Central London's roads face three-day shutdown over royal wedding

Central London faces a three-day traffic shutdown for the royal wedding as key roads are closed off.

Authorities securing Prince William and Kate Middleton's procession route between Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey say it could be blocked off for three days or more.

Planners behind the event on April 29 are expected to order similar road closures to those implemented last September for Pope Benedict's visit and those for the annual state opening of Parliament.

But there will be the added difficulty of preparing for the one million well-wishers expected in London that day.

The Met, Transport for London, Westminster council and the Royal Parks Agency, which is responsible for Constitution Hill and The Mall, will work together to decide on road closures.

Motorists are likely to be asked to steer clear of central London.

Boris Johnson has come under pressure to erect giant TV screens in Hyde Park.

The route taken by Miss Middleton on her way to the abbey will be closed in advance for police security checks. It could see her leaving Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace or Clarence House and travelling with her father Michael in a large-windowed limousine via The Mall, Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall and Parliament Square.

But the shutdown could be far wider, possibly closing key junctions such as Hyde Park Corner, Trafalgar Square and the area around Victoria station on the wedding day.

Detailed planning has yet to begin but a Westminster council spokeswoman today said roads could be closed "for more than a day".

Friday, April 29, has been declared a public holiday, creating a four-day weekend as it extends into the bank holiday Monday. The spokeswoman said: "A lot depends on how many people turn up. We need to be flexible across the long weekend."

Some roads in Westminster could also be closed if residents apply to hold street parties — and roads cannot reopen until they have been cleaned.
The Met said it would release information on best vantage points and advise spectators on planning journeys.