They came prepared for the worst but on a day with just a handful of arrests even the police could afford to smile
Just 55 people arrested on the big day- Officers laughed and joked with revellers
- One policeman staged a mock stumble in front of cheering crowds
They came prepared for the worst but the smiling face of the British bobby won over the public yesterday - with not a truncheon or riot shield in sight.
With a playful smile and a tip of the helmet hundreds of officers opted for the 'softy, softly' approach to tame an estimated one million people who descended on the capital to watch the happy couple tie the knot, and barely a hint of a flare up blighted the special day.
When hundreds of thousands of well-wishers surged towards Buckingham Palace eager for a glimpse of the newly-wed Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the balcony, officers braced themselves for trouble.
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World watching: The Met turned entertainers as they kept the waiting crowds amused
Crowd pleaser: The bobbie pretends to trip over in his 'routine' to entertain waiting crowds
Applause! The police officer revels in the laughter after his comedy stumble
But the excited throngs were calmed when the Met deployed its humour and charm offensive as its latest crowd control tactic.
One comedy-copper looked like he'd spent more time picking up tips from Ken Dodd than on the beat arresting criminals.
He had the masses in the palm of his hand as he paraded along The Mall and then appeared to trip over quite spectacularly in a stumble that would not be out of place in Keystone Kops sparking a roar of laughter from the crowd.
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Realising he had quite an audience he raised his arms again and the throngs of spectators cheered again at his comedy stumble.
But it wasn't just this officer who charmed the wedding day revellers as they went about their duties.
One officer delighted schoolchildren who posed for photos outside Downing Street wearing his helmet.
Another proudly escorted two delighted lady guests arm in arm to the wedding, whilst others joked with revellers whilst keeping a close eye out for trouble.
And the boys in blue's happy-go-luck approach to frontline policing paid off as just 55 people were arrested.
Nice hat: A schoolgirl tries on a police officer's helmet during Sam Cam's royal wedding party in Downing Street
We're off to the palace! Delighted children wave Union Jack flags whilst a bobbie keeps an eye on the crowd
However, the success of Scotland Yard's security operation was no doubt due to the 'woman's touch' bought to hard-line policing.
Police chief Lynne Owens, only the second ever female assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan police, and her colleague Christine Jones oversaw the mammoth operation co-coordinating the 5,000 officers, the Territorial Support Group (TSG), firearms teams and undercover units, which provided a 'ring of steel' around the capital.
They also ensured that 80 foreign dignitaries, the royal family, and hundreds of wedding guests, remained safe and kept at bay Muslim extremists and far-right groups who have tried to organise protests.
There were fears of mass disorder after masked thugs gathered in central London, but officers swooped on two anti-royal protests, preventing an outbreak of violence.
In the days leading up to the wedding, they rounded up 99 potential troublemakers including a group of anarchists who planned to behead effigies of the Royal Family with a guillotine.
As well as the 55 arrests, 13 activists were stopped at Charing Cross and Covent Garden carrying climbing helmets, protective pads and anti-monarchy placards.
Now that's what I call a police escort: An officer, with a lady on each arm, helps guests arriving at the wedding
Enjoying the event: Armed police laugh as they patrol the Mall during the Royal Wedding
The most serious incident was an alleged *** attack on a 14-year-old girl who was standing with her family on Pall Mall. Police later arrested a 38-year-old man. Others were held for assault, being drunk and disorderly, drugs possession, theft and carrying an offensive weapon.
A man was also arrested under the Terrorism Act. Officers swooped after he was seen acting suspiciously, taking photos of transport hubs and security personnel. Police sources, however, indicated the man was likely to be released without charge.
Despite crowds of more than one million in London, large scale protests were prevented by roving squads of 1,000 officers in the West End.
Snipers took to rooftops and undercover officers mingled among the crowds as part of the Met operation.
Almost 100 known troublemakers were banned from attending central London in advance of the day.
Fully staffed: Police lead the thousands of people down The Mall towards Buckingham Palace to watch Prince William and his new bride Kate on the balcony at Buckingham Palace
On the eve of the wedding three people were arrested in Brockley, South-East London after police learned of a plot to stage a mock execution of effigies of members of the Royal Family outside Westminster Abbey.
One of them was Chris Knight, 68, the leader of anti-capitalist group, the Government of the Dead.
His partner Camilla Power, 60, and 45-year-old Patrick Macroidan, who was dressed as an executioner, were also held.
Known anarchist Charlie Veitch was also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance.
He was said to be planning a protest at Soho Square. A small group of hooded anarchists from the 'Right Royal Orgy Group' gathered there for a so-called anti-royal picnic chanting 'revolution' and 'we all live in a fascist regime'.
Last check: Police officers in dress uniform do a final patrol on The Mall in London in preparation for the Royal procession on the wedding day of Prince William and Kate Middleton
But police invoked stop and search powers to arrest activists and the protest was quickly disbanded.
Elsewhere, Republic, a pressure group which campaigns for a democratically elected head of state, hosted a 'Not the Royal Wedding' street party in Holborn.
The atmosphere was jovial as 400 gathered to sign petitions calling for an elected head of state.
Met Assistant Commissioner Lynne Owens said: 'We set out to make it a safe, happy event and we believe we have achieved that.'
Scotland Yard beefed up its stop and search powers as a small group of masked anarchists gathered in Soho Square, central London.
Officers were also in Red Lion Square, where 70 protesters were counted.
Other arrests included one on suspicion of ***ual assault in Pall Mall as crowds watched the ceremony on big screens.
On patrol: Police officers ride motorcycles along The Mall today
As the attention of the world was fixed on London, detectives threw a multimillion-pound ring of steel around the event including a traffic exclusion zone and three helicopters patrolling the skies
They appealed to the public to be the police's 'eyes and ears' to help keep troublemakers at bay.
Snipers were taking to rooftops and undercover officers mingled among the crowds as part of a massive covert and uniformed operation to avoid an atrocity.
Security against potential threats from al Qaeda-inspired extremists, dissident Irish republican terrorists, anarchists and even lone stalkers was balanced with the desire to let onlookers enjoy the day of pageantry.
Around 70 people were banned from the City of Westminster as part of their bail conditions after being arrested or charged over various previous alleged disorder offences.
But despite up to 80 VIPs requiring personal protection, there was no intelligence to suggest that police would need to use anti-terror powers.
In the wake of disturbances at the recent TUC marches and student protests, officers paid close attentions to the movements of anarchist groups.
As part of final preparations for the big day, 20 squatters were also arrested in a string of raids across London yesterday.
Police said the squat arrests were not "specifically related" to the wedding.
But an MP criticised the 'disproportionate pre-emptive strike'.
Huge operation: Map of the Royal wedding route with details of security arrangements for Friday's event
Ring of steel: Armed police officers patrol pass the tents set up outside Westminster Abbey
No holes in the net: the security gate barrier on the pavement near the Westminster Abbey
Fears of any major protests causing disruption near Westminster Abbey have eased with extremist group, Muslims Against Crusades, announcing they no longer plan to attend.
Prince William and his bride-to-be Kate Middleton have expressed their gratitude to police after officers delivered a firm message to potential trouble-makers.
With hundreds of millions watching around the world, tensions ran high, with senior officers keen to avoid another embarrassing episode like the one in which protesters attacked a car carrying the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall last December.
And police took no chances. During the Pope's visit last September, six cleaners were arrested by counter-terrorism officers and later released without charge amid reports that they had been overheard making a joke in a canteen.