Rich list wedding takes place

The marriage was billed as the wedding of the decade

The union of two of the richest families in the UK has taken place in a wedding billed as the society event of the decade.

The wedding at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds, saw Ben Goldsmith, 23 - son of the late billionaire Sir James Goldsmith - marry Kate Rothschild, 21, heir to one of Europe's most famous banking families.

Security was tight with extra police hired for the service and secrecy even surrounding the timing of the ceremony.

About 600 guests from around the world were at the wedding.

They included Mr Goldsmith's sister, Jemima, and her husband, former Pakistan cricket star Imran Khan; Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and their son Lord Freddie Windsor.

Prince William rumour

It also included former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman; disgraced former Conservative minister Jonathan Aitken and television presenter Sir David Frost.

Guests went on to nearby Rushbrooke Hall, the Goldsmiths' family home, for a reception later.

Several hundred people gathered outside the church to watch guests arrive.

There had been rumours that Prince William would be at the wedding - although he was nowhere to be seen.

The wedding at the 15th Century church brought Bury St Edmunds its own mini-boom.

Hotel rooms in the town centre were all booked for the weekend with many sold out months ago.