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News Desk
City Hall has announced today that Londoners will be able to watch the Royal Wedding on Friday on giant screens at royal parks across London and in Trafalgar Square. With large crowds expected in central London for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, many will head to the iconic locations of Hyde Park and Trafalgar Square to watch the historic occasion live on giant screens. Taxpayers will be paying for the big screens to be put up with "free events" being jointly organised by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Mayor of London and The Royal Parks and the public will be able to watch all the proceedings live - from the arrivals and ceremony at Westminster Abbey, to the procession from the Abbey to Buckingham Palace, and the traditional wave from the balcony at the Palace.
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: 'The Royal Wedding is a fantastic opportunity for Londoners and visitors to come together for a magnificent celebration, in Trafalgar Square, in Hyde Park, or at one of the many street parties taking place across the capital. Amidst the pageantry and tradition, the whole world will experience why London is
the greatest city to live, work and visit.'
The Met Office has already said that there is strong possibility for rain on the royal wedding which could result in the royal couple riding in a glass carriage, as opposed to an open top carriage.
Security during the wedding will be tight, with threats from Irish dissident groups, anarchists and Al Qaeda, the Met Police have confirmed that the MPS Mounted Branch will escort the Royal Carriage Procession for HRH Prince William and his new wife on return from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace. This is one of several high profile ceremonial events where the Mounted Branch provides Sovereign's Escorts, known as the Grey Escort.
The Escort on the day will be led by a mounted Inspector who rides as the "Pointer". This role involves the Inspector leading the procession, made up of the Calvary, the married couple and other members of the Royal Family.
Behind the Pointer there will be one mounted Sergeant and three Constables, all of which make up the front of the Grey Escort.
A mounted Sergeant and three mounted Constables will also make up the rear of the escort, with each group of four mounted officers and their horses referred to as a Section. In total there will be nine Grey horses and officers forming the escort. All the horses used are operational police horses and grey in colour. Care is taken to ensure the horses have the temperament to cope with the event.
The grey horses ('Greys') and the officers used in the escort are there in a ceremonial capacity but will also assist in the event of an incident. Other mounted officers on duty will form part of the security operation for the day; they will be on duty at diversion points on the route.
A vast amount of preparation will be carried out before the Royal Wedding. Selection and training sessions have identified the best 11 Greys who have demonstrated a good and calm temperament and are now in the process of being put through various exercises and routines. Eleven horses have been identified to ensure that there is sufficient cover in the eventuality that a horse will not be available for duty on the day.
SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY
The Marriage of His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales, K.G. With
Miss Catherine Middleton
Friday 29th April 2011
0700 'Wedding breakfast' All screen sites open
0800 Wedding preparations and guest arrivals
1100 The marriage ceremony from Westminster Abbey
1200 Prince William and Princess Catherine return to Buckingham
Palace (Procession)
1300 'Family photo' and toast to the newlyweds
1315 The Buckingham Palace balcony moment and flypast
1335 Live music and dancing
1600 Carriages photo credit: Met Police Annabel Grey
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