The BBC have waived the TV licence fee for the upcoming Royal Wedding.
Excited viewers looking to tune in to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s big day at St. George’s Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle on May 19 will now be able to do so without having a TV licence, meaning that communities wanting to celebrate the event by hosting a viewing party are able to do so.
Typically a premises must have a valid licence to show live TV or on-demand follow up sites, such as BBC iPlayer, but it can be temporarily waived in exceptional circumstances where broadcasters feel a programme is of national importance.
Pipa Doubtfire, the BBC’s head of revenue management, 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.
"The BBC considers that the royal wedding is such an event."
Currently, the ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have received 60 applications from Bromley to host street parties, 54 from Richmond and 12 in Reading, Berkshire to celebrate the happy couple’s nuptials.
However, hopefuls looking to continue the celebrations for the FA Cup Final – which takes place on the same day as the wedding – will be disappointed as the BBC won’t be waiving the free to cover the event.
Pipa continued: "The dispensation is just for watching the royal wedding. On this occasion, it doesn’t cover other events on the day, such as the FA Cup Final."
BBC waive licence fee for Royal Wedding
