About 600 people gathered at the Queen’s Deeside retreat to celebrate the royal wedding.
Crowds sat in the peaceful grounds of Balmoral watching the ceremony on six large TV screens and toasted the couple and waved union flags as they tied the knot.
People had travelled from throughout the UK to be at the castle for the occasion, which also drew visitors from abroad.
Estate managers hailed the day as “a great success”.
Sisters Anna Bennett, 32, from Edinburgh, and Morven Shaw, 34, from London, wore masks of the royal couple.
“I travelled up because I’m Scottish and I wanted to be up here and with my family,” Mrs Shaw said
Mrs Bennett added: “We thought it would be a nice place to be in Royal Deeside. It’s been lovely and very well organised.”
Amanda Mann, 40, of Springbank Terrace, Aberdeen, was there with her two children Aria, 7, and Sebastien, 4, who were dressed in a wedding dress and suit.
“It will be such a great memory for the children. You feel more part of it being here. It’s a fantastic atmosphere,” she said.
Carol Williams, 45, of Bush Farm, Crathie, said: “She looked really pretty. I think she is prepared for royal life. She knew what she was getting into.”
Elizabeth Surcouf, 32, of Jersey, said: “She looked absolutely beautiful. The dress was stunning, very classic.
“We were in Scotland on holiday and decided there wouldn’t be a better place than this to watch the ceremony.”
Royal warrant-holder Barry Florence, of HM Sheridan Butchers at Ballater, said it was a proud day for him.
“I’m very honoured to be here,” he said. “I couldn’t think of a better place to be. I’d like to wish the royal couple all the best and just hope they spend a lot of time in Deeside.”
French couple Laurent Brassart, 45, and his wife, Marie-Charlotte, 39, were visiting Scotland with their three children for the first time and were impressed by Balmoral.
Mr Brassart said: “Our son, Pierre-Louis, has just had his 10th birthday and he said he wanted to come to Balmoral on the wedding day.
“I’m glad we did. It has been a wonderful experience.”
Garry Marsden, the estate’s visitor enterprise manager, said the decision to screen the wedding for visitors had been a great success. He added: “The weather has been very good and we have had more people than we expected so it’s worked out really well.
“We have had a great start to the visitor season.”
Crowds sat in the peaceful grounds of Balmoral watching the ceremony on six large TV screens and toasted the couple and waved union flags as they tied the knot.
People had travelled from throughout the UK to be at the castle for the occasion, which also drew visitors from abroad.
Estate managers hailed the day as “a great success”.
Sisters Anna Bennett, 32, from Edinburgh, and Morven Shaw, 34, from London, wore masks of the royal couple.
“I travelled up because I’m Scottish and I wanted to be up here and with my family,” Mrs Shaw said
Mrs Bennett added: “We thought it would be a nice place to be in Royal Deeside. It’s been lovely and very well organised.”
Amanda Mann, 40, of Springbank Terrace, Aberdeen, was there with her two children Aria, 7, and Sebastien, 4, who were dressed in a wedding dress and suit.
“It will be such a great memory for the children. You feel more part of it being here. It’s a fantastic atmosphere,” she said.
Carol Williams, 45, of Bush Farm, Crathie, said: “She looked really pretty. I think she is prepared for royal life. She knew what she was getting into.”
Elizabeth Surcouf, 32, of Jersey, said: “She looked absolutely beautiful. The dress was stunning, very classic.
“We were in Scotland on holiday and decided there wouldn’t be a better place than this to watch the ceremony.”
Royal warrant-holder Barry Florence, of HM Sheridan Butchers at Ballater, said it was a proud day for him.
“I’m very honoured to be here,” he said. “I couldn’t think of a better place to be. I’d like to wish the royal couple all the best and just hope they spend a lot of time in Deeside.”
French couple Laurent Brassart, 45, and his wife, Marie-Charlotte, 39, were visiting Scotland with their three children for the first time and were impressed by Balmoral.
Mr Brassart said: “Our son, Pierre-Louis, has just had his 10th birthday and he said he wanted to come to Balmoral on the wedding day.
“I’m glad we did. It has been a wonderful experience.”
Garry Marsden, the estate’s visitor enterprise manager, said the decision to screen the wedding for visitors had been a great success. He added: “The weather has been very good and we have had more people than we expected so it’s worked out really well.
