Royal Wedding: Prince William, Kate Middleton Staying in UK After Delaying Honeymoon
April 30, 2011 — -- After a flawless wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey and a Buckingham Palace reception that lasted well into the morning, Prince William and Kate Middleton, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, will spend the weekend at an undisclosed location in the United Kingdom.
The royal couple spent the night at Buckingham Palace, and emerged hand-in-hand on Saturday morning before leaving the palace by helicopter. After their private weekend, William will return to work next week as a Search and Rescue pilot on the island of Anglesey, according to a St James Palace spokesman.
As the royal couple took off, Clarence House released three official wedding photographs from the day before.
Click Here to See Photos From the Big Day.
For those still standing Saturday morning after the evening festivities, a brunch of bacon sandwiches and ice cream was served on the palace quad.
Thousands of people in the streets of London cheered Friday afternoon as the royal newlyweds made their way back from a brief rest to Buckingham Palace for a buffet dinner and all-night party with about 300 guests.
Middleton arrived at the Palace wearing a strapless white satin Sarah Burton evening gown with a circle skirt and diamante embroidered detail round the waist, according to The Associated Press. William wore a black tuxedo.
Kate's sister Pippa also changed her outfit for the party, donning a long emerald sleeveless dress with a plunging neckline and a jeweled embellishment detail.
"I am glad the weather held off. We had a great day," Middleton told a photographer.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip handed over the palace for the post-wedding party. Nineteen rooms were set aside for the evening reception -- the Throne Room was transformed into a disco. The Queen was flown out of the palace by helicopter for a private weekend away before the dancing began.
The queen did attend an earlier daytime lunch reception at Buckingham Palace, however, for about 650 guests.
The Royal Wedding: Witnessing History
Earlier on Friday, William and Kate, holding each other's hands and gazing into one another's eyes, exchanged wedding vows in front of 1,900 guests. Kate became royalty, thrilling royal watchers around the world. William, 28, slipped a wedding band made of Welsh gold on the finger of the 29-year-old Middleton.
The bride, wearing a tiara loaned to her by the queen, appeared to marvel at the majesty of the nearly 1,000-year-old abbey, looking up and smiling as she and William sang along with their guests of friends, celebrities and royalty from other countries. Nearly 400 of the guests were close family and friends.
Explore Kate's Dress and Wedding Dresses of the House of Windsor
Before retreating to Clarence House for their rest, William and Kate sealed their royal wedding with two kisses on the balcony of Buckingham Palace as heart shaped balloons floated above cheering British subjects.
With hundreds of thousands gathered below them and millions watching expectantly on TV, the prince kissed his bride quickly. The crowd cheered and began chanting, "Kiss her again." The royal couple obliged with a second peck on the lips.
William and Kate looked up into the London sky as the Royal Air Force performed a flyover congratulating the couple. William is a member of the Royal Air Force.
The bells of Westminster Abbey began to ring as the couple rode triumphantly to the palace in an open carriage, waving to the cheering throngs.
Middleton told William in the carriage, "I'm so happy," according to a lip reader.
