Millionaire rock star Mark Knopfler has secretly tied the knot with his actress lover Kitty Aldridge.

The twice-married Dire Straits guitarist said "I do" at a Valentine's Day ceremony in a luxury holiday villa on the Caribbean island of Barbados.

Their surprise wedding was witnessed by just a handful of pals and the 15-strong gospel choir who sang at the service.

Princess Diana's favourite guitarist has been dating Kitty, who starred in the hit BBC drama To Play The King, for three years.

They left their pounds 1 million mansion in Notting Hill, London, two weeks ago, giving friends no hint of their plans.

In Barbados, they were so busy organising their big day they were hardly seen outside their pounds 10,000-a-week rented lovenest.

Their secrecy paid off. Unlike Noel and Liam Gallagher, their marriage went without a hitch.

Kitty, who is 13 years younger than Mark, 47, wore a stunningly elegant white lace gown.

Her husband, who has made some pounds 20 million from Dire Straits, settled for a smart cream suit.

Scores of blue and white balloons soared skywards to mark the end of the simple service, held just 10 yards from the sea.

Later Mark and Kitty enjoyed drinks with their guests at the five-bedroom villa which boasts a swimming pool and tennis court.

Friends say Mark has become a changed man since meeting Kitty. "He has never been happier," one pal tells me.

His first marriage to childhood sweetheart Cathy broke up before his Dire Straits career took off....