The new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were today expected to head off on honeymoon after they —- and the nation — enjoyed the wedding party of the century.

Millions of people up and down the country celebrated late into the night last night after a day of high emotion and sparkling pageantry.

Prince William and his new bride partied into the early hours at a private reception for 300 family and friends at Buckingham Palace hosted by Prince Charles.

The Duchess again chose a Sarah Burton dress for the evening function, which featured Prince Harry’s long-awaited best man’s speech.

His wisecracks are understood to have included a gag about his grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh being dwarfed by Kate Middleton, who stood tall in three-inch heels for yesterday’s ceremony.

Prince Charles had earlier paid a warm tribute to his new daughter-in-law at the afternoon reception.

During an off-the-cuff speech, the Prince of Wales told guests: “We are lucky to have her.”

Details of the honeymoon were still being kept under wraps this morning — with some reports claiming that the new duchess has not even been told the destination.

William has taken a fortnight’s leave from his job as an RAF Search and Rescue pilot for the holiday and is known to have a deep affection for Africa.

He would be on safe romantic territory if he chose to take his wife to Kenya, where he proposed to her last year.

Other possible destinations include Jordan, where Kate spent two years when she was a child, the Caribbean and Australia.

Alternatively, the couple may continue their wedding theme of championing the UK and spend part of their break in Scotland, where both the Queen and the Prince of Wales have private homes they could use.

Yesterday they rounded off the public part of the wedding with a triumphant drive out of Buckingham Palace in an open-top Aston Martin loaned to them by Prince Charles.

Thousands of people joined in street parties across Shropshire and Mid Wales —- with many continuing well into the night.

Villages, towns and communities across the region joined in the fun in the biggest day of celebrations since Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer more than 30 years ago.