UK royal wedding to generate 6,765 tonnes of carbon

Wedding of Prince William and his girlfriend Kate Middleton is likely to generate more than 10 times as much greenhouse gases the Buckingham Palace emits in a whole year, a carbon footprint analysis has predicted.


The mega event, which will be held on Friday and joined by hundreds of hi-profile celebrities and guests, is expected to generate 6,765 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) -- 12 times the annual emissions from the London palace or 1,230 times the annual emissions of the average UK household.


further 3,957 tonnes of CO2e will be generated by the 400,000 people travelling on the tube and a further 200,000 arriving on rail to watch the event in central London.


The analysts at Achilles Information Limited, who are licensed to use CEMARS in the UK, did not calculate the carbon footprint of the ceremony itself and said it was just a "fun exercise" to highlight how carbon can be cut down.


Already the couple have done a few small things to limit their footprint. Kate's ring is reported to be made from Welsh gold rather than minerals from an exploitative mine. Her dress could also be ethical if she chooses vegan silk and organic Fairtrade cotton, although the most low carbon option of wearing a second hand dress or reworking something vintage is unlikely.


However, Prince William chose to take her abroad to Jordan rather than to have a stay at home honeymoon and he did propose in a long haul destination in Kenya. The Prince's household, Clarence House and St James's Palace, offset their carbon footprint every year and a spokesman suggested the royal wedding would also be offset.


"Clarence House and St James Palace always strive to minimise their carbon emissions and make any event as environmentally friendly as possible," said a spokesman. "The royal wedding is no exception,

Royal Wedding Update

Royal Wedding details are drawing to a close sooner rather than later as Prince William and Catherine "Kate" Middleton prepare to marry in less than a week.

The couple's final public appearance occurred on April 11 when enthused locals braced the rain to wish the Prince and his fiancée well on their upcoming ceremony on April 29.

What Middleton will be wearing upon her exit from her car, not coach, around 12:30 p.m. is still unknown. Rumors have been flying that not only will Middleton go with the untraditional route via her arrival, but also with her choice of headwear. A ring of roses, a symbol of happiness, may be sitting atop Middleton's hair, instead of a jewel encrusted tiara.
Kate Middleton arrives westminster abbey

Middleton isn't the only one making her own tradition. Prince William will not be wearing a wedding band after the ceremony, while Middleton will have a band made of gold from the Welsh Mountains — a piece that has been in the possession of Queen Elizabeth for years.

place for the honeymoon has yet to be announced. Possible sites include Jordan, where Middleton lived for three years as a child, Greece and places around the United Kingdom. Representatives deny commenting, so the couple can have a media-free vacation.

With all the commotion surrounding the wedding, it's no wonder Prince William said he's a bit nervous for the event. Luckily for him, everything has been taken care of.

If you want to see Prince William and Kate Middleton tie the knot, make sure you tune in to the biggest event of the year on the morning of Friday, April 29.

Mr Key has meetings in France and Britain this week and will attend the royal wedding on Friday.

Mr Key says the meeting with the Queen will be an opportunity to update her on the situation in Christchurch after the earthquake, which he says she is very concerned about.

He says she will also want an update on the families affected by the Pike River mine disaster.

Royal wedding dress

Spectators heading to central London to watch the royal wedding unfold on giant screens are being encouraged to dress up for the occasion by wearing hats.


Organisers said they want those attending to feel like wedding guests. As well as the suggested dress code, they are also laying on wedding bands at both locations, and stalls selling champagne, Pimm's and wedding cake so that members of the public can toast the royal couple.


Children will be able to take part in hat-making workshops, with photo booths in place to record the moment for posterity.
The events are being jointly staged by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, London Mayor Boris Johnson and the Royal Parks. They are free and non-ticketed, with places allocated on a first-come, first-served basis once the sites open at 7am on Friday.


Tourism Minister John Penrose said: "The royal wedding will put the UK in the international spotlight as never before.
"Billions all around the world are expected to watch it on TV with hundreds of thousands coming to London to be part of the celebration. These free events - each one taking place in London locations that are world-famous in themselves - will add enormously to the visitor experience."
About 21,000 people are expected to flock to Trafalgar Square and the immediate vicinity, while about 240,000 are anticipated in Hyde Park, where three screens will show all the action on the day.