Prince Harry decorated William and Kate's car with balloons and JU5T WED plate

But trust fun-loving Prince Harry to come up with the classic comedy moment - arranging for bride and groom to drive off in a traditional old banger with party balloons and a JU5T WED number plate.

OK, so this old banger was actually Prince Charles's ?350,000 open-topped Aston Martin.

But the time-honoured best man's prank delighted the thousands waiting outside Buckingham Palace - and had millions more watching on TV in fits of giggles.

Wills and Kate grinned broadly as they slowly drove 500 yards down The Mall to Clarence House - to cheers, laughter and applause.

MARRIED couple leave Palace in Aston Martin with "JU5T WED" registration

To complete the happy picture, a yellow Sea King rescue helicopter piloted by Wills' RAF colleagues flew overhead in tribute.

Harry had warned his brother he had a surprise in store. The bonnet of the 41-year-old classic motor sported red, white and blue ribbons and giant bows.

Balloons fluttered from the bumper - some bearing the newlyweds' initials and others shaped as hearts.

With the novelty number plate and an L plate, it was the kind of cheap and cheerful joke seen at ordinary weddings all over Britain - and would have been unthinkable at a posh Royal occasion even a few years ago.

Harry's exuberant prank - and Wills' good-natured response - is typical of the brothers' down-to-earth nature.

They have a lack of stuffiness that has endeared them to Royal fans everywhere - and is a touching reminder of the way their mother Diana won the hearts of millions the world over.

Wills wore a red Irish Guards tunic as he tied the knot but swapped it for an Irish Guards frock coat as he and Kate drove from the Palace in the Aston Martin after a buffet reception for 650 guests.

The helicopter fly-past was a surprise treat for Wills from colleagues in the RAF's Search and Rescue team.

The chopper, which had an RAF flag slung underneath as it circled The Mall, carried crew members from B Flight 22 Squadron, where Wills is a pilot.

It was flown by New Zealand-born squadron leader Holly Steel. Her co-pilot was Flight Lieutenant Lee Turner, awarded the Air Force Cross in March 2009 for helping to save crew members from a stricken ferry off Blackpool.

The fly-by was described as "a fitting tribute to acknowledge Prince William's role as an RAF Search and Rescue Pilot".

Charles's blue 1970 Volante DB6 Mk II was a present from the Queen on his 21st birthday.

He and Diana were pictured enjoying a ride in the car in 1984, three years after their wedding. The Aston Martin has been converted to run on bioethanol distilled from surplus wine by environmentally-conscious Charles. It is kept at Highgrove and clocks up just 300 miles a year.

St James's Palace said: "The Prince of Wales was more than happy to loan the car to the couple for this special journey."

Met officers policing the Royal Wedding arrested 55 people. In the most serious incident a man of 38 was nicked for allegedly indecently assaulting a 14-year-old girl in the Mall crowd.

Others were held for theft, being drunk and disorderly, possessing drugs and criminal damage.

More than a dozen anti-monarchy protesters were arrested for allegedly planning an invasion of a Crown building.

And three people from an anti-capitalist group were seized on the eve of the wedding for plotting a mock execution of a dummy dressed as Prince Andrew.

Scotland Yard's Assistant Commissioner Lynne Owens said: "I am delighted with the way it has gone. We set out to make this event happy and safe. We have achieved that.

"It was extremely good-humoured and the public were brilliant."

A HORSE called Royal Wedding stormed to victory hours after Wills wed. Millions backed the 4-1 chance at Fontwell. Corals' David Stevens said: "The payout could be up to ?10million across the industry."

b.flynn@the-sun.co.uk

By RYAN SABEY

PRINCE Charles paid tribute to Kate yesterday - telling guests at the reception how grateful he was to have her join the family.

Her ex-headmaster Dr Bob Acheson revealed: "He said he was very lucky to have a daughter-in-law like Kate."

Charles also cracked jokes about son William's bald patch at the Buckingham Palace do right after the wedding. A guest said: "He joked about his own bald patch and his son's thinning hair, saying it must be hereditary.

"Everyone found it funny, including William and Kate."

William delighted guests by serving up a chocolate BISCUIT cake - made at his request- alongside the traditional eight-tier wedding cake.

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