Viewing figures for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding were a third lower than those for Prince William and Kate, it has been revealed.
A combined audience of 11.5million people watched the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex tie the knot on May 19.
Some 8.9 million tuned in on BBC One with the coverage fronted by Kirsty Young, Huw Edwards and Dermot O’Leary.
And 2.6million tuned into ITV, which was led by presenters Phillip Schofield and Julie Etchingham,
A combined audience of 11.5million people watched the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex tie the knot on May 19
The wedding, held at Windsor Castle, saw were a third lower than those for Prince William and Kate
However, 17.6million tuned in for the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in April 2011.
Figures then showed 13.6million watched their wedding on BBC One, and 4million on ITV.
It means the combined audience for Harry’s wedding was 35% down on the equivalent figure for his brother.
Incredibly Harry also failed to pull in as many viewers as his uncle Prince Edward, whose wedding in June 1999 to Sophie, Countess of Wessex enjoyed a combined BBC One/ITV audience of 14.8 million.
As well as the millions watching at home, an estimated 100,000 people lined the procession route in Windsor to catch a glimpse of the new couple
The new figures – published by Barb – are consolidated ratings, and include those who recorded the wedding and watched it up to seven days later.
They do not include those who would have watched the celebrations on live streams on the web.
The event, which took place at Windsor Castle on May 19, was broadcast live on the Royal family’s Facebook page, and also on YouTube, through their official YouTube channel.
The figures also showed that the FA Cup final, which was also held on the Saturday, in which Chelsea defeated Manchester United, averaged 6.7million viewers and peaked at 8.7million on BBC1.
Meanwhile in the US, 29.2 million tuned in to watch this month’s wedding, figures revealed.
The statistics were based on the 15 channels that aired the wedding ceremony live. Just 22.8million watched Prince William and Kate’s wedding.
Some 17.6million tuned in for the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in April 2011
In the US more viewers tuned in to watch Harry marry Meghan, with 29million watching it live, compared to 22.8million watching William and Kate tie the knot
Royal weddings have a history of being one of the most-viewed TV events of the year, but 2018 may turn out to be different.
Harry and Meghan’s ratings of 11.5 million could be beaten next month by audiences for England’s matches in the World Cup.
And in the autumn, ratings of over 12 million are likely for the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing and ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!.
The biggest ever UK TV audience for a royal wedding was recorded in July 1981, when an estimated 28 million watched Charles marry Lady Diana Spencer.
Harry also failed to pull in as many viewers as his uncle Prince Edward, whose wedding in June 1999 to Sophie, Countess of Wessex enjoyed a combined BBC One/ITV audience of 14.8 million
Prince Harry and William’s wedding’s were eclipsed by their parents, with an an estimated 28 million tuning in to watch Charles marry Diana in July 1981