In less than 10 days, the world—led by the British—will witness a historic moment: the wedding of Prince Harry, the youngest son of Princess Diana and Prince Charles. Eight years after his brother Prince William married Kate Middleton, Harry will tie the knot with American actress Meghan Markle on Saturday, May 19, at St. George's Chapel in Windsor.
Excitement extends far beyond the UK, with French travelers among the most enthusiastic, according to a recent Expedia.fr study. London's proximity to Paris already makes it a prime spring getaway, but the royal wedding has doubled demand compared to the same period in 2017. Similar surges come from Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, and the UK itself.
French travelers rank third in Europe for hotel searches, up 40% from last year, trailing only Spaniards (95% increase) and Italians (75%). Luxury is the focus: demand for 4- and 5-star hotels is 10 times higher than last year. Travelers are treating themselves right. Planning your own Channel crossing? Note that pubs will stay open until 1 a.m.—two hours later than usual—to celebrate the newlyweds!
