Richmond is leading the way for royal wedding street parties with the most applications in London.
Figures showed applications in each of the capital’s 33 boroughs ranged from zero to 50, with less than a month to go until Prince William and Kate Middleton’s nuptials.
As of yesterday Richmond was in poll position with 60 parties planned for April 29. Newham and Wandsworth were close behind with 50 and 49 applications respectively.
Richmond Council leader Lord True said he was delighted royal wedding fever was spreading across the borough.
He said: “From what I have heard we may end up the most popular place in London for street parties.
“Anything that brings communities together is to be welcomed.
“I said last year we would move heaven and earth to make it easy for people to have street parties to celebrate special days such as the forthcoming wedding – well we have done that.
“As I said a few months ago, let the streets party, the bunting fly and the bells ring out for William and Kate.”
Bunny Farnell-Watson, of Richmond Hill, is among the borough’s party organisers.
She said: “In our area there are six street parties going on and it is such a lovely thing for the community.
“I’m not a royalist but I think the royal wedding is fabulous and it will be a happy English day to celebrate.”
Mrs Farnell-Watson said everyone was looking forward to a traditional English party with bunting, games and even a contest for the best hat.
If sales at aptly named party shop A Party Palace are anything to go by, the most popular addition to any outfit will be a Kate or Wills cardboard face mask.
Adrienne D’Souza, owner of the Upper Richmond Road shop, which has eye-catching lifesize cut-outs of the happy couple in its window, said she could not believe how many masks had been sold.
She said: “The wedding couple masks have been really popular and in our industry everything is very last minute, so it is really unusual for us.
“We have sold hundreds of masks of William, Kate and the Queen. Lots of people have been talking to us about the parties they are planning [and] the masks are a really good present to take to a party.”
Residents keen to host their own street party can still submit plans. Applications close on April 8.
Are you planning a party?
Or are you getting married on the same day as Kate and Wills? Call the newsroom on 020 8744 4274 or email cfleming@london.newsquest.co.uk.
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