Readers of The National's travel pages can easily create their own royal wedding tour by using our recently published guide to Windsor, taking a trip on the River Thames or a walking tour around London's Kensington Palace, or by following the route of the carriage procession as it would be on the day.
The #RoyalWedding carriage procession route has been announced by @KensingtonRoyal! Here’s what the newly married couple will see in Windsor 🏰💒🍾#HarryandMeghan #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/FgQ9sMixeo
— Visit Windsor (@visitwindsor) February 12, 2018
For those who want to indulge further in celebrating the upcoming nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle can book one of a number of decadent – and expensive – packages being offered by luxury hotels and tour operators. Note that, ironically, tours of Windsor Castle will not be available on the big day itself, May 19.
A Royal Season at historic London hotel The Langham
Opened by the Prince Regent in 1865, The Langham, which has welcomed dozens of royally connected guests from Wallis Simpson to Princess Diana, is partnering with three Royal Warrant holders to create two offers that are available from May 19 (Harry and Meghan's wedding) to October 12 (the date that Princess Eugenie marries Jack Brooksbank). The Royal Season package, which costs from £595 (Dh3,053) per room, per night, includes accommodation for two in a deluxe room, breakfast, and two "behind-the-scenes" experiences. These include bespoke tours and styling consultations at Savile Row tailor Gieves & Hawkes, a guided visit to Floris London (the only appointed perfumer to Queen Elizabeth II) or outdoor outfitter Hunter.
For those who want to go all-out, the Ultimate Royal Season Package – which costs from £15,000 (Dh76,932) per night – includes accommodation in the 236-square-metre Infinity Suite, which features two bedrooms, a kitchen, bathroom with infinity bath, and your own private butler. Or for £25,000 (Dh128,220), get even more regal in The Sterling Suite – featuring a lounge with baby grand piano, dining room, media room and up to five additional bedrooms, alongside the master suite. The experiences include a two-hour bespoke perfume-creation experience with Floris and a bespoke suit to the value of £5,500 from Gieves & Hawkes. Breakfast and two pairs of limited-edition Hunter boots are also included in the price for two guests.
Live like a duke mere steps away from Buckingham Palace
Dukes London, a five-minute walk from Buckingham Palace, is offering "A Royal Escape" for two including accommodation, transfers from Heathrow or Gatwick airports, a walking tour of Westminster, afternoon tea in the drawing room, a three-course dinner at GBR restaurant, a trip to Windsor Castle with free picnic breakfast and a royal wedding souvenir. The offer costs from £637 (Dh3,267) per night, between April 27 and June 3, 2018.
Hotel Cafe Royal offers a suitably regal experience
Between now and June 21, Hotel Cafe Royal in Piccadilly is offering a choice of two royal wedding packages – the Regent Royal Wedding Package, which costs from £2,600 (Dh13,337) per night, and the Empire Royal Wedding Package, from £6,500 (Dh33,344) per night.
The first includes an overnight stay in a Regent suite, a limousine tour to Windsor Castle to visit the Chapel and the State Apartments with a picnic hamper, and visits to Royal Warrant Holder retailers in London’s Mayfair and St James. The second package includes an overnight stay in an Empire Suite,
a helicopter tour of London, tickets to the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club, and the above tours.
Royal wedding package at The Arch London
Guests at London's The Arch hotel in Marylebone are promised "royal treatment" with a two-night stay in a two-bedroom suite including a three-course dinner, decadent breakfasts and a quintessential Royal Afternoon Tea.
The package includes a tour of Windsor Castle and a £100 (Dh512) Fortnum & Mason shopping voucher, and airport transfers. The Royal Wedding package costs at £3,900 (Dh20,000) per room for a two-night stay based on two people sharing, throughout May 2018.
Royal Wedding Package at Royal Lancaster London
At the Royal Lancaster London hotel at Lancaster Gate on Hyde Park, the recently renovated hotel is offering a Royal Wedding Package throughout May that includes an overnight stay in the hotel's royal suite, with panoramic views over Hyde Park and the London skyline.
During the stay, guests will enjoy the Royal Signature Afternoon Tea for two, an indulgent full English Breakfast served in the suite, a luxury Fortnum & Mason personalised hamper, a White Company gift bag, a £100 voucher for Harrods or Selfridges and a royal wedding souvenir. The Royal Wedding package starts from £3,500 (Dh17,900) per night, based on two people sharing.
A Scots royal tour in Edinburgh
The Dunstane Houses in Edinburgh is launching a dedicated 'Live like a Royal' package, which will take guests to the city's key royal sites. At the renovated town house hotel dating back to 1852, guests will be welcomed by a royal-themed afternoon tea, while
the following day, the hotel's resident guide will take guests on a day-long tour of the city's royal hotspots clad in full Scottish plaid. These include Linlithgow Palace where the young Scottish Queen was born, Borthwick Castle, where Mary was besieged in 1567 and Holyrood Palace, the current Queen's official residence in Scotlands. The tour will conclude with a visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia and Edinburgh Castle, followed by dinner back at the hotel.
The Dunstane Houses' 'Live Like a Royal' package starts from £475 (Dh2,400) per night including the aforementioned activities on a B&B basis; https://thedunstane.com/experiencesscotland-type/the-royal-treatment/.
Full royal tour with Road Scholar
For those for whom a hotel break isn't enough, American tour operator Road Scholar has created an 8-day "Inside the British Monarchy" tour which includes a tour of Windsor Castle, celebrating the actual wedding day with a traditional street party, learning from the former head of security at royal events about the planning and organising of the wedding, and exploring Kensington Palace with a former Royal Protection officer. The trip costs from $2,499 (Dh9,177).
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[ Hotel Insider: The Balmoral, Edinburgh ]
[ Hotel Insider: Brown's Hotel, Mayfair, London ]
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