Royal wedding: Full schedule of timings and how to watch on TV

With the nation in the grip of royal wedding fever, millions will be tuning in this Saturday to watch as Prince Harry ties the knot with Meghan Markle.

And if you haven't yet received your invitation to the big day, fear not, as it will be extensively covered on the telly, allowing you a front row seat to all of the action.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The ceremony begins at midday on 19 May at St George's Chapel in Windsor and the BBC, ITV and Sky News will be going all-out to provide day-long coverage.

So if you're planning a day in front of the TV, or you're screening it at a street party, here's everything you need to know about the schedule of timings, and how to watch.

Royal wedding 2018 timings

9am: Members of the public who have been invited to watch from the grounds of Windsor Castle will begin to arrive.

9.30am: Guests will arrive between 9.30am and 11am by coach.

Hide Ad

11.20am: Members of the royal family will begin arriving at the chapel.

Hide Ad

12pm: The service will begin, with Meghan Markle due to arrive at the chapel's west steps at 11.59am.

1pm: The service will end. Afterwards, the newlyweds will leave the chapel at the west steps, before leaving the castle by carriage. Prince Harry and Ms Markle will be driven for two miles along Castle Hill, the High Street and into Windsor town centre before returning along the Long Walk for their reception.

Afternoon: The Queen will host the reception for the couple and 600 guests at St George's Hall.

Hide Ad

Evening: The Prince of Wales will host an evening reception for 200 close friends and family at Frogmore House.

Broadcasters will be positioned around Windsor Castle to bring live coverage of the wedding (Photo: Shutterstock)

Here's how the TV coverage compares...

BBC

Starts: 9am

Ends: 2pm

Hide Ad

Details: Kirsty Young and Dermot O'Leary will be based by the moat outside Windsor Castle on the morning of the wedding, while Huw Edwards will be on the roof of the Guard Room within the walls of the castle.

Royal and fashion experts will offer insight and analysis, while specially-invited guests will share memories of the royal couple.

Hide Ad

Alex Jones, Ore Oduba, Tina Daheley and Anita Rani will be presenting from around Windsor, and live coverage of the wedding will also be broadcast on the BBC News channel and on the iPlayer.

BBC One will broadcast the ceremony on big screens throughout the UK, including in Belfast, Salisbury, Leeds, Swansea, Winchester and Portsmouth and on Saturday evening, from 6.30pm to 8pm, BBC Two will look back at the wedding highlights.

And if you are a radio listener, the nuptials will be covered on the BBC Radio stations, with Scarlett Moffat, Chris Evans, Alan Carr, Mel Sykes and Zoe Ball presenting.

ITV

Hide Ad

Julie Etchingham and Phillip Schofield will broadcast live from Windsor (Photo: ITV)

Starts: 9.25am

Ends: 3pm

Hide Ad

Details: Phillip Schofield and Julie Etchingham will broadcast live from the wedding in a purpose-built studio in Windsor, and will be joined be guests who know Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, as well as the royal family.

Mary Nightingale will be based at Windsor Castle on guest-watch, while James Mates will provide the live commentary of the ceremony, beginning at 12pm, from inside St George's Chapel.

Other ITV presenters will be stationed along the Royal Carriage processions route, starting at 1pm, to talk to the crowds that have turned up on the big day and royal experts and fashion commentators will also be on hand to offer extra insight into the details of the wedding.

Sky News

Starts: 6am

Ends: 10.30pm

Details: Sky News' Sunrise programme will be presented live from Windsor, inside the grounds of the castle.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Kay Burley will later take over from a studio positioned on Windsor's long walk, providing viewers with information on guests, the bride's entrance, the ceremony and the carriage procession, while experts will also be on hand to provide extra analysis.

Burley will be joined in the studio by Gina Nelthorpe-Cowne, Ms Markle's former agent, Amanda Wakeley, fashion designer to the royals, Peregrine Armstrong-Jones, a renowned wedding planner and Kenya Hunt, the deputy editor of Elle UK.

Other Sky News presenters will be dotted around Windsor, talking to members of the public who have been invited and those who have secured a place along the carriage procession route.

Later in the day, Dermot Murnaghan and Sarah Hewson will look back at the best moments from the day.

Hide Ad

Sky News is boasting it is the only broadcaster in the world to show the wedding in Ultra HD on Sky Q, and this coverage begins from 9am.

Hide Ad

Views can also use the Sky News app to watch the guests arrive at St George's Chapel, and discover who they are and how they're related to the couple using the 'Royal Wedding: Who's Who Live' function.

Channel 4

Channel 4 News will be covering the royal wedding in its 30 minute news programme.