Inside Pippa Middleton and James Matthews’ lavish wedding reception as guests enjoyed £40,000 caviar, ping-pong with Roger Federer and a spectacular Spitfire display
PIPPA Middleton threw a right (not-quite) royal knees-up after her lavish wedding to multi-millionaire hedge fund manager James Matthews yesterday.
The 33-year-old socialite spared no expense when it came to the extravagant reception, which featured magnums of high-end champagne, beluga caviar and a 150ft-long glass marquee, according to .
But while the Duchess of Cambridge’s younger sister was happy to pose outside St Mark’s Church after saying her vows, she decided to enforce a strict “mobile phone ban” to ensure she and her high-society guests could party in peace.
A report by the stated that guests were forced to hand over their devices and instead pose inside photo booths to prevent snaps or videos from surfacing online.
There are, however, conflicting reports indicating that guests were told they would be thrown out if they snapped pictures, and were allowed one warning by “phone police”.
Pippa’s parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, were said to have alerted neighbours days before the wedding and apologised for any inconvenience caused by the big day.
After the formal ceremony, Pippa and new hubby James jumped in a Jaguar V and drove to Englefield House, a 16th century manor in breath-taking grounds.
There, 300 guests tucked into thousands of canapes, which includes mini haggis, foie gras, langoustine, asparagus, steak and chips, and king prawns.
They sipped on Ruinart Blanc de Blanc champagne, which costs upwards of £40 a bottle.
Finger sandwiches were served for Prince George, Princess Charlotte and the other pageboys and bridesmaids, the reported.
The happy couple cut a six-tier fruit cake – that is said to cost in the region of £15,000 – by baker Fiona Cairns, who also made the cake for Kate and Wills’ wedding.
Newlywed James, 41, is said to have given a touching speech that paid tribute to his late brother Michael, who died at 23 while descending Mount Everest.
Other speeches were given by Michael Middleton, who reportedly joked that he had lost both of his daughters – but to great men.
While Made In Chelsea stud Spencer Matthews and James Middleton, who is dating TV presenter Donna Air, also said a few words.
After the light refreshments, the star-studded party, which included Prince Harry, Princess Eugenie and Roger Federer, headed to the Middletons’ Grade II listed £6million mansion in Bucklebury, Berkshire.
A stunning 150-ft glass marquee specially shipped in from Belgium, which cost £100,000, was erected in the garden to house guests.
The interior of the marquee was decorated with pink cherry blossom trees and trees with purple fibre optic lights to fit with an “enchanted forest theme”, the reported.
Guests sipped 2010 Blanc de Noir Millington sparkling wine from Sussex vineyard Nyrtimber that cost £75-per-bottle, and ate £40,000 worth of beluga caviar, reportedly donated by a Russian millionaire.
The fizz was served on silver trays by waiting staff who were personally vetted by Pippa, the Express claimed.
Luxury caterer Table Talk, Pippa’s former employer, was in charge of the lavish five-course, sit-down dinner, which reportedly included haggis along with Scottish lamb and whisky.
The three-course wedding breakfast for 320 guests at up to £200 a head was laid on by a crew of 30 chefs followed by a performance by one of the groom’s favourite saxophonists.
Roger Federer, the seven-time Wimbledon champion, entertained guests at the ping-pong table, before a DJ encouraged everyone to hit the dance floor.
Live entertainment was coordinated by the royal party planners Fait Accompli, while a Spitfire flypast was donated for free by the Boultbee Flight Academy.
Pippa’s big day is rumoured to have cost £700,000, with her bespoke Giles Deacon lace gown reported to have set her back £40,000.
The ivory, floor-sweeping dress, which is said to be crafted to create the impression of being seamless, was teamed with a Stephen Jones veil, a Maidenhair Fern tiara and Manolo Blahnik ivory satin shoes.
The bride’s nephew and niece, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, were page boy and flower girl, George was seen in tears after mum Kate told him off after throwing a tantrum outside of the church.
Actress Meghan Markle, Prince Harry’s girlfriend, was not among the guests at the church but was later seen been driven to the reception by her boyfriend.
Pippa’s diamond engagement ring is reported to have cost £250,000 – nearly 10 times the budget for the average wedding day – but details of the couple’s wedding bands have not been revealed.