As suspected, the media coverage has been colossal. Front page national press features continue to run across all sectors (popular, mids and qualities).  Grazia ran a 10 page editorial feature within the front of the book (Indonesian eruption only received 1 page).

OK! magazine is already taking bookings for the three issue strong ‘Wedding Specials’ planned for May 2011.  Clearly, this is a news story relevant for all types of readership and suits most magazines editorial stance – so there is money to be made.

This is the first royal wedding to take place in the internet age, as Pete Broadbent, the recently suspended Bishop of Willesden knows to his cost.  His Facebook comments referring to the “nauseating tosh” and proposing a party in Calais for all good republicans caused a media sensation.

And the royal wedding made it to number two in the twitter trend topics, beaten only by the release of Aung San Suu Kyi the pro-democracy leader.  Both topics managed to keep Harry Potter off the top slot.

For the economy, everyone from Asda to Fuller’s Brewery has welcomed the event, anticipating increases in sales and profits.  Visit Britain is predictably optimistic, as is the entire fashion industry.
For the travel industry, the additional Downing Street approved bank holiday has put an extra dimension into 2011 planning.  The UK workforce now has two consecutive four-day-weekends and the average savvy traveller has already booked the three day annual leave needed for an 11 day holiday.  There will definitely be an impact upon the travel industry and extra marketability.  The amount of holidays booked will exceed normal May bank holiday levels and travel companies know it – especially for those people keen to escape the hype.  Maybe Bishop Broadbent had a point.

Perhaps the only loser next Spring will be Deputy PM Nick Clegg.  His hard-negotiated referendum on whether to change the first past the post electoral system, is due to take place on May 5th.  It was always going to be a tough ask to get column inches for this issue, but now that he has to compete with Will & Kate’s wedding snaps, we think he stands as much chance as Wagner up against Simon Cowell.