Visiting Windsor for the Royal Wedding: Everything You Need To Know

In just 3 days Prince Harry will be tying the knot with Hollywood actress Meghan Markle in what is set to be the wedding of the year. Royal Windsor is in full preparation mode for the big day, as thousands of well wishers are expected to flock to the historic town over the weekend for the. If you are heading to Windsor on Saturday 19^th May to celebrate the royal wedding of Harry and Meghan, then this guide will tell you everything you need to know about the big wedding day in Windsor.

The Procession

After their ceremony in St George’s Chapel, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will take a wedding day carriage ride through Windsor. The procession is anticipated to be one of the most photographed occasions of 2018, and is a tradition in Royal weddings that allows the public to see the newlyweds in person. The couple will leave Windsor Castle by carriage at 1pm on Saturday, head along Castle Hill, into the High Street and Windsor town centre where they will then return up the Long Walk for their wedding reception. The procession will last for approximately 25 minutes, and Windsor is already ready and decorated in Union Jack bunting in anticipation for the day. The best place to catch a glimpse of Harry and Meghan will be the Long Walk, which will also be showing the ceremony live on big screens.

The Guest List and Bridal Party

Windsor is going to be swarming with famous faces for you to catch a glimpse of over the weekend. According the Royal sources, the guest list is limited to those with a direct relationship to the couple which is expected to include big names such as Serena Williams, Sarah Rafferty and Elton John. The couple’s bridal party will consist of the Duke of Cambridge as Harry’s best man, and sources are speculating that his children Prince George and Princess Charlotte will be page boy and flower girl, however new born Prince Louis has been confirmed to not be attending the wedding. Kensington Palace has announced that Meghan will have no bridesmaids on her big day, claiming she was unable to choose between her nearest and dearest.

The Receptions

As can be expected with a Royal wedding, everything is done as big and grand as possible, and Harry and Meghan’s reception will be no exception. The newlyweds will actually be holding two receptions to celebrate their nuptials; a formal afternoon reception followed by a second evening reception. The first afternoon reception is hosted by the Queen in St George’s Hall and will see 600 guests attend. The second evening reception will be thrown at Frogmore House, in Windsor Home Park. This event will be held by the Prince of Wales and is specifically for 200 of the couples nearest and dearest friends and family.

Getting to Windsor

Thousands of visitors are expected to visit Windsor over the weekend, and if you are planning on heading to the historic town for the celebrations be sure to plan ahead. Driving to the historic town is going to be difficult as there are a number of major roads closed across the weekend, and car parking is very limited and must be pre-booked. The best way to travel to Windsor during the Royal wedding will be by public transport. Windsor is home to two railway stations: Windsor and Eton Riverside and Windsor and Eton Central. Both stations offer services to and from central London, and additional services will be running on Saturday 19^th May. To travel by bus there will be a designated pick up and drop off point for all buses in Windsor, which will be at King Edward VII Hospital on St Leonards Road. There will be a number of alterations to the regular bus services due to road closures, you can find out more about getting public transport to Windsor during the Royal wedding here.

Where to Eat and Drink

As Windsor is expected to be very busy on Saturday 19^th May, there will be extra facilities set up around the town to assist with the celebrations. A variety of refreshment stalls will be available on the Long Walk and Alexandra Gardens for those wishing to celebrate the Royal Wedding there, in addition to all the lovely cafés, bars and restaurants on Windsor high street and in the town centre. The Brasserie at Sir Christopher Wren will be serving full English breakfast between 9am and 11am, perfect for filling up before the busy day ahead. During the day and throughout the festivities The Brasserie will be dishing up a delicious Royal Wedding Buffet, available between 12.30pm and 5.30pm; located just minutes from Windsor Castle but off the high street and away from the madness, it is ideal for escaping the crowds and relaxing by the river. Afternoon Tea will also be served throughout the day.

Entertainment

To help celebrate Harry and Meghan’s wedding, Windsor will be filled with large screens for visitors to watch the wedding from various spots along the procession route. There will also be a range of local entertainers and musicians performing throughout the day on Saturday 19^th May. These performances will be taking place on the Long Walk and in Windsor High Street, with many local schools and choirs taking to the stage to entertain the crowds.