WINDSOR, England - Queen Elizabeth II, rumoured to have snubbed the wedding of her son Prince Charles to his longtime love, surprised royal watchers on Saturday with a warm toast to the couple and a crack at humour that filled Windsor Castle with laughter.
The queen, the host of the reception at her weekend residence west of London, told the 800 royal wedding guests that she was "proud" of Charles for overcoming "obstacles" faced en route to his second wedding day.
The guests were also treated to a moment of levity with the sovereign as she made the first post-wedding toast to her heir and the former Camilla Parker Bowles, now known as the Duchess of Cornwall.
"I've got two things to announce to you of the greatest importance," the queen said, according to comedian Stephen Fry.
She then proceeded to announce the winner of the Grand National horse race -- held just after Charles's and Camilla's civil ceremony and religious blessing.
Only afterward did she toast the newlyweds.
"The first is that the Grand National was won by Hedgehunter," Queen Elizabeth said.
"The second is to say to you that despite Becher's Brook and The Chair (fences in the race) and all kinds of other terrible obstacles, my son has come through and I'm very proud and wish them well."
Guest Colonel Addy from the Canadian Scottish Regiment, headed symbolically by the prince, praised the queen for her unexpected wit.
"She always says things that people don't expect, and they're always humorous. I think that's a sign of charisma, a sign of charm, and she is a wonderful lady," he told AFP.
Media earlier described the queen as delivering a snub to her son's wedding -- the second after his gala first nuptials to the late Princess Diana in 1981 -- by declining to attend the civil ceremony held at Guildhall.
Royal insiders claim that she missed the town hall service because it was incompatible with her official status as supreme governor of the Church of England, a title her son will assume when he ascends to the throne.
She and her husband Prince Philip were however present at the blessing at Saint George's Chapel inside Windsor Castle, conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.
Charles and Camilla, who have known each other for more than 30 years, were lovers during their previous respective marriages, and many Britons still blame Camilla for her role in the marriage break-up and 1996 divorce with Diana, who died in 1997 in a Paris car crash.
The queen had offered her consent and support for Charles's remarriage, but her decision to skip the Guildhall ceremony stoked fresh doubts about her feelings.
While observers found the sovereign unexpressive during the blessing, her aloofness faded afterward as photos were snapped with her son and new daughter-in-law on the steps of the chapel.
At the reception afterward, one guest described the queen as "very bubbly and chatty".
04/09/2005 21:44 GMT