Royal Wedding cake decorated with 900 symbolic sugar-paste flowers on Kate's request

Fiona Cairns (back) instructs her Royal Wedding cake team during the finishing touches at Buckingham Palace

Prince William and his bride Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, cut the first slice of the magnificent eight-tiered wedding cake this afternoon as they celebrated their marriage with friends and family.

The confectionery masterpiece covered in cream and white icing and decorated with up to 900 delicate sugar-paste flowers was centre-stage at the Buckingham Palace reception held in the picture gallery.