Royal Wedding Tv Coverage: How To Watch?

Royal weddings are always a grand affair, and the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was no exception. The couple's wedding was televised and streamed online, making it easily accessible to viewers worldwide. With extensive media coverage, viewers could tune in to various channels and streaming platforms to witness the ceremony and the extensive pre-coverage. The wedding took place at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, with the ceremony beginning at noon London time, which was 7 a.m. ET or 4 a.m. PT. The event was highly anticipated, with many Americans planning to tune in and even having the option to watch it in select movie theatres.

Live TV coverage of the wedding

Watching a royal wedding on television is a great way to be part of the celebration. The nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018, for example, were televised across the world. The ceremony took place at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, with extensive pre-coverage and live broadcasts by several major television networks.

In the UK, the BBC, ITV, and Sky aired live coverage of the wedding, with well-known presenters and reporters on the ground. The BBC's coverage was led by Huw Edwards, with support from Kirsty Young and Dermot O'Leary, while Ore Oduba and Alex Jones provided additional coverage from within the crowd. ITV had its own dedicated studio in Windsor, with Phillip Schofield and Julie Etchingham covering the proceedings. Sky News also had its team of broadcasters and reporters on-site.

For viewers in the US, several networks provided live television coverage of the royal wedding. CBS, NBC, ABC, PBS, BBC America, Fox News, and HBO all aired the ceremony, with some networks starting their coverage as early as 4 am local time. CBS began its coverage at 4 am EST, while NBC followed at 4:30 am, and ABC and Fox started at 5 am. HBO offered a unique twist with "The Royal Wedding Live with Cord and Tish!", featuring comedians Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon as "broadcast legends" Cord and Tish.

In addition to the live television coverage, there were also public screenings in major cities across the UK, including Leeds, Portsmouth, Belfast, Swansea, Salisbury, and Winchester. In the US, Fathom Events aired the royal wedding in around 200 movie theatres across the country, providing an alternative viewing experience for those who wanted to watch it on the big screen.

So, whether you tuned in at home or watched it on the big screen, there were plenty of options to witness the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Live-streaming options

If you're in the UK, you can watch the royal wedding on BBC, ITV, or Sky News, all of which will be airing live coverage. The BBC's coverage will be led by Huw Edwards, with support from Kirsty Young and Dermot O'Leary. Ore Oduba and Alex Jones will provide additional coverage from within the crowd of supporters and well-wishers. ITV will be covering the proceedings from their dedicated studio in Windsor, with Phillip Schofield and Julie Etchingham as hosts.

For those in the US, you can tune into CBS, NBC, or ABC, with additional coverage from PBS, BBC America, Fox News, and HBO. CBS starts its coverage first, at 4 am EST, with NBC following at 4:30 am, and ABC and Fox kicking off at 5 am. HBO will air a special programme, 'The Royal Wedding Live with Cord and Tish', featuring Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon, starting at 7:30 am EST.

There are also plenty of live-streaming options available online. In the UK, you can watch the coverage on BBC and ITV online through iPlayer and ITV Hub, respectively. In the US, you can live-stream the wedding on CBSN Live, ABCNews.com, GoodMorningAmerica.com, or BBC America. The New York Times website and Yahoo! will also be live-streaming the event, starting at 1 am EST for the latter.

If you're more interested in the music than the visuals, you can listen to the service on BBC Radio 1 in the UK, or stream the official soundtrack album on Spotify and Apple Music, which will be available just hours after the ceremony.

Cinema screenings

Watching a royal wedding on the big screen is an experience like no other. If you're in the US, you can head to the cinema to watch the royal wedding in all its glory.

Fathom Events aired the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at 10 am local time in 200 theatres across America. The ceremony was broadcast without commercials, so you could focus on the magic of the moment.

If you're in the UK, you can also watch the royal wedding on the big screen in selected cinemas. For Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, large public screens were erected in major cities, including Leeds, Portsmouth, Belfast, Swansea, Salisbury, and Winchester. So, if you don't feel like watching the wedding at home, grab your comfiest shoes and head to the nearest public screening!

Watching a royal wedding in a cinema full of fellow enthusiasts can be a fun and unique experience. It's a great way to immerse yourself in the event and feel like you're part of the celebration. The big screen and surround sound will also ensure you don't miss a single detail, whether it's the intricate designs on the wedding dress or the joyous expressions on the couple's faces.

So, if you're looking for a memorable way to watch the royal wedding, head to your nearest cinema or public screening and join others in celebrating this grand occasion. It's an event that will leave you with lasting memories and a unique story to tell!

Radio coverage

Radio listeners in the UK could tune in to BBC Radio 1 to hear the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. For those who missed it, Decca Records recorded the ceremony to produce a soundtrack album, which was available on Spotify and Apple Music shortly after the event. The album was also released on vinyl on 25 May.

BBC World Service English also provided radio coverage of the wedding, which was available to listeners outside the UK.

For the wedding of William and Kate in 2011, BBC Radio 5 Live provided coverage of the event, presented by Richard Bacon and Anna Foster.

Television licence requirements

In the United Kingdom and the British Islands, any household watching or recording television transmissions simultaneously with their broadcast is required by law to hold a television licence. This applies regardless of the transmission method, including terrestrial, satellite, cable, or for BBC iPlayer internet streaming. The television licence is used to raise revenue to fund the BBC and S4C.

The TV licence costs £169.50 annually for a colour licence and £57.00 for a black and white TV licence. A TV licence is required to watch or record live TV on any channel or service. You need your own TV licence if you have a separate tenancy agreement and watch TV in your room. If you have a joint tenancy agreement, a single TV licence will suffice for the entire household.

If you're 75 or older and receive Pension Credit, or if you're blind or in residential care, you may be eligible for a free or discounted TV licence. You do not need a TV licence to watch streaming services, on-demand TV, or videos on websites.

To legally watch a royal wedding on TV, you must ensure that you have a valid television licence. The BBC, ITV, and Sky broadcast live coverage of the royal wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018, and it is likely that similar arrangements will be made for future royal weddings.

Frequently asked questions