Harry's pocketful of miracles (and worms)

The official wedding photograph has a special visitor, courtesy of Eliza Lopes and Prince Harry.

In the flurry of excitement around the royal wedding, no one really noticed little Eliza Lopes and her little red friend.

But take a close look at the official wedding photo taken in Buckingham Palace, just before photos of the first Kate-William kiss stole the world's front pages.

The 3-year-old granddaughter of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, is holding a red "wiggly worm," one of those spongy little playthings meant to amuse children.

It did the job. And it's all thanks to Prince Harry.

“'Did you see the wiggly worm? That was the funniest thing. I can't believe no one has spotted it," Camilla said while appearing at an event this week in her role as patron of The Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust.

“I was so worried about Eliza. She is such a lovely little thing and looked so gorgeous in her dress but it was a very big occasion for a child of her age."

Apparently, the Duchess explained, Harry pulled the rubber worm from his pocket while travelling with the understandably nervous young bridesmaids in the open carriage on the way back to the Palace.

"Eliza loved it so much that she wouldn't let go and it even made the official photographs," said Camilla. "Can you believe it? She was holding onto my finger but in her other hand was this worm.

“I was so proud of her, she looked adorable in her dress and couldn't stop twirling around in it. It was such a lovely, lovely day.”

It's a lovely story, too.

Just one question: What the heck was Harry -- dressed in his military finest at this grand occasion -- doing with a buck-fifty wiggly worm in his pocket?

Always a practical joker, one wonders where the worm might have ended up if not for the stubborness of Eliza to keep it clutched safely in her own hands.

 

It's back to work for Prince William

The freshly-wed Duke and Duchess of Cambridge leave Buckingham Palace Saturday.

Well, that was a short honeymoon.

After spending their first night of married life at Buckingham Palace, royal officials have announced that Prince William and Catherine (now Duchess of Cambridge) are putting off their real honeymoon.

"The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have chosen not to depart for a honeymoon immediately," the palace said. "Instead, after spending the weekend privately in the United Kingdom, The Duke will return to work as a Search and Rescue pilot next week."

So, it's back to Wales on Monday and his RAF Valley squadron in Anglesey.

 
The couple is spending the weekend in the UK, perhaps at one of the Queen's residences. The palace noted that when they do eventually have their honeymoon, it will be overseas.

The couple emerged from into the Palace garden Saturday morning and boarded a helipcopter for their weekend retreat.

"The Couple have asked that their privacy be respected during the coming weekend and during their honeymoon," said the palace.

They have had precious little of that over the past several months, culminating with their Friday wedding and the subsequest celebrations.

The reception hosted by Prince Charles for about 350 went off without a hitch, it is reported, with the final guests leaving around 3 a.m. That was preceded by the  Queen's reception for about guests, during which Prince Charles toasted the couple and remarked that "we are lucky to have her."

For the more intimate affair, tuxes and formal wear was the order of the day, as the pictures at left show, with Kate wearing a strapless white satin evening dress and William in dinner jacket and bow tie.

Saturday morning, the Middleton family emerged from The Goring hotel, where they had book all 71 rooms, said they had a wonderful time, then quickly climbed into three separate vehicles and returned to their home in Bucklebury.

 

 

Official photos released

The Royal Family released a few official wedding photos this morning. The photos were taken at Buckingham Palace by Hugo Burnand.

The photos are available on the Royal Family's Flickr stream, but here's a sample:

Bride and groom make getaway in Dad's car

Prince William and his new bride leave Buckingham Palace, courtesy of Prince Charles. (Getty Images)

With the formal festivities and the Queen's luncheon out of the way, it didn't take long for newlyweds the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (otherwise known as Will and Kate) to beat a hasty retreat from Buckingham Palace.

At least for a while.

With Prince William behind the wheel, the pair drove out of the Palace in an an Aston Martin DB6 MKII convertible. The car has been owned by the prince's father, the Prince of Wales, since 1969. We assume William asked to borrow the car keys.

In any event, the getaway didn't go unnoticed, especially with all the ballons attached to the bumper.

Clarence House noted the departure on their website, while also making sure people knew this was an environmentally-friendly exit: "In June 2008, at the specific request of The Prince of Wales, who is keen that his cars should be run on sustainable fuel, the Aston Martin was converted to run on E85 bioethanol, made from English wine wastage."

As the couple left, there was also a flypast from a search and rescue helicopter with members of 22 squadron from Anglesey, where William is based. It is reported that he'll be returning to his squad after a two-week honeymoon.

Meanwhile, there was still some partying to do. After retiring to Clarence House for a few hours, the newest royal couple were due back at Buckingham Palace for the party hosted by Prince Charles.

(Getty Images)

 

 

What the royals are eating

Now that the wedding is over, the royals' special guests need to get something in their stomachs before the champagne flows too freely. Clarence House has released a list of the canapes the chosen 650 will be munching away on at the reception. Here it is:

• Cornish Crab Salad on Lemon Blini

• Pressed Duck Terrine with Fruit Chutney

• Roulade of Goats Cheese with Caramelised Walnuts

• Assortment of Palmiers and Cheese Straws

• Scottish Smoked Salmon Rose on Beetroot Blini

• Miniature Watercress and Asparagus Tart

• Poached Asparagus spears with Hollandaise Sauce for Dipping

• Quails Eggs with Celery Salt

•  Scottish Langoustines with Lemon Mayonnaise Pressed Confit of Pork Belly with Crayfish and Crackling

• Wild Mushroom and Celeriac Chausson

• Bubble and Squeak with Confit Shoulder of Lamb

• Grain Mustard and honey-glazed Chipolatas

• Smoked Haddock Fishcake with Pea Guacamole

• Miniature Yorkshire Pudding with Roast Fillet of Beef and Horseradish Mousse

• Gateau Opera

• Blood Orange Pate de Fruit

• Raspberry Financier

• Rhubarb Crème Brulee Tartlet

• Passion Fruit Praline

• White Chocolate Ganache Truffle

• Milk Chocolate Praline with Nuts

• Dark Chocolate Ganache Truffle

The 10,000 canapes have been prepared by 21 chefs under the guidance of Buckingham Palace head chef Mark Flanagan. Corks of Pol Roger NV Brut Réserve Champagne will also be popped and chocolate biscuit cake served at the function.

The cakes

The Royal Family has also posted photos of the two wedding cakes on their Flickr page.

It has long been known that the couple would have two cakes: a traditional multilayered fruit cake with a floral design, and a McVities chocolate biscuit cake, which was one of William's favourites as a young boy.

Here's a peek:

 

Cavalry steals the show

Two members from the royal cavalry momentarily stole the show as the crowd waited for William and Kate to make their way back to Buckingham Palace.  Staff Corporal Darren Daniels asked his girlfriend Keryl Jones to marry him while mounted on his horse, awaiting the royal procession. He got the right answer too.  

Another rider wasn't so lucky, falling off his black steed and momentarily running after it during the actual procession.

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Goring luxury for Kate's pre-wedding night

Luxury is a four-post bed at The Goring hotel in London, where Kate Middleton has her last night as a single woman.

At $8,500 a night, you'd expect luxury. And that's exactly what Kate and the rest of the Middleton family is getting for their stay at The Goring hotel, just a few blocks from Buckingham Palace.

For her final night as a single, Kate will be quite rightly in the Royal suite,which has undergone a $235,000 makeover. The website Bornrich reports that there were 20 bouquets in the suite to welcome her, including white and red freesias, Eucharist lilies and roses.

Among the features in the suite is a bathroom with a built-in waterproof TV. Antiques, of course, fill the suite. There's a four-poster bed, a drawing room with a Grand piano, and walls covered in Gainsborough silk costing $790 sq/metre.

To ensure privacy, the Middletons booked all 71 rooms in the hotel. The no-vacancy sign didn't deter people from hanging around the hotel on Thursday. Hundreds turned up to see if they can get a glimpse of the future princess. They were rewarded in the afternoon when Kate and her family returned from a wedding rehearsal.