William and Kate delay honeymoon

A helicopter believed to be carrying the royal couple takes off from Buckingham Palace (AP)
12 April 2012

Newlyweds William and Kate have flown out of Buckingham Palace for a weekend break - but not their expected honeymoon.

After the excitement of their wedding day, which was said to have left the couple "buzzing with happiness", the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have escaped to a mystery UK location.

But it will be quickly back to business as usual for William when he returns to his job as a search and rescue helicopter pilot next week, before the couple finally jet off overseas for their honeymoon.

They celebrated their marriage on Friday night with 300 close family and friends at a black-tie do at the palace that lasted until dawn.

Millie Pilkington, the couple's private photographer who took informal pictures throughout the day, described the couple as "buzzing with happiness" and the party's atmosphere as "absolutely extraordinary".

Asked about the speeches by best man Prince Harry, Kate's father Michael Middleton and others, she said: "They were hysterical, absolutely hysterical."

The delight of the bride and groom and their immediate family on their wedding day was clear to see in the three official photographs released on Saturday.

Hugo Burnand, famed for his shots of the royals, took the images in the palace's ballroom - with the most striking picture an informal photo of the bride and groom surrounded by the bridesmaids and pageboys.

William and Kate left the palace like a couple very much in love, casually dressed and walking hand in hand to a waiting helicopter which flew them off for their secret weekend break.

It had been thought that the Duke and Duchess would take two weeks off for the traditional post-wedding holiday. However, it appears they want some private time in familiar surroundings after one of the most important days in their lives.

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