Secrets of the royal snaps: The £1 wiggly worm Prince Harry bought to relax young bridesmaid

By REBECCA ENGLISH FOR THE DAILY MAIL
Updated: 13:31 EST, 4 May 2011

As Royal Family wedding portraits go, it is as traditional as they come.

But just take a closer look at lovely little Eliza Lopes, the Duchess of Cornwall's grand-daughter, and you will see what appears to be an uninvited guest in the line-up.

Clutched in the adorable three-year-old's hand is something pink and furry. But what on earth is it?

Welcome distraction: Bridesmaid Eliza Lopez was entertained at the Royal Wedding with a £1 wiggly worm

On Tuesday a giggling Camilla let slip the secret – it was a £1 'wiggly worm' bought by joker Prince Harry especially for the occasion.

Speaking at charity event in Wiltshire, the Duchess told the Mail that she had been 'terribly worried' that Eliza and the other young bridesmaids might find the event a bit overwhelming.

So in order to break the ice and keep the youngsters occupied, Harry brought along the cheap furry toy which wriggles when you pull a piece of string.

When Eliza, whose mother is Camilla's daughter, Laura Lopes, looked a bit scared at the roar of the crowd on the carriage ride from Westminster Abbey back to Buckingham Palace, best man Harry quickly pulled it out of his pocket to make the youngster laugh.

The trick worked so well that Eliza refused to hand the toy back and insisted hanging onto it for the official wedding photographs, taken by society snapper Hugo Burnand.

The photographs were subsequently sent around the world – but no-one has spotted the toy until now.

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Happy occasion: The Royal portrait with Eliza and her wiggly friend at the front, second from left

'Did you see the wiggly worm? That was the funniest thing. I can' t believe no one has spotted it,' Camilla said.

'I was so worried about Eliza. She is such a lovely little thing and looked so gorgeous in her dress but it was a very big occasion for a child of her age.

'Harry pulled this wiggly worm out of his pocket in the carriage to keep them amused.

'Eliza loved it so much that she wouldn't let go and it even made the official photographs.

Green fingered: The Duchess of Cornwall plants a 'wedding cake tree' in Tetbury

'Can you believe it? She was holding onto my finger but in her other hand was this worm.

'I was so proud of her, she looked adorable in her dress and couldn't stop twirling around in it. It was such a lovely, lovely day.'

Camilla was speaking at an event in her role as patron of The Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust at the Bowood Hotel and Spa near Calne.

The charity, which relies almost solely on public donations, helps elderly and vulnerable victims of crime by helping to make their homes secure.

Newly weds the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were today due back at their home on Anglesey in time for Prince William to start work as an RAF Search and Rescue pilot.

The couple have enjoyed a three-day 'mini-moon' at a private location in the UK and will fly out for a proper post-wedding holiday later this month.

Later on Tuesday the Duchess also planted a 'wedding cake' tree to mark the marriage of the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The tree – also known as The Cornus contraversa  - which takes its name from the shape of its branches was bought by the Tetbury Evening Women's Institute of which Camilla is a member.

As she planted the tree in the grounds of St Mary's Church, in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, the Duchess said: 'It gives me great pleasure to plant this tree to mark the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

'This tree symbolises what was a wonderful and very, very special day.'