BBC waives TV licence fee for Royal wedding street parties as communities gather to watch Prince Harry and Meghan Markle marry

The couple will marry on Saturday 19 May
No fee: The BBC have absolved the license fee for those wishing to stream the Royal Wedding live for communities with parties and events
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
Natasha Sporn30 April 2018

The BBC has announced that the TV licence fee has been waived for the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

The broadcaster confirmed on Monday that the need for a license to show live television or stream iPlayer will be absolved on Saturday 19 May to allow communities to celebrate the big day.

In their decision, they cite the number of applications made for street parties to mark the wedding, adding that many councils had already waived fees for hosting street parties.

Head of revenue management Pipa Doubtfire said: "In exceptional circumstances, the BBC can grant a dispensation for the temporary viewing of television, so long as the viewing is for the sole purpose of screening an event which is judged by the BBC to be of national importance.

Performers announced for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Wedding

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"The BBC considers that the royal wedding is such an event,” she added.

The move means those wishing to show the ceremony on big screens in communities will not have to pay the licence fee.

Prince Harry and Ms Markle will marry in May at St George’s Chapel in the grounds Windsor Castle, broadcast live on television.

The channel is yet to reveal their full plans for their coverage, but will be showing the event in full.

Elsewhere, ITV have announced that their coverage will run from 9.25am until 3pm, fronted by Phillip Schofield and Julie Etchingham and Mary Nightingale and James Mates at the venue.

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