The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – the Prince and Kate Middleton‘s new titles – revealed they would not be immediately travelling overseas for the traditional post-wedding break, choosing instead to spend time at an undisclosed location in the UK before the Prince returns to work next week.

The sudden change, announced on Saturday, came despite aides having said consistently that the honeymoon would immediately follow the wedding, and Miss Middleton shopping for sundresses and bikinis last week.

There was speculation it may have been prompted by security concerns.

The couple were originally believed to have booked a honeymoon in Jordan, where the Duchess lived for two years as a child.

The trip was thought to have included visits to the Wadi-Rum desert and the ancient city of Petra.

However, potential security hazards surrounding the continuing unrest throughout the Middle East may have prompted them to rethink their plans.

The couple left Buckingham Palace on Saturday morning after an evening reception on Friday night that lasted until after 3am.

It featured music by the singer Ellie Goulding who performed in the Palace’s throne room which had been transformed into a “massive nightclub” and ended with a spectacular fireworks display.

They walked hand in hand across a palace lawn Saturday morning to a waiting helicopter which flew them off for their secret weekend break.

It is thought they may have travelled to Balmoral, the Queen’s estate in Scotland, where the Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales, also spent part of their honeymoon.

Other possible locations for their domestic mini-break include the Scilly Isles, where Prince William holidayed with his parents and Prince Harry in 1989, and a host of friends’ private country estates.

A St James’s Palace spokesman said: “The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have chosen not to depart for a honeymoon immediately.

“Instead, after spending the weekend privately in the United Kingdom, the Duke will return to work as a search and rescue pilot next week.

“The locations of both their private weekend before the Duke returns to work and their future honeymoon, which will be overseas, will not be disclosed in advance.”

The spokesman confirmed that the couple’s post-wedding weekend would not be spent at their home in Anglesey.

The couple are expected to take their two-week overseas trip within a month, before commitments in June which include the Trooping of the Colour Parade, the Duke of Edinburgh’s 90th birthday celebrations and the Garter Day ceremony at Windsor Castle, which will be followed by a nine-day tour of Canada from June 30.

A royal aide said: “They came up with the honeymoon plans themselves, it was their choice. I don’t know what led them to that thinking.

“The two weeks’ leave Prince William has already got is what he’ll be using for the honeymoon overseas and it will be taken before their tour to Canada in July.”

Before boarding their helicopter on Saturday, palace staff carried out some of their luggage, including a bouquet of white flowers, thought to be a bloom from the decorations at the evening reception.

After appearing in two new dresses by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen during her wedding day on Friday, the Duchess showed her skill at recycling outfits for her trousseau.

For the departure for the couple’s weekend break, the Duchess wore a cobalt-blue chiffon dress by her favourite label, Issa, which she also wore last year to the wedding of their friends Harry Meade and Rosie Bradford in October, shortly after returning from a holiday in Kenya during which she and the Prince had become secretly engaged.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/royal-wedding/8485790/Royal-wedding-security-fears-hit-Prince-William-and-Kate-Middletons-honeymoon-plan.html