Revealed: how prince andrew teased princess diana on her wedding day

Princess Diana and Prince Charles married in their spectacular royal wedding in 1981. However, after a hiccup in the wedding service, Prince Andrew teased his new sister-in-law, writes a

royal author. Biographer Andrew Morton, in his 1983 book “Andrew: the Playboy Prince” takes a look at the historic wedding day.  Mr Morton writes: “It was the wedding of the decade when

Charles married Lady Di and Andrew carried the ring to the marriage ceremony televised around the world from St Paul’s Cathedral.  “At the Buckingham Palace reception afterwards, clown

prince Andrew was on his best form, teasing his new sister-in-law and telling the new Princess of Wales: ‘You married my father.’  “During the nervous wedding ceremony, Diana agreed to take

the hand of Philip Charles Arthur George when she got her words twisted by mistake.”  The author also reveals that Charles and Diana’s historic balcony kiss – the first ever, which set the

royal wedding tradition – was Andrew’s idea.  He writes: “On the Palace balcony later, it was Andrew who was responsible for That Kiss.  “As bride and groom waved happily to the hundreds of

thousands thronging outside the Palace, Andrew urged Charles: ‘Go on, give her a kiss’.  “Big brother obliged, to the delight of the nation.”  Four years later in 1985, Princess Diana was

instrumental in bring Andrew and his royal bride together.  Royal biographer Ingrid Seward, in her 1991 book “Sarah: HRH The Duchess of York”, takes a look at the early days of their royal

romance, which began at Ascot in the summer of 1985.  Ms Seward writes: “[Sarah’s] acquaintanceship with the Princess of Wales had developed into a close friendship and while the Windsor

gathering was very much the Sovereign’s private gathering, she enjoys the company of younger people and naturally enough sought the guidance of her daughter-in-law when she came to draw up

the guest lists.  “Sarah was the obvious choice.   “The right age, the right background, and already on familiar terms with the Royal Family.”  The author continues that Sarah’s place 

sitting next to Andrew for Ascot lunch and dinner was “not quite coincidence”.  She writes: “The Princess, an incorrigible romantic, may have been trying her hand at a little matchmaking.” 

When Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew hit it off, Diana gave her “enthusiastic encouragement” for the royal romance to blossom.  Diana’s father Earl Spencer told the author: “The two of them

are great friends.  “Sarah’s arrival made things much easier for Diana. She was so thrilled when Sarah and Andrew got married.  “After all, Diana was the one who brought them together.”