Longer pub hours to toast royal wedding

PUBS have been given the green light to stay open later to celebrate the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd confirmed that licensing hours across Wales and England would be relaxed to mark the royal wedding in May.

The move, which was subject to a four-week consultation, means pubs, bars and other licensed premises can keep serving until 1am on the morning of the nuptials, and again after the couple have tied the knot.

Ms Rudd said: “The royal wedding is a chance for communities across the country to join together and celebrate this momentous and happy occasion for our royal family and for our nation.

“As shown by the support for the proposal to extend licensing hours, it’s clear that the public back the idea of having more time to raise a glass to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on a day of national celebration.”

Harry and Meghan will marry at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, on Saturday, May 19.

Licensing hours will be extended on the nights of Friday, May 18 and Satur- day, May 19 until 1am the following mornings.

Noting that the wedding will take place on the same day as the FA Cup Final, the Home Office said there have been no reports of “increased disorder” as a result of previous extensions to licensing hours which have also coincided with major football fixtures.

The Home Secretary can make an order relaxing licensing hours for licensed premises in relation to a “celebration period” to mark an occasion of exceptional international, national or local significance.