‘Huge’ royal fans from US head to Windsor for Eugenie wedding

Many tourists visiting Windsor ahead of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s wedding had not realised it was taking place – but one family flew in from the US specifically to get a good view.

Debbie Barnes, 46, and her mother Pat Shaw, 72, who travelled from Boston, said they had always been “huge fans” of the royal family and did not want to miss the big day.

Mrs Barnes said they had wanted to come for Harry and Meghan’s wedding but thought it would be too crowded to see anything.

Mrs Shaw said: “Ever since I was a little girl I always dreamed of being a princess or a queen and living in a wonderful castle – I still do and I’m 72.

“I just love the royal family. I think they’re great – I think the Queen is remarkable the way she evolved and changed and adapted.”

Her daughter added: “I did a semester abroad in London when I was in college and I lived in Kensington – across the street from Princess Diana.

“I used to wait by her driveway just to see her go past.”

She said she had been to Viscount Linley’s wedding in 1993 and that the whole family had flown over for the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations.

Also present was Mrs Barnes’ daughter, Emma Barnes, 17, and father Joe Shaw, 75.

One group of French tourists said they did not know the wedding was on, and had never heard of Princess Eugenie.

An Italian couple said they only found out about the wedding yesterday, but were not planning to come back to see it.