The royal wedding has actually sparked a big row on homelessness

Here’s everything you need to know…

prince harry meghan markle outing
(Image credit: Rex)

Here’s everything you need to know…

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their engagement last month, with the royal couple set to wed on Saturday 19th May 2018.

With the nuptials fast-approaching, preparations are being made and people are starting to speculate what we can expect from a Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wedding, from Meghan Markle’s wedding dress designer to Prince Harry’s best man.

prince harry and meghan markle wedding date

Rex
(Image credit: Rex)

With the news emerging that the wedding is set to be held at Windsor Castle, the town’s residents are said to be very excited by the news, but a recent announcement from its council leader Simon Dudley has sparked national outrage, after he urged police to tackle the town’s ‘homelessness issue’ before the royal wedding.

Describing the issue as an ‘epidemic of rough sleeping and vagrancy’, the council leader made a public appeal to move the homeless people on Windsor’s streets before the royal wedding, voicing his concern that it is presenting ‘a beautiful town in a sadly unfavourable light’.

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PM Theresa May has publicly disagreed with the council leader and as a result a debate on ‘aggressive begging’ in Windsor has taken place.

While Dudley has tweeted that the royal wedding could encourage ‘aggressive begging’ due to the increase of tourists, police, organisations and politicians have argued against him, insisting that it wouldn’t solve the problem.

’Stigmatising or punishing [rough sleepers] is totally counterproductive,’ explained Greg Beales from Shelter via The Guardian. ’They are extremely vulnerable, at risk from cold weather, illness and even violence.’

Paul Noblet of Centrepoint added: ‘Begging and rough sleeping are two distinct issues, and it is not helpful to conflate the two.’

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not commented on the debate.

Jenny Proudfoot
Features Editor

Jenny Proudfoot is an award-winning journalist, specialising in lifestyle, culture, entertainment, international development and politics. She has worked at Marie Claire UK for seven years, rising from intern to Features Editor and is now the most published Marie Claire writer of all time. She was made a 30 under 30 award-winner last year and named a rising star in journalism by the Professional Publishers Association.