Can anyone play piano... step forward Elton John Pop legend delights royals’ reception
PRINCE Charles proudly told guests how his son Harry had “turned out well” – as Sir Elton John serenaded the Royal Family and A-list celebrities.
Elton delighted guests at the afternoon reception in St George’s Hall, hosted by the Queen, by belting out four hits, including Your Song.
One guest revealed Charles joked about changing Harry’s nappy as a baby as 600 guests enjoyed canapés and cake.
He said: “There was no mention of Diana in the speeches. Charles spoke about feeding Harry a bottle and changing his nappy, and then said look how well he turned out. That’s about as embarrassing as it got.”
Joke-cracking Harry drew cheers and laughs with “off the cuff” remarks about the American guests.
The guest revealed Harry got lots of cheers when he said “my wife and I”.
He added: “He promised that all the Americans wouldn’t steal the swords and said, ‘Please, when you leave, be quiet as you don’t want to wake the neighbours,’ which was quite fun.
“It did feel we were really part of their very special occasion, which was great.”
The guest, who did not want to be named, said: “Prince William acted as a compere and introduced Charles, then Harry.”
At the end of Harry’s speech he got on the podium and said, “Is there anyone in here who can play the piano?
“There was a slight lull, as if they were looking for a doctor, and suddenly Elton started up. He started with Your Song and also did Tiny Dancer, Circle of Life and I’m Still Standing.”
Among the afternoon guests was Dean Stott – who completed a cycling record last Saturday after riding across two continents from Argentina to Alaska – friends with Prince Harry since 2007.
He said: “It’s been a great occasion and it was an honour and a privilege to be there. We wish them all the best.”
Harry and Meghan travelled from Windsor Castle to a sit-down evening reception a mile away at Frogmore House in a silver blue Jaguar E-type Concept Zero.
Aides said the car was made in 1968 but has since been converted to electric. It had the date of their wedding on the number plate.
The move echoed Kate and Wills’ trip from Buckingham Palace to Clarence House at their 2011 wedding in Charles’ Aston Martin.
Harry’s celeb chum James Corden was compering the evening do where Meghan was expected to give a speech for just 200 of the couple’s closest and family. She was expected to thank the Royal Family for welcoming her into the “firm” as well as thanking her friends and her mother Doria for supporting her in the run-up to the big day.
Meghan wore a lily white high-neck evening dress, made of silk crepe, designed by Stella Mccartney.
Her shoes from Aquazzura were silky satin, with nude mesh, and painted baby blue soles. Her evening hairdo was styled by George Northwood, the London stylist known as an A-listers’ favourite.
Her new husband wore a tuxedo before heading to the Charles-hosted afterparty in a £300,000 marquee.
At the afternoon reception a team of 25 chefs, led by chef Mark Flanagan, prepared some 7,500 items of food which was washed down with champagne and wine.
Guests were served canapés includfriends ing Scottish langoustines wrapped in smoked salmon with citrus crème fraiche, grilled English asparagus wrapped in Cumbrian ham, croquette of confit Windsor lamb and roasted vegetables and shallot jam.
Harry and Meghan opted not to have a sit-down lunch so they could accommodate more of their friends and colleagues in the 180ft grand hall, the largest room in the castle.
Instead, guests ate trendy “bowl food” with forks including dishes such as fricassee of free-range chicken with morel mushrooms and young leeks, pea and mint risotto with pea shoots, truffle oil and parmesan crisps and tenhour slow roasted Windsor pork belly with apple compote and crackling.
The sweet canapés included champagne and pistachio macaroons, orange crème brulée tartlets and miniature rhubarb crumble tartlets. The couple’s “installation” wedding cake was also cut at the reception. Designed by Claire Ptak, the wedding cake featured elderflower syrup, made at The Queen’s residence in Sandringham from the estate’s own elderflower trees, as well as a light sponge cake uniquely formulated for the couple. A filling made from Amalfi lemon curd and elderflower buttercream tied all the elements together. It was decorated with Swiss meringue buttercream and 150 fresh flowers including peonies and roses. Pol Roger brut réserve non vintage champagne, wine and soft drinks including an apple and elderflower mocktail were served.