Pubs to open until 1am for 2 nights to celebrate Harry and Meghan’s wedding

Pubs will be open until the early hours to celebrate the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Royal revellers will be allowed to drink in all pubs until 1am as Ministers move to extend licencing hours.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd has stepped in to mark the occasion on Saturday May 19th – deemed of “national significance” – and worth a £10 million boost for the industry.

Extra time for drinkers is set to be granted for the night before the wedding, taking place at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, and the big day.

It will mean landlords won’t have to go through the usual red tape and seek permission from local authorities to carry on serving after 11pm.

The measure has previously been given the go-ahead for the Queen’s 90th birthday in 2016, the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton and the World Cup in 2014.

The government has launched a four-week consultation on the plans and will seek the views of the police, licensing authorities and alcohol awareness charities.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: “The Royal Wedding will be a time of national celebration, and we want everyone to be able to make the most of such an historic occasion.

“I hope that this relaxation of the licensing hours will allow people to extend their festivities and come together to mark what will be a very special moment for the country.”

Chief Executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, Brigid Simmonds, said: “This is great news for pubs and pub-goers and shows the Government has listened to our calls to put pubs at the heart of the Royal Wedding celebrations.

“Visitors see the Great British pub as a cultural icon, almost as much as the Royal Family.

“Extended hours would give a £10million boost to the trade and make the most of the expected increase in tourism.”