From the date and venue to the dress and the answer on whether the public can watch the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, here’s your guide to the royal wedding 2018.
When, where and at what precise time is the royal wedding?
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will marry on May 19, 2018, in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Kensington Palace announced that the ceremony will begin at noon, with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, officiating.
While there is no official rule, the couple’s decision to wed on a Saturday goes against tradition, as royal weddings usually take place on a weekday. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge wed on a Friday and the Queen on a Thursday.
The wedding service will begin at 12noon at St George’s Chapel. The Dean of Windsor will conduct the service and The Archbishop of Canterbury will officiate as the couple make their vows. pic.twitter.com/dTS56fy22c
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) 12 February 2018
The venue is one of the Queen’s main residences and is a central location in the history of the royal family.
The Earl and Countess of Wessex were married there and the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall wed there. Prince Harry was also christened there.
Where can you watch the royal wedding?
There is one important question on everybody’s lips: Will we be able to tune in and watch the nuptials?
The answer is yes! ITV announced that Julie Etchingham and Phillip Schofield will present ITV’s live coverage of the royal wedding, starting at 9:25am to 3pm on May 19.
They will present the coverage from a “specially constructed studio” on The Long Walk in Windsor.
Joining Phillip and Julie will be ITV News’ Mary Nightingale, who will be positioned at Windsor Castle spotting and interviewing guests as they arrive.
Meanwhile, ITV News presenter James Mates will lead live commentary of the service from inside St George’s Chapel.
In November, Kensington Palace released a statement explaining Prince Harry and Meghan “want the day to be shaped to allow members of the public to share in the joy and the fun of the day.”
They added that they want public guests to be “involved in the celebrations.”
Prince Harry and Ms. Markle would like their wedding day to be shaped to allow members of the public to share in the joy and the fun of the day. They have today given further details how public guests will be involved in the celebrations on May 19. pic.twitter.com/V62uqRW8m0
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) 2 March 2018
How can the public celebrate?
Even if you haven’t received a personal invitation to Prince Harry and Meghan’s nuptials, there are still many ways you can celebrate.
Whether it’s sitting at home in pajamas or throwing a party, royal fans across the UK are already planning how they can celebrate.
Across the UK, pubs will be allowed to stay open later than usual to give everyone a chance to celebrate the wedding.
Licensing hours can be extended over a “celebration period” on special occasions, meaning pubs and bars across England and Wales can keep serving until 1 a.m. on the morning of the wedding day, and after the couple tie the knot.
Is there a Bank Holiday for the royal wedding?
Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding day was declared a bank holiday, however, that won’t be the same for Prince Harry and Meghan’s big day as it falls on a Saturday.
In November, Downing Street announced there are “no plans” for a bank holiday on May 19 when Prince Harry and Meghan walk down the aisle.
But, it’s not all bad news. Seeing as it’s on a weekend, you can still hold your celebrations and watch the couple’s nuptials.
Will the ceremony clash with the FA Cup?
Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding day is due to take place on the same day as the FA Cup final.
But royal fans and football fans needn’t worry, as a clash between the sports event and the highly-anticipated wedding is very unlikely.
The cup final is set to kick off at 5:15 pm and the wedding ceremony is taking place over five hours before.
Harry’s brother Prince William is the president of the FA, and as part of his responsibilities, he attends the final to hand over the trophy to the winning team.
According to ITV News, the Duke of Cambridge was “struggling to work out how he can attend” both his brother’s wedding and the sports event.
But it’s been confirmed that William is going to be Harry’s best man, so he will be attending the wedding.