Broadcaster Tom Bradby, who was the first journalist to interview the Prince and his fiancee, highlighted how the big event would boost UK tourism.
William and his bride-to-be are now sitting down with royal advisers to begin planning their wedding day, expected to be in March, according to Mr Bradby, ITV News’ political editor.
Both the bride and groom have wealthy parents so the cost of the wedding is not the issue but the amount to be spent. The pair are conscious of this according to a St James’ Palace spokesman, who said they were “mindful of the economic situation”.
But the policing bill for the wedding, to provide security for the public and guests who could include world leaders and royalty from across the globe, could run into tens of millions of pounds.
Speaking on This Morning, Mr Bradby said: “We’ve got to understand this is a massive global (event), it’s playing enormously all over the world. I would imagine there will be many many tourists from America and places like that who will want to come here and be in London during the event.
“The costs, if we split it up amongst us, will be so infinitesimally small and the impact on brand Britain and just the impact from say tourism (will be big). We’ve now got this next year and then the (Queen’s) Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics (in 2012).”
The broadcaster said the couple have a preferred month in which to tie the knot.
He said: “I think they want to have it in March … their people have now got to go down to (Buckingham) Palace and sit around and go ‘right, now who do we invite? Do we invite the Obamas, do we invite the Sarkozys?’”
Bradby praised Miss Middleton’s performance during his television interview which followed the couple’s much anticipated announcement of their engagement. He added: “I thought she did pretty well, she was very nervous. I think one of the things people have to understand is she’s not a massive showboater.”
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