Prince William and Kate Middleton's royal wedding celebration made Prince Charles lose his voice

Prince Charles and Camilla arrive for the wedding

PRINCE Charles yesterday told how his vocal chords took a battering during the raucous celebrations at William and Kate’s Palace wedding reception.

The 62-year-old lost his voice after chatting away to the newlyweds and their pals during the boozy party that went on until dawn.

Charles and Camilla left at midnight, but the damage had already been done. The croaky prince shared his experience with a crowd ­of 350 gathered at the revamped Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-on-Avon.

Asked how he was by visitor Andrew Mosley, 23, from Solihull, the prince replied: “Actually, I lost my voice after the party.”

Charles, who is president of the Royal ­Shakespeare Company, also chatted to royal fan Karen Reid about his son’s big day on Friday.

She said: “We told him we had enjoyed it very much and he said he had enjoyed it as well.”

While Charles was still trying to recover from Friday’s fun and frolicking, newlyweds William and Kate returned to their cottage in Anglesey, North Wales, to begin their lives as a married couple at home. The prince is due to resume his duties as an RAF rescue helicopter pilot today.

The pair stayed out of the limelight as they prepare for their honeymoon, which they have postponed in the hope they can slip away ­unnoticed at a later date.

They are believed to have spent a quiet weekend at Windsor Castle. William and Kate will not have servants at their cottage as they hope to live a normal life as possible.

Courtiers plan to ease Kate into royal life with just a few public engagements. The only trip so far announced is a short one to Canada in July.

William’s aides last night denied reports he would be leaving his wife behind for 10 weeks in September while he serves in the Falklands.

Queues yesterday formed around Westminster Abbey to get a glimpse of Kate’s wedding bouquet which is on display for a week. Her dress will also go on show, Clarence House confirmed.

- ONE London punter was £2,500 better off last night after betting £100 at 25-1 that the couple’s first dance would be to Ellie Goulding’s cover of Elton John’s classic Your Song.

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Prince William spends eve of wedding with his dad Prince Charles

Prince Charles will cut short his Easter break at Birkhall, Scotland, to offer his eldest son support as he prepares for the biggest day of his life.

The pair will spend the night before the wedding at St James's Palace and will see each other before William and brother Harry, his best man, head to Westminster Abbey.

The gesture is a sign of 28-year-old William's closeness to his dad. It is understood Charles' determination to support him explains why he is now not expected to attend an April 28 dinner for foreign royals hosted by the Queen.

Last night a senior Royal source said: "Prince Charles is a loving father who's a lot closer to his sons than people often realise. He's made it clear his priority in the hours before the wedding is his son.

A spokesman for William confirmed he will spend the last few days before the wedding at his 62-year-old father's official London home. Although he will be on duty with his helicopter search and rescue unit in coming days, his shifts allow time for final preparations and rehearsals in the capital.

Harry, 26, will also be with William to ease any nerves. The source added: "They're very close. It's possible they'll spend time alone with their father on the eve of the wedding."

Last week The Sun revealed bride Kate Middleton, 29, will spend HER final night before the big day with her mum and sister at London's historic Goring Hotel.

Meanwhile she and William have been in charge of "every detail" of their "exquisitely beautiful" wedding day, it emerged yesterday.

A St James's Palace spokesman said: "They've been responsible for every detail, from the canapes that will be eaten at the reception to the venue and the carriages. No decision has been taken that hasn't been passed by them."

William took a break from his preparations on Monday to play in an eight-a-side football match against a team from Xfm radio in Battersea, South London.

CHARLES becomes the longest-serving heir apparent in British history today. His 59 years, two months and 14 days waiting for the throne breaks the record set by his great-great grandad King Edward VII.

d.larcombe@the-sun.co.uk

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