Duke cleared to attend royal wedding then dash to Cup final
THE Duke of Cambridge could attend the FA Cup final on the day of Prince Harry’s wedding, after Kensington Palace insisted that the two events “will not clash”.
The events are both due to take place on Saturday, May 19.
Prince Harry is expected to marry Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle in the morning while the football final in recent years has kicked off at Wembley, 20 miles away, at 5.30pm.
While the clash could have caused a dilemma for the Duke, who in his capacity as president of the Football Association usually attends the match and presents the trophy, he was widely expected to prioritise his brother’s wedding, at which he is likely to be best man.
However, it has been claimed that FA officials are consulting with palace aides to ensure there will be enough time for him to get to the match.
When asked whether the Duke was planning to attend the final, a Kensington Palace spokesman would only point out that the two events will not take place at the same time.
“We have not gone into the timing of the wedding but made it clear that the ceremony and the FA Cup final will not clash,” she said. The Duke’s attendance would cause surprise among FA officials, who last week suggested that they would have to find someone outside the Royal Family to present the trophy, apparently resigned to the idea that the Duke was unlikely to make a mid-afternoon dash across London.
The Duke, however, might be hoping for a replay of the 2014-15 final, when his beloved Aston Villa lost to Arsenal, the team Prince Harry supports.
Commenting on the fixture clash, an FA spokesman said: “Saturday, May 19 promises to be a wonderful day with such a special royal occasion being followed by English football’s showpiece event, the Emirates FA Cup final. With millions coming together to watch both events at home and around the world, it will be a day to celebrate.”
The Prince and Miss Markle are bucking royal tradition by choosing a Saturday to marry. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge married on a Friday and the Queen on a Thursday.
Their choice allows them to avoid the contentious issue of whether or not the Government should declare a bank holiday to celebrate the marriage.