Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: No plans for a bank holiday for royal wedding

Downing Street has said that there are ‘no plans for a bank holiday’ for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding next year, sending waves of disappointment throughout the UK.

The couple’s engagement was announced by Kensington Palace this morning.

Brits were hoping for an extra day off work, which was one of the bonus features of the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011.

The nation was also given a day off for the Prince of Wales’s marriage to Diana Spencer in 1981.

But Theresa May’s official spokesman said: “There are no plans for a Bank Holiday.

“There isn’t a precedent in this area.”

The couple will live at Nottingham Cottage in the grounds of the palace in London, but their wedding venue hasn’t been announced yet.

Kensington Palace did announced that the Royal Wedding will take place in spring 2018.

But what can we expect next from the happy couple? And when do we have to buy our hats for the big day?

When will the wedding be?

A date will have already been fixed and we already know to expect it in the first half of next year. Royal aides are said to have synced royal diaries a while ago to find a suitable day and make sure the Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and other royals could all attend.
Royal weddings usually take place only a few months after an engagement announcement. March is the most likely month, leaving enough time to ensure pregnant Kate is not about to give birth to her third child.

Where will the wedding venue be?

The venue will also have been decided and the Archbishop of Canterbury is expected to perform the ceremony. St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle is a good bet. The 15th century church is grand, but will allow for a smaller scale royal wedding compared with Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral.

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What about security?

The Metropolitan Police will start planning immediately for the high-profile event. The current threat level for international terrorism in the UK is severe. Extra officers will be drafted in to patrol the streets on the day amid tight security surrounding the chosen venue. Ms Markle will also have been assigned a royal bodyguard from the Metropolitan Police’s Royalty and Specialist Protection Command.

What will Meghan wear for the big day?

This it the important one – bridal-wear designers around the world will be hoping to get the call for this royal wedding. Ms Markle will no doubt already have an idea of what she wants. The actress appeared in an Anne Barge ballgown wedding dress for her role as Rachel Zane in Suits, and her own first wedding to TV producer Trevor Engleson saw her wear a sleek, strapless, floor-length white dress with diamante detail. Her stylist and close friend Jessica Mulroney runs the bridal store Kleinfeld Hudson’s Bay in Toronto, so it is likely Ms Mulroney will be Ms Markle’s first port of call for help picking out dress amid great secrecy.

Who will make the guest list?

Harry and his fiancee will have already drawn up a guest list, but there will also be a number of dignitaries they have to invite. The prince’s grandmother, the Queen will, however, be on hand to help. William revealed after his 2011 wedding: “I went to (the Queen) and said ‘Listen, I’ve got this list, not one person I know. What do I do?’ And she went ‘Get rid of it. Start from your friends and then we’ll add those we need to in due course. It’s your day.'”

Who’s responsible for the planning?

The Lord Chamberlain’s Office at Buckingham Palace is responsible for organising royal weddings.
Under the guidance of Harry’s private secretary, Edward Lane Fox, they will deal with the ceremonial aspects of the day. From the sending of the invitations, to arranging any royal carriages, the nuptials and the schedule of the day, the Royal Household staff – with their meticulous planning and tried and trusted procedures – are skilled at executing smooth-running ceremonies and celebrations for royal VIPs.

MEGHAN MARKLE’S STYLE FILE – CLICK BELOW FOR GALLERY

The Office arranges the Queen’s garden parties for 8,000 guests at a time. It is also its duty to organise royal funerals and the State Opening of Parliament. Its staff were responsible for sending out William and Kate’s gold embossed invitations and dealing with the hundreds of replies. The day-to-day running of the Lord Chamberlain’s Office falls to the Comptroller, Lieutenant Colonel Sir Andrew Ford.