America's "Royal Wedding"

Bill and Hillary Clinton's daughter has married investment banker Marc Mezvinsky 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, tied the knot with her childhood sweetheart just outside Rhinebeck, around 100 miles north of New York City.

Bill and Hillary Clinton said in a statement: "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. 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.

"On behalf of the newlyweds, we want to give special thanks to the people of Rhinebeck for welcoming us and to everyone for their well-wishes on this special day."

The statement did not indicate exactly when the nuptials took place.

On Friday night, Bill and Hillary Clinton waved to crowds of onlookers as they arrived for a late-night cocktail party for some of the wedding guests.

Chelsea Clinton, 30, and Mezvinsky, 32, have known each other since they were teenagers. He is an investment banker, whose parents Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky and Edward Mezvinsky were once Democratic US House of Representatives members. Chelsea Clinton studied at the University of Oxford and Columbia University and has worked at a New York hedge fund. She 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.

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.

"It would be tough enough to have one president at a wedding. You don't want two presidents."

(c) Sky News 2010