Cast your minds back to the 2011 royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, remember what an enormous spectacle it was? Well imagine that, but rather than in London, in the far smaller market town of Windsor. As speculation over the royal wedding reaches fever pitch (who will walk Meghan down the aisle? What will her dress be like? What will Beatrice wear on her head?), spare a thought of the residents of Windsor. Or, more specifically, the heavily pregnant residents of Windsor.
Royal officials are said to have warned pregnant women living in the area that their birth plans may be disrupted if they are due over the next few days. The hundreds of thousands strong crowd that is expected to travel to Windsor for the celebration is set to cause huge inconvenience for anyone traveling to hospital in the area.
Not only have they told expectant mothers to contact their midwife in case their plans are disrupted, they have warned residents that they should stock up on essential medicines as the crowds will make it impossible to get to a pharmacy over the weekend.
It’s thought that more than 60,000 people will travel to Windsor by train alone, and so the town will be overrun with members of the public hoping to join in the celebrations.
A spokesperson from the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead said:
‘Pregnant women close to their due date are encouraged to speak to their midwives about what arrangements can be put in place, but rest assured their needs will be met and babies safely delivered.
‘Residents who live in Windsor are asked to order repeat prescriptions in advance to ensure they have supplies of medication. Pharmacies in central Windsor will be open, but it may be difficult to get through the crowds into the town centre.
Thinking about where to celebrate the Royal Wedding? Try these...
Where To Celebrate The Royal Wedding - Grazia (Slider)
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1 of 9The Royal Horseguards Hotel
Celebrate Harry and Meghan's transatlantic royal romance with an American twist on a British classic. The Royal Horseguards Hotel's special Royal Wedding afternoon tea, available throughout May, takes inspiration from both sides of the pond: red velvet cupcakes, mini pecan pies and other star-spangled sweets sit on the menu alongside more traditional fare like finger sandwiches and scones. On the big day itself, the Hotel will be screening the Windsor nuptials as part of their Royal Wedding Experience package, £59.90 per person, featuring the tea, music from a harpist and Taittinger champagne to raise a toast in style (it's what Harry would want, after all…)
2 of 9Galvin at Windows
Up on the 28th floor of the Park Lane Hilton, Michelin-starred restaurant Galvin at Windows boasts unrivalled views of Buckingham Palace. Though its royal inhabitants will be out of town for Harry's nuptials (they'll be 22 miles away at Windsor Castle, to be precise), the Palace will certainly make a regal backdrop for a special three course wedding lunch, priced at £50 per person and kicking off with an English sparkling wine reception (our kind of patriotic gesture).
3 of 9Dreamland
Good news for Harrys, Meghans, Henrys, Megs and those with a spare wedding dress lying around. Dreamland Margate are offering free entry to their royal wedding street party for people who share a name with one half of the happy couple (don't worry, they've opened it up to multiple spelling permutations, too) – and for those wearing a wedding dress. Both the ceremony and the FA Cup final will be screened live at the amusement park, which will be decked out in bunting for the occasion, with plenty of other photo (read: Instagram) opportunities, including an inflatable church complete with its own vicar.
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4 of 9The Savoy
The Savoy isn't just one of the capital's most iconic venues: a long-time favourite with the Windsors, the hotel is also heavily steeped in royal history (it's the first place that the then-Princess Elizabeth was spotted with her future husband, Prince Philip, for one). In anticipation of Harry and Meghan's big day, the Strand landmark will launch a special afternoon tea on May 1st with a menu inspired by royal weddings past and present, which starts at £68 per person. Historically, the Savoy's American Bar has made a new cocktail to mark each royal wedding: this time, they've created 'The Royal Welcome,' a blend of Bombay Sapphire, Champagne syrup, English sparkling wine, yuzu and peychauds bitter.
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5 of 9Fairmont St Andrews
Here's a piece of royal trivia for you: the Fairmont St Andrews hosted the student fashion show where Kate Middleton (wearing a see-through dress, no less) is said to have first caught Prince William's eye. To mark the marriage of Wills' little brother, the hotel is screening all the happenings from Windsor in its Atrium Lounge, and will be laying on a wedding-themed afternoon tea spread. And for the centerpiece? A lemon and elderflower cake a la Harry and Meg, which guests will be able to take home in miniature form as a special momento.
6 of 9ONE Marylebone
How's this for the ultimate royal wedding viewing experience? ONE Marylebone will be screening the main event against the atmospheric backdrop of its Grade II-listed church from noon, with a line-up of themed entertainments that includes cake decorating, traditional British games and Bloody Mary masterclasses. As the night sets in, it's time for round two: an evening do in the venue's Grand Hall, with appearances from Ed Sheeran and Elton John tributes, American treats and plenty of champagne. Tickets for the daytime festival cost £25, with the evening event priced at £30.
7 of 9The Book Club
Shoreditch's The Book Club are taking a typically idiosyncratic approach to the wedding of the year, hosting a celebratory brunch that promises Pimms, prosecco, live music, bingo and Spice Girl drag queens, as well as some classic British party games and pop-up shops. They've also dreamed up a menu of bespoke, royal-themed cocktails to enjoy while you inevitably shout over the live stream from Windsor, and it's a BYOB affair (that's bring your own bunting…) Tickets cost just £5 for entry, with doors open from 10am until 5pm.
8 of 9Hoxton Square Bar
As the formalities are wrapped up and Harry and Meghan's select group of revelers heads from Windsor Castle to Frogmore House for the after-party, make a move to Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen. The East London space will host a special royal edition of their regular night Throwback; one that brings together all the good bits of a wedding disco. Sophie Lloyd will be spinning funk, soul, disco and R&B into the early hours, while the photo booth filled with cardboard cutout royals plus bridal fancy dress and glitter art will guarantee you a good few months of Instagram content, at least.
9 of 9ME London
Catch all the pomp and circumstance of the Windsor wedding ceremony with a special screening at ME London's Radio Rooftop, where views of some of London's most iconic landmarks will make an appropriately regal backdrop. A specially curated menu will, in a nod to Harry and Meghan's respective homes, feature dishes from both sides of the Atlantic (think traditional cod and chips or pancake stacks), and guests will receive a complimentary glass of Chapel Down sparkling wine, from the Kent vineyard which the royal couple have reportedly chosen for their celebrations (as did William and Kate in 2011).