Just five months ago, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot at Windsor castle, giving the royal family a major boost in public perception.

However, while Meghan and Harry are the gifts that keep on giving for royal PR, there is speculation that the latest royal wedding might not be as popular.

On Friday, Princess Eugenie, oldest daughter of Prince Andrew and his controversial ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, is set to marry Jack Brooksbank.

In many ways, Princess Eugenie’s ceremony will be very similar to that of Meghan and Harry, reports The Daily Beast.

Harry had 800 guests, Eugenie is having 850. Harry invited 1,000 members of the public, selected by ballot, Eugenie is having 1,200. Harry and Meghan had a carriage ride through the streets of Windsor, Eugenie and Jack are having one too. Harry and Meghan had glorious weather; Eugenie and Jack no doubt want the same.

Some things will be very, very different, though. First, it’s unlikely that the British public will be out in the streets cheering the young couple on. In fact, the nuptials have been negatively received by the Brits.

20,000 people have signed a petition started by anti-monarchist group Republic demanding the royals foot the estimated £2 million security bill themselves.

Even usually reliable pro-royal commentators and newspapers have been ridiculing the plans, which, fairly or not, they have characterized [sic] as being driven by envy, petty jealousy and York status anxiety (Andrew is said to have never got over being left out of the balcony gathering at the queen’s diamond jubilee, when Prince Charles unveiled the new “slimmed-down” monarchy).

So while Eugenie will get her big day, no one is particularly interested in it, which is proving to be a point of concern for those involved in the planning.

A source who worked on the production of Harry and Meghan’s wedding and is similarly involved in Eugenie’s told The Daily Beast that the lack of interest had been a source of anxiety, “It was all very ‘will-they won’t-they’ for a long time. It was definitely a slap in the face to the Yorks that the BBC didn’t want it, and there is a sense of relief that ITV has now stepped in.”

As well as saving York face, it probably does make commercial sense, not least because the Yorks have also aped Harry and Meghan by inviting a bevvy of celebrity guests.

George and Amal Clooney and David and Victoria Beckham will be among the celebrities attending the event.

To make up for the lack of general public interest, the House of York seems determined to outdo the House of Windsor.

The message seems to be: Anything Harry and Meghan can do, Eugenie and Jack can do better—and the wedding dress is another area where the House of York has an opportunity to trump the House of Sussex.

Eugenie told British Vogue: “I’m not telling anyone who is making it, but I can say it is a British-based designer,” which has led to a flurry of bets on Erdem, Emilia Wickstead, and Alice Temperley.

The ceremony will take place in the morning, followed by a lunch St. George’s Hall. Selected guests will then move on to a private party at Prince Andrew’s home – Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park.

Come for the ceremony and the splendour, stay for the anticipated awkwardness between Sarah Ferguson and Prince Philip, who make no secret of their mutual hatred for one another.

Eugenie’s wedding promises to be quite a day.

[source:dailybeast]