Light-hearted moments raise smiles (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Light-hearted moments raise smiles

1:09pm Friday 29th April 2011 in Mellor © Press Association 2013

The young bridesmaids and page boys behaved themselves - but despite military-style preparations there were still a few minor slips and light-hearted moments on the big day.

Prince William momentarily struggled to get the wedding ring on his bride's finger, and the slim band of Welsh gold needed a little coaxing before it slipped into place.

The groom also joked about the massive scale of the occasion - which was watched by a global television audience - with his new father-in-law moments before the service began.

According to a lipreader, the prince told Michael Middleton: "We're supposed to have just a small family affair."

William's cousin, Zara Phillips, and her rugby player fiance Mike Tindall got a fit of the giggles as the newly-married couple and their witnesses went off to sign the registers.

And after the wedding Prince Philip struggled to get into his coach, which threatened to topple over as he put his foot on the step to climb in.