While the eyes of the world focused on Kate and Will’s big day, residents of Tadley turned their attentions much closer to home.
Hundreds of well-wishers lined the streets to watch a happy couple parade through the town.
The bunting, flags and cheering crowds were celebrating Burnham Copse Primary School’s mock royal wedding on Thursday last week.
The procession saw the primary school youngsters recreate the royal wedding procession, complete with a household cavalry escort and police motorcade.
And the young royals were transported along Bishopswood Road and Newchurch Road on one of three horse-drawn carriages.
Lyn Downes, headteacher at Burnham Copse, said the idea behind the procession started as a ‘throw away’ idea.
She said: “The idea for staging the big Tadley royal wedding came from a light-hearted discussion in the staff room which grew very rapidly.
“And on the day, it went very well. The staff have been very good at running with the idea and the children have been very good in organising things. It really helps add something to such an historic occasion.”
Starting from the school grounds, spectators saw the route cleared by a police motorcade – or rather youngsters dressed as officers on bicycles.
They were swiftly followed by the royal couple, played by 11-year-olds Luis Doyle and Lily Doige.
Riding behind them were Katie Dabinett and Jack Haines, both 10, playing the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh.
And marching students from the 199-pupil school acted as household cavalry, Chelsea pensioners, bridesmaids, ushers and a marching band.
Lily said her brief stint as Kate Middleton had made her appreciate the scale of the real thing.
She said: “The procession was really something, the response we received was really fantastic.
“We all put in a lot of effort, so to get that many people cheering us was good. The real thing must be like this, just a lot bigger.
“I felt a lot like Kate – really nervous but at the same time excited.”
But for Luis as William, the occasion was a strange experience. He said: “Overall, it was fun. It was weird being a prince for the day. I would not like it every day.”
One well-wisher, Cllr David Leeks, armed with an eight-foot British flag, was full of praise for the youngsters.
He said: “An event like this is absolutely brilliant for Tadley. The number of people who have turned out today is a real tribute to their hard work.
“It was a first-class event. People have really taken this wedding, like the real thing, to heart.”
The day was closed with a street party on the school grounds where a charity collection was made for the Prince of Wales Trust.
More pictures coming soon.
