The festivities started in the morning – with the bride's 11 a.m. arrival – and the party went all night.
The lucky 300 royal wedding guests who were invited to Prince Charles's evening reception at Buckingham Palace were treated to a celebration that stretched into the wee hours of the morning, well past the planned 2 a.m. wrap-up.
"It was such an energetic experience," says one guest of the bash. Tasty, too, if Prince Harry had anything to do about it: The best man planned to treat guests to bacon butties, among other delicacies, for those who danced the night away in the ballroom – the largest of the royal residence's 775 rooms.
Pop singer Ellie Goulding performed and guests were treated to a menu of crab to start, followed by lamb, as well as a brief fireworks display. A highlight was Prince Harry's "brilliant" speech honoring the newlyweds, which was "laced with jokes at William's expense," but both Princes also paid tribute to their late mother Diana.
Around 3 a.m., caterers could be seen moving around in a makeshift tent behind the Palace while a Mosimann's van was parked outside, and only a handful of guests had departed by that hour. (Check out the full guest list here)
One couple who did duck out early was the party host himself, along with his wife, Camilla, who departed at 12:30 a.m. Pippa Middleton left an hour later – with Harry.
• With reporting from MONIQUE JESSEN and KRISTEN MASCIA in London
Royal Wedding Guests Party Past 3 A.M.
The newlyweds, with Prince Charles (right)
John Stillwell/Getty
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