The Home Office has confirmed that pubs and bars in England and Wales will be allowed to stay open later on the weekend of the royal wedding – on Friday, 18 May and Saturday, 19 May – meaning pubs won't close their doors until 1am.
The news will also please those who are more interested in the FA Cup Final, than the royal wedding, which is scheduled for the same day. The Home Secretary can make an order that relaxes licensing hours for licensed premises like pubs for a 'celebration period' to mark an occasion of exceptional international, national or local significance.
Previous examples of national celebrations that have kept pubs open later include the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding in 2011, the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday celebrations in 2016.
'The royal wedding is a chance for communities across the country to join together and celebrate this momentous and happy occasion for our royal family and for our nation,' Home Secretary Amber Rudd said in a statement (via The Telegraphh).
'As shown by the support for the proposal to extend licensing hours, it's clear that the public back the idea of having more time to raise a glass to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on a day of national celebration.'
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be married at 12pm at St George's Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle and on Friday (2 March) it was confirmed that the couple will be inviting over 2000 members of the public to their big day.
