate's wedding cake.

Speaking at Buckingham Palace after she had put the final touches to the cake, she said: ‘The picture gallery has high ceilings and is an imposing room so I wanted the cake to have presence but not to be imposing and I think it worked.


Finishing touches: Staff perfect the special cake, that was covered in cream and white icing and decorated with up to 900 delicate sugar-paste flowers


‘Catherine did not want it to be seven feet tall, she didn't want it to be towering and thin, and I think we succeeded.

The bride wanted elements from the Joseph Lambeth technique of cake decoration, where intricate piping is used to make three dimensional scroll work, leaves, flowers and other adornments.

Kate also gave Ms Cairns detailed instructions for her to include 17 different blooms and foliage for their meaning or symbolism - known as the ‘language of flowers’.


Fruity! The new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are fans of the baker's fruit cakes, while Paul McCartney orders one for Christmas every year


Ms Cairns, who lives in Leicestershire where her factory is based, started her business from her kitchen table and now employs more than 50 people.

She said: ‘I could not believe I finished it in time but we were all really pleased with it. I worked at the palace for two days before the wedding, setting it up with my team.

‘The hardest part was transporting the cakes from Leicestershire to the palace - we were worried they would get damaged - then we had to assemble them.

‘It was tough work but I really enjoyed it. It's been an extraordinary commission.’


Delicious: Rachel Jane Eardley, left, and Diane Pallett prepare the royal wedding cake in the Picture Gallery of Buckingham Palace


Team work: Fiona Cairns (back) instructs her Royal Wedding cake team during the finishing touches at Buckingham Palace


Newlyweds: Prince William and his bride Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, enjoyed the Royal Wedding cake at their reception


The Royal Wedding's Lavish Cakes


source: dailymail

By TICKY HEDLEY-DENT

Getting it wrong: Princess Eugenie of York in Vivienne Westwood and Princess Beatrice of York in Valentino haute couture arrive at Westminster Abbey for the wedding ceremony of Prince William and Kate Middleton


On a day of high fashion, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie certainly didn’t let the side down with their choice of designers.

It was, perhaps, a brave decision by Beatrice to pick a dusty pink Valentino Couture outfit given her flame-coloured hair. But the well-cut knee-length design at least allowed her to show off that new svelte figure.

Bolder still was her choice of headwear, a creation by star milliner Philip Treacy who seems to have designed the majority of the hats for yesterday’s wedding. Is that an octopus on her head, or a pair of antlers?


Oh dear: Ed Miliband's partner Justine struck the wrong note with her creased taffeta skirt, incongruous funnel neckline, shrunken, wrinkled jacket and demented hat, while Tara Palmer Tomkinson, right, looked brash


Dog's dinner: Sally Bercow's dress was too short and the neckline too low, while right, Clegg's wife Miriam looked dramatic, but the combination of lace, gloves, turban and corsage made for a jumbled result


Informal: Samantha Cameron chose not to wear a hat for the royal wedding, a move which some commented made her head look 'naked' and her overall look unfinished


Dressed to the nines: Earl Spencer's daughters, Lady Amelia, Lady Eliza and Lady Kitty wore elaborate fascinators, with Kitty, far right, wearing a very low-cut Victoria Beckham dress with her Philip Treacy hat


The jury's out: Victoria's dress was classy, but some suggested her hair was scraped back too tightly giving her the 'Croydon face-lift' effect, while her make-up was perhaps more suited to red carpet than royal wedding... and David's medal was worn on the wrong side, but not for long...

source: dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Kate Middleton, in her gown for the evening, left Clarence House alongside Camilla Parker Bowles for the short journey to Buckingham Palace


Prince Harry gave his speech at the reception last night

Their wedding day was a spectacular event watched by two billion people worldwide.

But Prince William and his new bride Catherine finally let their hair down last night with a wedding reception at Buckingham Palace.

Some 300 of the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's closest family and friends celebrated with dancing and dinner at the black tie do, which stretched into the early hours.


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


The Queen and Prince Philip handed over the palace for the celebration, which was hosted by William's father Prince Charles.

Perhaps the most eagerly anticipated moment of the night was Prince Harry best man's speech.

The Duchess had switched into a new white outfit for the party - also created by Sarah Burton who designed her wedding gown.

The second dress was a strapless white satin gazar evening dress with a circle skirt and diamante embroidered detail round the waist, St James's Palace said.

Kate was also wearing a white angora bolero cardigan.


Mrs Middleton wore a black capped sleeve dress, cut low at the front and back, with a tiered skirt while her daughter Pippa opted for a long emerald green sleeveless dress with a jewelled embellishment on the front and a plunging neckline


The couple left with Charles and his wife the Duchess of Cornwall. The royal party looked happy and relaxed.

The heir to the throne and his son, the new Duke of Cambridge, were dressed in dinner jackets with black bow ties.

Kate had her hair down in her favourite style for the private party.

Camilla wore a light blue hand-embroidered high-collared floor length Anna Valentine dress for the evening.


A happy and relaxed William made the short journey along The Mall in a Jaguar car with Prince Charles and Camilla closely behind


The new Duchess's family had left the Goring Hotel shortly before 7.30pm.

Her sister Pippa had changed from her bridesmaid dress into a long emerald green sleeveless dress with a jewelled embellishment on the front and a plunging neckline.

Her hair was pinned up at the back and she was carrying a clutch bag.

Kate's mother Carole Middleton smiled after stumbling slightly as she came down the stairs at the hotel and her son James placed a guiding hand on her back as she climbed into a silver people carrier.


Camilla and Prince Charles were not far behind the newlyweds as they travelled down The Mall


Princess Anne and her husband Timothy Laurence arrive at Buckingham Palace for last night's reception


Earl Spencer's children Lady Kitty, Lady Amelia and Lady Eliza and Viscount Althorp arrived together for the wedding party


When the party concludes, the newlyweds were expected to spend their first night as a married couple at the Palace.

souce: dailymail