Cops set for Prince Harry-Meghan Markle nupitals

– When more than 100 000 flag-waving, cheering royal fans gather for the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle next month, British police will be treating every one as a potential terrorist, prankster or royal obsessive.

Barriers to stop vehicle attacks, armed patrols, and airport-style security will be among the measures employed in what will be one of the largest police operations the picturesque town of Windsor has ever seen.

“It is a real challenge,” said Bob Broadhurst, a former police officer who was the commander in charge of policing the 2011 wedding of Harry’s elder brother William to wife Kate.

“It is impossible to search tens of thousands of people who want to come and line the

London

streets, any one of which could be a potential terrorist; someone who’s besotted with the royal family – and there are a number of those; or just an attention seeker.

“It’s much more of a challenge because essentially everybody in that crowd is a potential terrorist.”

Harry and Meghan will tie the knot on May 19 at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, Queen Elizabeth’s residence which dominates Windsor, about 30km west of London.

“In the coming weeks, residents, local businesses and visitors to the town can expect to see an increased police presence, with police officers, both armed and unarmed, search dogs, the mounted section, the roads policing unit and the National Police Air Service,” the police said in a statement.

Visitors arriving by car and train on the day will face random searches and “any items that may pose a risk to the public will be removed,” they said.

The conundrum for police will be ensuring that security does not overshadow the event, said Broadhurst, who was also in charge of policing the 2012 London Olympics and the wedding of Harry’s father, Prince Charles, to his second wife Camilla in Windsor in 2005. – Reuters