No TV licence fee required for the royal wedding

THE BBC has decided to waive the licence fee so that next month’s royal wedding can be watched at special events and street parties.

By law anyone watching or recording a BBC programme on TV or online needs to pay for a licence or face prosecution. But under certain circumstances exceptions can be granted to “solely screen an event of national importance”.

The dispensation means communities will be able to watch the royal nuptials at special events and parties in town halls, community centres and streets across Britain, where televisions are not usually watched.

Hosts of such events will be able to screen the event live without having to buy a £150.50 licence.

It will also apply to shops and events such as agricultural shows, allowing as many members of the public as possible to watch Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tie the knot.

Pipa Doubtfire, the BBC’S head of revenue management, said: “I’m delighted to announce that we have decided to offer a one-off dispensation for the royal wedding on May 19.

“This will allow the public to enjoy live coverage of the occasion at special events like street parties, where TV is not usually watched, without needing to buy a licence.”

The corporation previously waived the licence fee for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding in 2011.

 The number of street parties taking place to celebrate the royal wedding next month is expected to be far fewer than for the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Around 5,500 applications to close roads were lodged with councils around Britain so street events could be held seven years ago.

But with the deadline for applications in some councils already passed, areas have seen almost no plans for public celebrations to watch Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s big day.

The whole of Scotland is hosting just one street party to celebrate the wedding on May 19 – and the bash in Elgin will actually take place the day after on May 20. Local authorities in England and Wales have seen more planned events, but applications are still down.

‘This will allow the public to enjoy live coverage of the occasion at special events like street parties’