celebrity

The rumour about why UK television stations don't want to air Princess Eugenie's wedding.

 

It might seem odd to feel sorry for a person who’s been born into Royalty yet has precisely zero chance of ever having to do any actual ruling.

But here we are.

Just four months after her cousin, Prince Harry, married a Hollywood actress in front of a global television audience of more than two billion, Princess Eugenie‘s nuptials have been unceremoniously snubbed by Britain’s biggest broadcaster.

According to The Mail on Sunday, the BBC has declined to air the 28-year-old’s nuptials due to predicted low ratings.

The paper quoted a source who claimed that the Princess’ father, Prince Andrew, attempted to broker a deal with the national broadcaster but was ultimately rejected.

“The BBC was approached because they have a special relationship with Buckingham Palace and a formula that works,” the source reportedly said.

“But they turned it down because they don’t think enough people will tune in and that there isn’t enough support for the [York family].”

Video by Mamamia

While the network has not commented on the reason for the snub, it has confirmed it will be airing select news clips of the October 12 event.

“There will be news coverage of the wedding across our services,” a spokesperson told Express UK.

Sky will do the same.

It’s not yet certain if another network will swoop in and pick up the broadcast, or if Royal watchers will be left in the dark. Either way, according to The Mail‘s source, the Royals ain’t happy.

“The feeling at the Palace is that the BBC has dropped the ball,” the source reportedly said. “At the end of the day this is going to be a huge Royal Wedding, with all the senior members of the Royal Family in attendance. But nobody wants to take the risk and spend the money it would cost to put it on air.”

ADVERTISEMENT
Princess Eugenie wedding guests.
Image via Getty.

Princess Eugenie announced her engagement to entrepreneur Jack Brooksbank in January, whom she had been dating since 2010.

The ceremony is due to take place at Windsor Chapel - the same venue that hosted the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. (a.k.a. the most-watched Royal wedding in history.)

An afternoon reception will follow, to be hosted by the Queen at Windsor Castle, after which the bride and groom will have an intimate evening reception at Royal Lodge, the York family home.

Like her cousins, Princess Eugine and her new husband will take part in a carriage ride around Windsor. Again, that's not expected to pull quite the crowd that the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex managed.