ROYAL wedding fever is building as couples, communities and school children across Chester gear up for the big day.
Dozens of streets are expected to be clad in Union Flag bunting on April 29, as princess-to-be Kate Middleton marries her fiancé Prince William, at 11am.
Cheshire West and Chester Council has had around 12 applications for official street parties in communities such as Hoole, Boughton Heath and Upton.
A number of couples are also expected to tie the knot at Chester Register Office in three weeks’ time, on a day which has been declared a public holiday.
Schools across the city are also joining in the celebrations, with many hosting ‘mock royal weddings’ complete with a ‘fake ceremony’ and cake.
The marriage of Kate and William will take place at Westminster Abbey, in London, and will be attended by about 1,900 guests, including the Duke of Westminster.
Thousands of royal enthusiasts are also expected to travel to the capital to catch a glimpse of the couple on their special day.
With less than a month to go to the royal wedding there were claims that the north west simply was not getting into the spirit of the coming nuptials.
In London they've been more than 500 applications for street parties, but at the last count there were only half that for the whole of the north west region. MP for the city of Chester Stephen Mosley encouraged even more of his constituents to join in the celebrations.
He added: “The royal wedding is a fantastic national event and I for one am really looking forward to it.”
The last Royal Wedding
CHESTER residents took to the streets for a string of celebratory events on the day Prince Charles and Diana married 30 years ago. The wedding, which was held at St Paul’s Cathedral, on July 29, 1981, was televised and watched by a global audience of more than 750 million people. Thousands of people across Chester took part in street parties and community events which saw people dancing in the streets and bunting strewn throughout the city. The couple had two sons, Princes William and Harry, and the marriage lasted 15 years before they divorced in 1996.
The fairytale wedding ended in tragedy when Diana died in a car crash in Paris, France, a year later.
Wedding party in the park
A COMMUNITY group is calling on Chester residents to join in with its celebrations at a local beauty spot.
The Friends of Edgar’s Field in Handbridge will host a ‘party in the park’ on April 29, from 2pm until 4pm.
The celebratory event for the royal wedding will be free and open to all ages. There will be entertainment from the amazing www.KarambaSamba.co. uk group who will play throughout and audience participation is encouraged. The ‘Kate & Wills’ Royal Giants will parade on the day and there will be Maypole dancing by children from Overleigh St Mary’s Primary School. Children can also take part in a royal couple themed mural painting. For more information call 0795 245 6228, email EdgarsField@ gmail.com or go to www.edgarsfield. org.uk
Couples embrace the big day
A PAIR of scientists have themed their big day around the royal wedding complete with bunting and Union Flags.
Andrew Perry and Louise Bollington will tie the knot at Willington Hall, Tarporley, Chester, at 2pm on April 29 – a date chosen because of the Royal Wedding.
Louise, 32, explained: “We booked our wedding a couple of days after they (Prince William and Kate Middleton) announced their wedding date.
“We thought, well everyone will be off work and in a great mood because of the wedding – we did it on purpose.”
Radiographer Louise and her nuclear scientist fiancé Andrew, have submerged themselves in the national celebrations and have even themed the dining tables as past royal weddings.
“We will have an ‘Elizabeth and Philip’ table and even a ‘Charles and Diana’ table – we’ve took the theme and ran with it. We will have union flags and bunting – it’s like our own little street party really.”
The couple who have been together for five-and-a-half years hope to watch the marriage of Prince William and Kate on a big screen before they take part in their own nuptials.
Tracey and Steve's tie the knot
A COUPLE tying the knot on the same day as Prince William and Kate Middleton say they ‘can’t wait’ for the big day.
Tracey Davidson, 35, and Steve Hawkins, 43, will get married at Carden Park Golf Club and Resort on April 29, watched by 130 of their closest friends and family.
Mum-of-one Tracey said: “It will probably be on TV when we are getting ready in the morning as the wedding isn’t until 4pm but it will be fun and it will add to the day.
“People have asked if I have been upset that it’s on the same day as we booked it in July last year and we had no idea it would be on the same day, but if anything we have been having more of a laugh about it really. It’s quite good that everyone is in the spirit of it.”
The couple met through Steve’s sister more than three-and-a-half year ago and despite living almost 200 miles away decided to get married last year.
Tracey will be led down the aisle by her 11-year-old daughter Ashley and will be accompanied by 12 bridesmaids on her special day.
Road closures
ROADS that will be closed on April 29 for official street parties: Alwyn Garden, Upton Kingsley Road, Boughton Heath, Meadows Way, Upton, Park Drive, Ellesmere Port, Shavington Avenue, Hoole, The Nook, Newton, Village Green and Memorial Hall, Willaston, Kilmorey Park, Hoole, Upton Drive, Upton.