Prince and Kate to marry April 29 at Westminster
The couple were said to be “completely over the moon” after getting the spring wedding they wanted in a venue they chose for its “staggering beauty” and 1,000-year royal history.
Downing Street announced that April 29 would be an extra public holiday, meaning many people would enjoy two four-day weekends in-a-row.
St James’s Palace said the wedding would be paid for by Queen Elizabeth, the Prince of Wales and the Middleton family, although the taxpayer would pick up the bill for related costs such as policing.
Prince William has strong ties to Westminster Abbey in central London — his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, was married and crowned in the historic place of worship, and the funeral of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, was held there.
The couple, both 28, announced their engagement last week, nine years after they met as students at St Andrew’s University.
Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, private secretary to the Prince, told reporters yesterday: “The couple are completely over the moon. I’ve never seen two happier people, which is absolutely fabulous to work in that sort of environment.
“They’re on cloud nine, like any other newly engaged couple. They’re now getting stuck into organising their wedding. They are very much in charge of the arrangements.”
He added: “We know the world will be watching on April 29, and the couple are very, very keen indeed that the spectacle should be a classic example of what Britain does best.
“The Prince and Miss Middleton want to strike a balance between making it an enjoyable day and recognising the precarious state of Britain’s finances.
“For example, Prince William has already expressed a clear wish that any involvement by the armed forces should rely in great part on those servicemen and women already committed to public and ceremonial duties.”
The cost of the wedding — including the church service, music, flowers, decorations, reception and honeymoon — will be split between Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles and Middleton’s millionaire parents, Michael and Carole.
The precedent for the move was set by Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh’s wedding in Westminster Abbey in 1947 and Charles and Diana’s nuptials in St Paul’s Cathedral in 1981.
It has not been decided who will pay for what, but a senior royal aide stressed: “The Middleton family from the outset have been extremely generous. They are very, very keen to contribute.”
The British cabinet agreed yesterday to make the royal wedding a public holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
It will mean two long weekends in-a-row for many workers as the previous week is the four-day Easter break and the Monday after is the first May bank holiday. British Prime Minister David Cameron was consulted on the timing of the wedding, which will be less than a week before the local elections and the referendum on voting reform on May 5.
Detailed planning about the guest list, William’s best man, Middleton’s wedding dress and who will conduct the marriage service is ongoing.
Westminster Abbey has a capacity of about 2,000, although this was expanded to 8,200 for Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953, and a number of heads of state are expected to attend the ceremony.
Meanwhile, a Church of England bishop who made “deeply offensive” comments about William and Middleton’s engagement was suspended from public ministry yesterday.
The Rt Rev Pete Broadbent, Bishop of Willesden, reportedly said their marriage might only last seven years and referred to the royal family as philanderers in comments on Facebook.
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