William and Kate choose to delay their honeymoon
Newlyweds William and Kate have delayed their honeymoon.
Instead they were whisked away by helicopter on a 'mini-moon' weekend break in the UK.
Clarence House has dismissed reports that the couple's 'proper' honeymoon may have been delayed for security reasons.
A spokesperson said: 'It was the couple's choice to delay the honeymoon.'
But some reports say that the decision was a last-minute one. The Sunday Telegraph speculates that Kate and William were originally believed to have booked a honeymoon in Jordan, but security hazards triggered by unrest across the Middle East prompted a re-think.
The newlyweds spent their first night as man and wife at Buckingham Palace, and are spending the long weekend at a private location before William gets straight back to work as a search and rescue pilot at RAF Valley Anglesey next week.
The couple will then jet off to a secret destination for their real honeymoon at a later date.
It is thought they will be spending time at the Queen's Balmoral Estate in Scotland, which will afford them privacy and stunning countryside in which to unwind.
A St James's Palace spokesman told the Daily Mail: 'The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have chosen not to depart for a honeymoon immediately.
'Instead, after spending the weekend privately in the United Kingdom, the Duke will return to work next week.
'The locations of both their private weekend before the Duke returns to work and their future honeymoon, which will be overseas, will not be disclosed in advance.'
William and Kate emerged from Buckingham Palace on Saturday morning hand in hand at the garden entrance, and strolled along the gravel path to the open space where their maroon helicopter was ready and waiting to whisk them away.
Both were beaming and showed no signs of weariness after enjoying a lavish wedding reception with 300 family and friends that went on until 3am.
The destination for their main honeymoon is still a closely guarded secret, but Kenya, Jordan, Australia and the Caribbean have been the frontrunners so far.
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