The 27-year-old tied the knot at Richhill Presbyterian Church just hours after meeting the monarch at Hillsborough Castle – an encounter he described as "a perfect way to stave off my wedding nerves".

Andrew said: "I was introduced to the Queen as the cricketer who was getting married tomorrow.

Giggling

"She was all pleased to hear that. I suppose it was something different for her to hear as it is quite unusual and I suppose she does not hear that everyday.

"I asked her if I was wise getting married. She started to giggle and said then 'of course'.

"So if the Queen said it was okay then it will do me."

Couple

Andrew said he and his new wife Ydele –who is also 27-years-old – were enjoying their wedding day.

Ydele is captain of Armagh ladies' hockey club. They met during their time at university in Belfast.

He said the new Mrs White would have liked to meet the Queen in Hillsborough along with him – about 300 Ulster sporting stars, administrators and coaches were at the reception – but that was not to be.

Victory

Andrew, an Irish cricketer, played in the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies, where Ireland reached the Super 8 stage.

Andrew added: "I told the Queen about St Patrick's Day last year when we beat Pakistan at the World Cup.

"Her eyes lit up and she said that she remembered it well. I suppose it shows what an impact the game had across the world.

"The Duke of Edinburgh has cricket in his background, having played the game when he was younger, and the Queen is often seen at Lords so it was wonderful to meet them."

Honeymoon

Andrew said he and Ydele will have a few days to relax before heading off to Mauritius on Sunday on honeymoon.

"We are only going for 10 days because we both have to get back to school," he said.

"We are both PE teachers. I work in Grosvenor and Ydele teaches in Parkhall College in Antrim."

Andrew, a right-handed batsman and a right-arm off-break bowler, has played with Northamptonshire since 2005 and with Ireland since 2002.

He also lined up for the Irish Under-19 squad between 1999 and 2000.

Royal visit a relief from White-knuckle wedding