The FA Cup Final looks likely to clash with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal wedding after it being announced that the marriage ceremony will take place on FA Cup Final Day, May 19.
Apparently, the FA Cup Final date is planned and set in advance with no room for review.
Meanwhile, the British Beer & Pub Association is leading calls for extended pub hours on the day, which would give a £10 million boost to the trade.
There’s no better way to celebrate a Royal Wedding, says the BBPA, than with family and friends in your favourite local. The BBPA wants to see extra hours for the Friday and Saturday night, 18th and 19th May.
Past national celebrations where the government has successfully used the ‘special occasions order’ have included the Royal Wedding in 2011, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, the 2014 World Cup and the Queen’s 90th Birthday in 2016.
BBPA Chief Executive, Brigid Simmonds, comments:
“A Royal wedding is a great national celebration, and a wonderful opportunity for us all to get together in the pub. I know this would be warmly welcomed by pubgoers and the pub trade. It would put pubs at the heart of the celebrations, something which has been a great success for previous major Royal events. I hope the Government will embrace this idea.”
The Duke of Cambridge, Prince Harry’s older brother may be in somewhat of a quandary, as he usually attends the high-profile match as President of the FA and presents the winning team with the trophy.
Looks like many of us will be alternating between watching two events that day and most pubgoers will join the call for extended pub hours.