Martin Beckford in Luân Đôn revels in a jovial reception at the palace.

THE Prince of Wales paid a touching tribute to his new daughter-in-law, saying the royal family was ''lucky to have her'' as he addressed 650 wedding guests.

At the champagne reception in Buckingham Palace, the prince repeatedly praised the Duchess of Cambridge, but gently poked fun at his son, Prince William, over his thinning hair.

Dr Robert Acheson, former headmaster of St Andrew's Prep School in Berks, where the then Kate Middleton studied, said: ''Prince Charles gave a heartfelt speech and offered some high praise for...