This party is over

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Friday, 29 April 2011 12:55

Written by Mackenzie Carpenter

At least for us. 

We know that the royal couple will be dancing through the night at Buckingham Palace, but before your royal correspondent, at the stroke of midnight, ceases being royal and turns into a pumpkin (or at least, just another reporter), let’s review:

The dress, everyone agreed, was fabulous.

Not Kate’s… Pippa’s!  The simplicity… the lilies of the valley in her hair…

“Speculation also mounted over whether Prince William's brother, Harry, who walked alongside Miss Middleton as the pair left the abbey, would fulfil the traditional role of the best man by getting to know Miss Middleton better as the parties at Buckingham Palace get under way. “

Oh, please no.  That would be too weird.

At any rate,  HRH The Duchess of Cambridge’s dress was everything we’d hoped it to be.  Some felt the dress, with its retro boned skirt, slightly resembled Princess Elizabeth’s. 

We do know that the Duchess was wearing a tiara that Queen Elizabeth II had loaned to her, a “halo” tiara made by Cartier in 1936, purchased for the Queen Mother by her husband, George VI, and then given to Princess Elizabeth on her 18th birthday.

Then there were those who felt she channeled Grace Kelly

How do we know this?  Why, because Lily Cadwalader, of Clackton, in Essex, told us so.  “Kate looked just like Princess Grace of Monaco, only her hair was dark,” Ms. Cadwalader said firmly. And she’s no slouch when it comes to fashion, at least in hats!

Here is Ms. Cadwalader riding the C11 bus home with your royal correspondent.  A lovely person.

Speaking of hats, here are a few more.

This is the Priestman family, above, from Yorkshire.  Actually, on the far left is a friend, Linda Boddy.  Especially love the hat on Ann Priestman, in the center of the photo. 

Even Americans got into the act.  Below, Maeve Gately, 21, of Baltimore, on the left, and her friend Lauren Magaziner, 21, of New Hope, Pennsylvania, were decked out early this morning near Westminster Abbey.  Both are students from Hamilton College, studying abroad. Notice Lauren’s purple “fascinator,” similar to a chapeau worn by the Duchess of Cambridge (nee Kate Middleton).

And finally, here are Amanda and Amy Thiselton, of Southampton, with their friend Holly Webster, of Portsmouth, at right, en route to a champagne bar after the ceremony.

Adorable.

So… how crowded was it? 

Very.  In the vast green space of St. James Park, luscious with flowers – the azaleas have come out with a vengeance – it was so crowded that, finally, this sign went up near the St. James tube stop.  Read it carefully:

"Ceremonial Route and St. James's Park Full"