Bill and Hillary Clinton’s daughter has married her long-time boyfriend in the picturesque New York village of Rhinebeck in what has been dubbed America's royal wedding.
Chelsea Clinton, the only child of the former US president and the US Secretary of State, wed Marc Mezvinsky at Astor Courts, an historic 50-acre estate on the Hudson River.
‘Today, we watched with great pride and overwhelming emotion as Chelsea and Marc wed in a beautiful ceremony at Astor Courts, surrounded by family and their close friends,’ Bill and Hillary Clinton said in a statement.
‘We could not have asked for a more perfect day to celebrate the beginning of their life together, and we are so happy to welcome Marc into our family,’ the statement said.
The newlyweds have known each other since they were teenagers. He is an investment banker.
His parents, Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky and Edward Mezvinsky, were once Democratic US House of Representatives members.
Chelsea Clinton, who used to work at a New York hedge fund and has more recently studied health policy at Columbia University, has kept a low profile since her father left the White House in January 2001, although she campaigned for her mother during her failed run for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination.
Airspace above Rhinebeck was closed for 12 hours yesterday for the wedding and media were kept well away from the entrance to Astor Courts. Security in the area was comparable to that surrounding state visits.
The guest list was reported to be between 400 and 500, but did not include a very understanding President Barack Obama.
‘Hillary and Bill properly want to keep this as a thing for Chelsea and her soon-to-be husband,’ Mr Obama said on ‘The View’ talk show on Thursday.
‘It would be tough enough to have one president at a wedding. You don't want two presidents.’
