The look that says everything about sisters: Across a sea of page boys and bridesmaids, a delighted Duchess exchanges smiles with her newlywed young sibling

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The old red and black tiles in the porch of St Mark’s Church, Englefield, have felt the tread of many a spring bride over the centuries.

Few can have looked quite as poised and polished as Pippa Middleton yesterday. And with Prince George and Princess Charlotte as page boy and flower girl, and the Duchess of Cambridge fussing over her sister’s dress, none can have been more royally celebrated.

The woman who, as a child, dreamed of marrying in her tennis whites, chose instead a high neck, cap-sleeved Giles Deacon gown with a heart-shaped cut-out at the back. 

The look that says so much about being sisters: Across a sea of pageboys and bridesmaids, a delighted Duchess of Cambridge exchanges smiles with her newly married sister as the happy couple pose for photographs outside the church doors

Pippa’s dark hair was piled high under a bespoke tulle veil scattered with tiny pearls, by milliner Stephen Jones, and clasped by a tiara in the shape of a maidenhair fern from jewellers Robinson Pelham

You may kiss the bride: Pippa and James share a tender moment on the church steps, in front of a full phalanx of page boys and bridesmaids with George at the front

It was a sweet wedding day message to her groom, city financier James Matthews, shared by the 150-strong congregation who watched them marry in the 12th Century West Berkshire church.

Pippa’s dark hair was piled high under a bespoke tulle veil scattered with tiny pearls, by milliner Stephen Jones, and clasped by a tiara in the shape of a maidenhair fern from jewellers Robinson Pelham. 

On her feet were ivory satin Manolo Blahnik pumps with pearl details. In her hands she carried a dainty bouquet of white peonies, which symbolise happy marriage.

The 33-year-old may have come to global fame after playing the biggest cameo role in the history of Royal weddings, as bridesmaid to big sister Kate in back in 2011, but yesterday was all about her own fairytale ending – a wedding in which the Royals were, for once, playing a supporting role.

Beaming: Joy is etched on Pippa's face as she leaves the church a married woman, with Kate following

Let me look after your heart: In a tender image, rich with metaphor, Prince George offers to help his sister Charlotte with her floral arrangement

NOW IT'S BIG SISTER KATE'S TURN TO SMOOTH THE WAY 

It was simple, romantic and bore more than a passing resemblance to her sister’s own wedding dress.

But roles were reversed yesterday when it was Kate who stepped in to smooth Pippa’s train – six years after Pippa was bridesmaid at the Royal Wedding and performed the same service for Kate.

Royal role: Kate adjusts her sister Pippa's train

Pippa’s gorgeous ivory gown, by British designer Giles Deacon, was widely praised by fashion experts for its high neck, cap-sleeves and lace detailing, hand-appliqued to make it appear seamless.

Pippa topped it all with a maidenhair fern tiara by Robinson Pelham and a bespoke tulle veil by milliner Stephen Jones. 

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Kate, in a peachy, bell-sleeved wool crepe dress by Alexander McQueen, had traded palace duties for maternal ones. Breaking into a wide, unguarded smile, she scooped up George, three, and Charlotte, two, for their walk down the aisle behind Pippa, and marshalled the other little ones into position.

The bride arrived with her father Michael in a topless gunmetal grey 1951 Jaguar Mark V a minute or two after the official 11.30am start time. 

In a gesture both intimate and timeless, Mr Middleton folded her arm into his own as they passed through the lychgate for the 20-yard walk to the church.

High drama: After the ceremony, George became tearful after getting a ticking-off from mum for stepping on the bride's train

Discipline: A firm 'shush!' soon put things right. Charlotte reportedly turned on the waterworks inside the church too

As father and daughter crossed the threshold heading for the altar where James, 41, was waiting, the church’s wooden doors clanged shut behind them. Inside, The Mail on Sunday has been told, George behaved impeccably while Charlotte burst into tears and had to be carried to her nanny for comforting. 

The couple’s hymns, swelled by the choir of Winchester Cathedral, were Be Thou My Vision; Tell Out, My Soul; Glorious Things Of Thee Are Spoken, and royal favourite I Vow To Thee, My Country.

For their readings they chose the Song of Solomon, read by a family friend, and Love Is An Adventure by Pierre Tielhard du Chardin, read by Pippa’s brother James.

The groom’s brother Spencer Matthews, the lothario star of reality TV show Made In Chelsea, read a passage from the Paulo Coelho novel, The Alchemist.

The service, during which Pippa did not promise to ‘obey’ James, was officiated by parish priest Nick Wynne-Jones. The Duchess of Cambridge read a prayer.

The Middleton sisters looked stunning as they posed for photographers outside the church on Saturday afternoon 

The socialite, who has written a party planning book and penned a column for Waitrose, showcased her newly toned arms in her cap sleeved gown

Princess Charlotte held onto her mother's hand as the trio left the church. Their father, Prince William, left the venue with his brother Harry

In the congregation were James’s parents David and Jane, the wealthy owners of the Eden Rock Hotel on the Caribbean island of St Barts, and proud mother of the bride Carole Middleton. 

She wore a Catherine Walker dress and wide-brimmed hat of the palest pink, chosen to pick out the white and blush flowers which decorated St Mark’s.

Prince William accompanied the Duchess of Cambridge but Prince Harry was alone in church, despite rumours his girlfriend, Meghan Markle, might be permitted to defy Pippa’s no ring-no bring edict, restricting plus-ones to married partners only. 

She was, however, on her Prince’s arm for the evening party. A source said: ‘Meghan was invited to the service, but she and Harry didn’t want to overshadow Pippa’s big day.’

Almost an hour after entering church, the newly-made Mr and Mrs Matthews threw open the church doors and emerged behind their eight bridesmaids and page boys, all in cream and pale gold outfits commissioned from Kate’s go-to children’s outfitter Pepa and Co.

Pippa's new in-laws, David and Jane Matthews, who run the Eden Roc hotel group, were on fine form as they waved to wellwishers after the ceremony. Jane was glamorous in a mint green coatdress teamed with patent moss green stilettos 

Spencer's parents, Jane and Michael, led the charge alongside Carole Middleton as the glamorous guests exited the church on the happy day 

Cute little Prince George was the perfect charmer as he waved goodbye to wellwishers after cheering up from his tantrum

As rose petal confetti was tossed into the air, they turned and gave each other the kind of real ‘We Mean It’ kiss which says this may be a grown-up match, but it’s about romance as well as reason.

Outside the church, Prince George was given a ticking-off from his mum, after apparently stepping on the train of the bride’s wedding dress. Kate grabbed her son and reprimanded him, provoking some tears – but they soon passed.

Then the party made their way on foot to Englefield House, three minutes away. They streamed through an avenue of lime trees, horse chestnuts and oaks, a reminder of the oak leaves and acorns on the Middletons’ family crest.

Amid the Elizabethan loveliness of Englefield House, famous guests including Princess Eugenie, tennis ace Roger Federer and presenter Donna Air, the partner of Pippa’s brother James, gathered for champagne, canapes and speeches.

Goodbye! The adorable three-year-old waved goodbye to wellwishers who had gathered by the church to steal a glance of the royal family

The happy couple posed for snaps with their parents outside the church, with James's father David and Pippa's mother Carole, left, seen beaming 

Kate escorted the children into the church ahead of her little sister's arrival. Pippa arrived in a vintage car with her father moments later 

To the sound of a jazz band, they enjoyed 20 types of nibbles including mini portions of haggis, a nod to Pippa and James’s love of Scotland, steak and chips and king prawns.

Speeches were given by the groom and the father of the bride, who joked that he had lost both of his daughters – but to great men. He also spoke of his pride in Pippa. In a break from tradition, the best man’s speech was a double act by James Middleton and Spencer Matthews. Toasts were raised with Ruinart champagne and the newlyweds cut their cake, a simple three-tier fruit cake by royal baker Fiona Cairns.

Afterwards, James took to the wheel of a vintage convertible E-Type Jaguar in British racing green to drive his new wife back to the Middleton family home in Bucklebury, five miles away, as local people roared their best wishes.

The evening party, which kicked off with a flypast by a single Spitfire, was held in a vast £100,000 glass marquee built on stilts in the family’s back garden. Inside, cherry trees laden with pink blossom could be seen among the professional sound and lighting rigs. 

Mother-of-the-bride Carole beamed as she linked onto her youngest child's arm at the nuptials of the summer in Berkshire 

Mother-of-two Kate looked chic in an Alexander McQueen dress as she held her little daughter's hand 

Prince George was cherubic in his little page boy outfit as he gathered some petals to throw over his auntie 

But with a bride who is a professional event planner, a cracker of a do was only to be expected. An extra 150 joined the party for dinner, lubricated by a luxury whisky bar and followed by a saxophonist, DJ and disco.

Guests had to hand over their phones, but there were photo booths for private snaps, while a table tennis table was set up for a Middleton vs Matthews tournament – with Roger Federer gamely joining in.

It had been a day for casting aside royal protocols – definitely more Bucklebury than Buckingham Palace even if the second, third, fourth and fifth line to the throne were on the guest list. 

Pippa hasn’t married into the House of Windsor but she’s certainly moved in next door, her wedding to a multi-millionaire and the prospect of baby cousins for George and Charlotte sealing her place by Kate’s side.

As night fell, it echoed to the sound of new money and high society having a marvellous time. Only two questions remained: did Pippa throw her bouquet in the direction of Meghan Markle as she left the night’s festivities? And more importantly, did she catch it? 

The happy couple were surrounded by their adorable page boys and bridesmaids, who threw confetti in the air as the pair made their way to a waiting car to head off to the reception 

The Duchess of Cambridge was by her sister's side all day. Not only did she help straighten her dress train before the ceremony, she kept the children under control and stood loyally behind her after the nuptials 

The brothers, who are fiercely close, had a moment to catch up with each other as they walked through the Englefield estate

Well it was never going to come cheap! Pippa's £700,000 nuptials included TWO dresses for the big day, a £200,000 diamond engagement ring and £40,000 worth of Russian caviar

By Michael Powell

Putting on the society wedding of the year doesn’t come cheap – with Pippa’s nuptials estimated to have cost £700,000.

That figure includes the bride’s £200,000 engagement ring – a dazzling 3.5-carat Asscher-cut diamond set in a halo of smaller stones on a platinum band.

British designer Giles Deacon was paid about £40,000 to produce two dresses for Pippa’s big day, which she paired with custom-made £2,000 heels by Manolo Blahnik. Guests sipped £75-a-bottle sparkling wine from Sussex vineyard Nyetimber and tucked into £40,000 worth of Russian caviar.

The happy couple watched the spectacular aerial display from a £100,000 glass marquee erected in the back garden - just six miles away from the village of Englefield, where they tied the knot

Prince William and his brother Prince Harry looked dapper as they arrived at the church just moments before it started 

While the church ceremony was a modest £500, the stunning 150ft-long glass marquee specially shipped in from Belgium cost a further £100,000.

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 jazz bands.

The stunning six-tier cake by Fiona Cairns, who made the cake for the Royal Wedding, is thought to have cost up to £15,000, while the groom’s party wore £900-a-pair hand-made shoes from Edward Green.

The couple’s parents must at least have been relieved that the Spitfire flypast by the Boultbee Flight Academy was donated for free!