Britain could lose $3 billion a day because of Prince Harry's wedding

The British economy could lose $3 billion a day if a national holiday is declared for Prince Harry's wedding next year, experts say.

Prince Harry and his fiancée Meghan Markle. Photo: Reuters

The British Royal Family announced earlier this week that Prince Harry is engaged to his girlfriend, American actress Meghan Markle. The couple's wedding is expected to take place early next year. Many sources said that the wedding will take place on May 26, 2018, but sources close to the British Royal Family denied this and said that the couple has not yet set a wedding date.

Many British people expect the government to allow a national holiday to coincide with this important event.

However, CNN quoted a spokesman for British Prime Minister Theresa May as saying that the government has no plans for a national holiday for Prince Harry's wedding.

The British Centre for Business and Economics Research estimates that each public holiday costs the British economy about $3 billion. Not to mention the thousands of police officers who will be deployed to ensure security for the event.

Some have suggested that such losses could be offset by increased tourism revenues, as royal weddings are often the most watched events in the world. However, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found no such significant offset after Prince William's wedding in 2011.

According to Dan Tri