Updated 1.50pm

THE NEW DUKE and Duchess of Cambridge have decided to delay their honeymoon and will spend the weekend at an undisclosed location in the UK, before William returns to work after the bank holiday.

It had earlier been reported that the newlyweds were to begin their honeymoon today with a request that the world’s media respect their privacy.

However, it has now emerged that the couple have decided to remain in the UK and William will  return to military duty as a Royal Air Force pilot next week, AP reports.

Prince and Princess William, as they are also now known, departed from Buckingham Palace in a helicopter this afternoon, BBC reports, headed for an undisclosed location in the UK.

The Telegraph reports that when they do eventually decide to take their honeymoon it will be somewhere  ”hot and sunny”.

A party with around 300 guests took place at the palace last night and ended in the early hours of the morning as revelers departed in taxis and cars including Prince Harry whose best man speech was much speculated about.

In the end the Daily Mail reports he quipped about the bride’s three-inch heels making her taller than his grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh whilst Prince Charles is understood to have joked about his son’s thinning hairline. William retorted with a comment on his father’s waistline.

The wedding was notable not only for THE dress, which has been been universally praised, but for the attire of the bridesmaid, Kate’s sister Pippa Middleton who has garnered quite a following after her appearance at the ceremony yesterday.

The footwear of one of the nuns sat next to William and Kate was also commented on with the Daily Mirror noticing that the nun was sporting a pair of Reebok classics.

On the frontpages of the UK newspapers almost all, carry ‘that kiss’ on the balcony of the palace yesterday including the Independent although its take is rather different.

If anyone was in any doubt as to the enormity of the ceremony, you need only look at the remarkable viewing statistics that have emerged. The BBC reports that 24 million tuned in in the UK alone. The worldwide audience was estimated in the billions.

Whilst the event appears to have easily become the biggest in internet history.

Enjoyed by all it seems, including this enthusiastic cartwheeling clergyman who reckoned he could afford to be a bit cheeky after everyone had left Westminster Abbey following the ceremony:

- additional reporting from AP