Why the royal wedding will cost you thousands

The wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton on 29 April is expected to cost the economy £5 billion because the day itself is to be a bank holiday. So from 22 April until 2 May, businesses will only be open for three days because it is Easter the weekend before the wedding, and Mayday on the Monday after.

But there will also be personal costs to many people. For those obsessed with the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha family (yes, that's William's real family name, sounds English, doesn't it?) there will be endless commemorative mugs and tea towels with Kate Middleton's face on them.