diff --git a/include/xlnt/workbook/worksheet_iterator.hpp b/include/xlnt/workbook/worksheet_iterator.hpp
index b2830f88..c1b24a78 100644
--- a/include/xlnt/workbook/worksheet_iterator.hpp
+++ b/include/xlnt/workbook/worksheet_iterator.hpp
@@ -61,12 +61,27 @@ public:
     /// <summary>
     /// Copy constructs a worksheet iterator from another iterator.
     /// </summary>
-    worksheet_iterator(const worksheet_iterator &);
+    worksheet_iterator(const worksheet_iterator &) = default;
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Assigns the iterator so that it points to the same worksheet in the same workbook.
     /// </summary>
-    worksheet_iterator &operator=(const worksheet_iterator &);
+    worksheet_iterator &operator=(const worksheet_iterator &) = default;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Copy constructs a worksheet iterator from another iterator.
+    /// </summary>
+    worksheet_iterator(worksheet_iterator &&) = default;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Assigns the iterator so that it points to the same worksheet in the same workbook.
+    /// </summary>
+    worksheet_iterator &operator=(worksheet_iterator &&) = default;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Default destructor
+    /// </summary>
+    ~worksheet_iterator() = default;
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Dereferences the iterator to return the worksheet it is pointing to.
@@ -101,7 +116,7 @@ private:
     /// <summary>
     /// The target workbook of this iterator.
     /// </summary>
-    workbook &wb_;
+    workbook *wb_;
 
     /// <summary>
     /// The index of the worksheet in wb_ this iterator is currently pointing to.
@@ -133,12 +148,27 @@ public:
     /// <summary>
     /// Copy constructs a worksheet iterator from another iterator.
     /// </summary>
-    const_worksheet_iterator(const const_worksheet_iterator &);
+    const_worksheet_iterator(const const_worksheet_iterator &) = default;
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Assigns the iterator so that it points to the same worksheet in the same workbook.
     /// </summary>
-    const_worksheet_iterator &operator=(const const_worksheet_iterator &);
+    const_worksheet_iterator &operator=(const const_worksheet_iterator &) = default;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Move constructs a worksheet iterator from another iterator.
+    /// </summary>
+    const_worksheet_iterator(const_worksheet_iterator &&) = default;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Assigns the iterator from a temporary
+    /// </summary>
+    const_worksheet_iterator &operator=(const_worksheet_iterator &&) = default;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Default destructor
+    /// </summary>
+    ~const_worksheet_iterator() = default;
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Dereferences the iterator to return the worksheet it is pointing to.
@@ -173,7 +203,7 @@ private:
     /// <summary>
     /// The target workbook of this iterator.
     /// </summary>
-    const workbook &wb_;
+    const workbook *wb_;
 
     /// <summary>
     /// The index of the worksheet in wb_ this iterator is currently pointing to.
diff --git a/source/workbook/worksheet_iterator.cpp b/source/workbook/worksheet_iterator.cpp
index daee7a64..0487cf33 100644
--- a/source/workbook/worksheet_iterator.cpp
+++ b/source/workbook/worksheet_iterator.cpp
@@ -28,18 +28,13 @@
 namespace xlnt {
 
 worksheet_iterator::worksheet_iterator(workbook &wb, std::size_t index)
-    : wb_(wb), index_(index)
-{
-}
-
-worksheet_iterator::worksheet_iterator(const worksheet_iterator &rhs)
-    : wb_(rhs.wb_), index_(rhs.index_)
+    : wb_(&wb), index_(index)
 {
 }
 
 worksheet worksheet_iterator::operator*()
 {
-    return wb_[index_];
+    return (*wb_)[index_];
 }
 
 worksheet_iterator &worksheet_iterator::operator++()
@@ -50,7 +45,7 @@ worksheet_iterator &worksheet_iterator::operator++()
 
 worksheet_iterator worksheet_iterator::operator++(int)
 {
-    worksheet_iterator old(wb_, index_);
+    worksheet_iterator old(*wb_, index_);
     ++*this;
     return old;
 }
@@ -65,25 +60,14 @@ bool worksheet_iterator::operator!=(const worksheet_iterator &comparand) const
     return !(*this == comparand);
 }
 
-worksheet_iterator &worksheet_iterator::operator=(const worksheet_iterator &other)
-{
-    index_ = other.index_;
-    return *this;
-}
-
 const_worksheet_iterator::const_worksheet_iterator(const workbook &wb, std::size_t index)
-    : wb_(wb), index_(index)
-{
-}
-
-const_worksheet_iterator::const_worksheet_iterator(const const_worksheet_iterator &rhs)
-    : wb_(rhs.wb_), index_(rhs.index_)
+    : wb_(&wb), index_(index)
 {
 }
 
 const worksheet const_worksheet_iterator::operator*()
 {
-    return wb_.sheet_by_index(index_);
+    return wb_->sheet_by_index(index_);
 }
 
 const_worksheet_iterator &const_worksheet_iterator::operator++()
@@ -94,7 +78,7 @@ const_worksheet_iterator &const_worksheet_iterator::operator++()
 
 const_worksheet_iterator const_worksheet_iterator::operator++(int)
 {
-    const_worksheet_iterator old(wb_, index_);
+    const_worksheet_iterator old(*wb_, index_);
     ++*this;
     return old;
 }