Prince Harry's speech as best man during William and Kate Middleton's wedding reception was short, sweet and hilarious.
He delivered the speech standing on top of a table wearing a Moroccan fez hat, kept it short, and deftly mixed levity with endearing emotion.
"Our mother would be so very proud of you," he told William causing his elder brother's eyes, and those of many others amidst the 350 guests, to tear up.
"The entire room burst into applause," a guest told the News of the World (NOTW).
Harry addressed the newly weds as "Dude and Duchess" and alluded to his elder brother's receding hair line saying he felt sorry for Kate marrying a "bald man."
Harry and his on-again, off-again girlfriend Chelsy Davy were reportedly the 'life and soul' of the bash. Once the celebrations got underway, Harry was his unrestrained self; he unbuttoned his shirt and was "dancing on windowsills and stage-diving into crowds of revelers," says the NOTW source.
At one point, Harry is reported to have put his arm around Chelsy and told her, "You're next."
Besides Harry, Kate's father, Michael Middleton, also addressed the guests, perfectly blending propriety with levity.
"Today was everything I had hoped for and I'm thrilled that equality ruled the day," he said. "Everybody appears as equal and our two families joining-together has been an easy process. I thank the Royal Family for welcoming us as easily as they have."
Recalling William's courtship of his daughter Kate, Michael said, "I knew things were getting serious when I found a helicopter in my garden. I thought, gosh, he must like my daughter."
The reception had all the strapping of a club bash - DJ, sound system, glitter-ball and blue ultra-violet lighting. It was held at the Palace's 118ft Ballroom and two adjacent state room, starting 8pm.
Prince Charles and Camilla, and Kate's parents Michael and Carole, left immediately after the first dance, "leaving the youngsters to it".
