Should Princess Eugenie’s wedding be paid for by the public?

More than 18,000 people have signed a petition demanding that no public money be spent on Princess Eugenie’s imminent wedding. 

The anti-monarchy group Republic is behind the online petition, which insists that taxpayers should not be helping to fund the nuptials of a non-working royal, and demands that all costs be met by the royal family. 

Princess Eugenie, 28, the younger daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York, will marry her long-term partner Jack Brooksbank in the splendour of St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on October 12th, five months after her cousin Prince Harry exchanged vows with Meghan Markle at the same venue, watched by millions around the world. 

Like Harry and Meghan, Eugenie and Jack will embark on a carriage ride to wave to well-wishers following the ceremony, an addition that will bump the security bill up to – according to predictions – some £2million. 

Princess Eugenie will marry her long-term partner Jack Brooksbank in a lavish Windsor Castle ceremony in less than a fortnight, on October 12th

The petition launched by the anti-monarchy campaign group Republic has attracted more than 18,000 signatures, with less than a fortnight to go before Eugenie's big day

The petition launched by the anti-monarchy campaign group Republic has attracted more than 18,000 signatures, with less than a fortnight to go before Eugenie’s big day

Republic’s petition calls Eugenie’s big day ‘a private, personal event dressed up like a national occasion,’ and said it is ‘shaping up to look more like a £35million extravaganza than a wedding fit for a minor royal’. 

Roads are expected to be closed to traffic around Windsor Castle on October 12th, and policing will be stepped up significantly, the costs of which Republic claims will fall to the taxpayer. 

Windsor and Maidenhead Council last month revealed details of the road closures, parking restrictions and crowd control measures that will be put in place as it prepares to host its second royal wedding of the year.  

The celebration carriage ride will see the newlyweds travel down Castle Hill, onto the High Street and Park Street before returning to Windsor Castle via Cambridge Gate on the Long Walk. 

All roads along the route will be closed to traffic from 00.01am 12 October and are expected to re-open around mid-afternoon once the procession is completed, although a precise timing has not been released. 

Residents and businesses in the immediate area of the procession route were written to last month with further details of what to expect and how to prepare.  

Just like her cousin Prince Harry, Eugenie will exchange vows in the splendour of St George's Chapel, with members of the public invited to watch from within the castle grounds

Just like her cousin Prince Harry, Eugenie will exchange vows in the splendour of St George’s Chapel, with members of the public invited to watch from within the castle grounds

Wedding experts previously told FEMAIL the bill for Princess Eugenie’s wedding, which is being hosted by her parents, the Duke of York and his former wife, the Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson, was likely to exceed £2.7million. 

Hamish Shephard, founder of wedding planning app Bridebook.co.uk, calculated the cost of everything from Eugenie’s bespoke gown to her entertainment – with rumoured A-list performers on the bill.

The sum was calculated following an analysis of over 170,000 weddings and a review of over 70,000 industry suppliers’ price estimates listed on Bridebook’s wedding venue and supplier directory.

According to Hamish, the costs of catering to the couple’s 1,200 guests could include up to £85,000 for a luxury marquee, and a similar figure to keep the drinks flowing as the royal’s friends and loved ones party into the night. 

Bridebook has tipped Stella McCartney – who was behind Meghan’s glamorous reception gown – as Eugenie’s chosen dress designer, and points out that a couture gown by the British house could add £200,000 to the bill. 

In May, the roads around Windsor were closed to traffic as Eugenie's cousin Prince Harry married the now Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle 

In May, the roads around Windsor were closed to traffic as Eugenie’s cousin Prince Harry married the now Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle 

The wedding itself will be paid for by the couple’s parents, but reports that the estimated £2million security bill for protecting the ninth-in-line to the throne and her guests would fall to the taxpayer provoked outrage in August. 

The Daily Mirror said at the time that security costs for the wedding had doubled amid increased terror fears since the Princess’ engagement was announced in January. 

MailOnline has approached Buckingham Palace and Thames Valley Police for comment.  

The anti-monarchy group Republic, which created the petition, said it was urging the government to commit 'no public money to the wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, and to publish a report of all costs to taxpayers'  

The anti-monarchy group Republic, which created the petition, said it was urging the government to commit ‘no public money to the wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, and to publish a report of all costs to taxpayers’  

Princess Eugenie, seen with her sister Princess Beatrice at Ascot this summer, will marry Jack Brooksbank on October 12th in a ceremony that's expected to be attended by A-list stars as well as members of royalty

Princess Eugenie, seen with her sister Princess Beatrice at Ascot this summer, will marry Jack Brooksbank on October 12th in a ceremony that’s expected to be attended by A-list stars as well as members of royalty

The BBC declined to broadcast the royal wedding on October 12th. 

It will be covered by ITV via a special edition of This Morning.  

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk