Wedding ring of steel for Harry and Meghan
BRITAIN: Members of the public travelling to Windsor for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be subject to airportstyle scanners and searches of their property in a multimillionpound safety operation.
The security measures, likened to a ‘‘ring of steel’’ around Windsor Castle and the procession route, will include heavy metal barriers to deter and prevent terrorist attacks by vehicles, and sweeps of cars.
Well-wishers who want to line the streets are being warned to expect a ‘‘screening and searching’’ regime, including the inspection of any sleeping bags that could conceal suspicious materials.
If too many people descend on Windsor, the town will be put on lockdown, with trains no longer stopping and people turned away from overcrowded procession routes, which will be lined by members of the armed forces, with regiments selected for their links to the prince.
More than 100,000 people from around the world are expected to arrive at Windsor for the May 19 wedding.
Thames Valley Police will be out in force, with extra armed and unarmed officers patrolling, search dogs, a mounted section, and the National Police Air Service present to combat the ‘‘severe’’ threat of terrorism.
Residents will notice more CCTV cameras, extra technology to recognise vehicle number plates, and ‘‘hostile vehicle mitigation barriers’’ to protect pedestrians from terror attacks.
Police have so far received no specific intelligence about targeted attacks but are aware of potential protests, including plans for a ‘‘royal sleepover’’, with campaigners sleeping on the streets in support of Windsor’s homeless people.
Harry and Markle will marry at St George’s Chapel, with 600 guests invited to watch the ceremony and a further 2640 members of the public allowed to stand inside the castle walls to watch their arrival and departure. The couple will then travel through Windsor’s town centre by carriage before a reception at St George’s Hall and ‘‘evening do’’ at nearby Frogmore House.