Meghan Markle and Prince Harry wedding: Pubs to stay open late to mark occasion

Royal couple: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will wed in May
EPA
Patrick Grafton-Green7 January 2018

Pubs and bars will be allowed to stay open late for the Royal wedding in May, under plans announced today.

The Home Office is hoping to extend licencing hours until 1am across Britain on Friday, May 18 and Saturday, May 19.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are due to wed on May 19 at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, the same day as the FA Cup final.

Licensing hours were previously extended for the wedding of Harry's brother William to Kate Middleton in 2011 and for the Queen's 90th birthday in 2016.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex: Prince Harry & Meghan Markle

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Launching a four-week consultation on the plans, Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: "The Royal Wedding will be a time of national celebration, and we want everyone to be able to make the most of such an historic occasion.

"I hope that this relaxation of the licensing hours will allow people to extend their festivities and come together to mark what will be a very special moment for the country."

Chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, Brigid Simmonds, said the extended hours could bring in £10 million to the pub trade.

She added: "Visitors see the Great British pub as a cultural icon, almost as much as the Royal Family."

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