The Royal Wedding Carriage
Needless to say, when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle marry at Winsor Castle on 19 May, it’s probably going to cost a pretty penny – most Royal Weddings usually do. Figures obtained by the Press Association through a Freedom of Information request show that, in total, a whopping £6.35m was spent just on policing William and Kate’s wedding in 2011. In fact, the cost of simply insuring the event will cost more than most entire ceremonies and be enough to send most ‘civilian’ grooms running for a stiff glass of Bucks Fizz!
Experts have estimated that the total cost of celebrations will be between £20 million and £30 million, depending on which source you trust the most. That’s roughly a thousand times the cost of the average UK wedding. Meghan’s dress for the big day is expected to come in at around £300,000, and there will be £50,000, yes £50,000, spent on cake!
The Journey
An important part of every wedding day is the journey to the church and from the church to the reception, which, given both will be held at Windsor Castle, will not be much of a trip at all. The nuptials will take place in St. George’s Chapel within the grounds of Windsor Castle, with the reception in St George’s Great Hall and a luxury marquee.
Still, while the journey might be short, that doesn’t mean the couple will travel cheaply. The Queen has a State fleet of three Daimlers, three Rolls-Royces and two Bentleys in the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace, which the couple may choose to use. She also has a small collection of rare vehicles at her country estate in Sandringham, as one does.
There’s also a chance Harry and Meghan will do as William and Kate did and borrow their dad’s Aston Martin Volante DB6 for their first journey as a married couple from the church to the reception.
What about the carriage?
While Prince Charles and the Queen will already have their vehicles adequately insured, there are also some additional risks they will need cover for. Remember Prince Charles and Camilla’s car being attacked by student protesters in 2010? Well, although there are unlikely to be many student protesters invited to the Royal wedding, with such a high profile event, you do have to prepare for every possible risk.
The vehicle Charles and Camilla were travelling in that day is the same Rolls Royce Phantom IV William and Kate used for their wedding, so it’s possible Harry and Meghan will follow suit. Unfortunately, that incident wouldn’t have been good for their no-claims bonus and will add a few quid to the premium.
There will also be the small matter of the procession through Windsor following the wedding which the happy couple will most likely need insurance for. Harry and Meghan have selected the Ascot Landau as their horse-drawn carriage of choice. The coach will be pulled by six Windsor Greys, making this quite the fairy-tale experience!
Considering past damages to the Royals’ cars, the distance that must be covered, and the splendid vehicle taking bride and groom, we believe that insurance is essential for the carriage and other vehicles on this momentous day.
Tailored cover to protect you
At Tradex Insurance, we cover all sorts of motor risks but insuring the transport for the Royal wedding party is one we are yet to quote for. If you’re looking for a flexible insurance policy for the particular motor trade, commercial vehicle or homefleet risks you face, please take a look at our range of policies and request a quote today.