Petition against Princess Eugenie's wedding: 18,000 oppose use of taxpayer money

Princess Eugenie and fiance Jack Brooksbank. Photo / Getty Images

More than 18,000 people have signed a petition demanding that no public money be spent on Princess Eugenie's imminent wedding.

The anti-monarchy group Republic is behind the online petition, which insists that taxpayers should not be helping to fund the nuptials of a non-working royal, and demands that all costs be met by the royal family, reports the Daily Mail.

Princess Eugenie, 28, the younger daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York, will marry her long-term partner Jack Brooksbank in the splendour of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on October 12th, five months after her cousin Prince Harry exchanged vows with Meghan Markle at the same venue, watched by millions around the world.

Like Harry and Meghan, Eugenie and Jack will embark on a carriage ride to wave to well-wishers following the ceremony, an addition that will bump the security bill up to - according to predictions - some $3.9 million.

Republic's petition calls Eugenie's big day "a private, personal event dressed up like a national occasion," and said it is "shaping up to look more like a $69 million extravaganza than a wedding fit for a minor royal".

Roads are expected to be closed to traffic around Windsor Castle on October 12th, and policing will be stepped up significantly, the costs of which Republic claims will fall to the taxpayer.

Princess Eugenie of York and Jack Brooksbank. Photo / Getty Images

Windsor and Maidenhead Council last month revealed details of the road closures, parking restrictions and crowd control measures that will be put in place as it prepares to host its second royal wedding of the year.

The celebration carriage ride will see the newlyweds travel down Castle Hill, onto the High Street and Park Street before returning to Windsor Castle via Cambridge Gate on the Long Walk.

All roads along the route will be closed to traffic from 00.01am 12 October and are expected to re-open around mid-afternoon once the procession is completed, although a precise timing has not been released.

Residents and businesses in the immediate area of the procession route were written to last month with further details of what to expect and how to prepare.

Wedding experts previously told FEMAIL the bill for Princess Eugenie's wedding, which is being hosted by her parents, the Duke of York and his former wife, the Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson, was likely to exceed $5.3million.

Hamish Shephard, founder of wedding planning app Bridebook.co.uk, calculated the cost of everything from Eugenie's bespoke gown to her entertainment - with rumoured A-list performers on the bill.

The sum was calculated following an analysis of over 170,000 weddings and a review of over 70,000 industry suppliers' price estimates listed on Bridebook's wedding venue and supplier directory.

According to Hamish, the costs of catering to the couple's 1,200 guests could include up to $167,000 for a luxury marquee, and a similar figure to keep the drinks flowing as the royal's friends and loved ones party into the night.

Bridebook has tipped Stella McCartney - who was behind Meghan's glamorous reception gown - as Eugenie's chosen dress designer, and points out that a couture gown by the British house could add $394,000 to the bill.

View this post on Instagram

I am so proud and honoured to have been chosen by the Duchess of Sussex to make her evening gown and represent British design. It has truly been one of the most humbling moments of my career. Congratulations Harry and Meghan! x Stella

A post shared by Stella McCartney (@stellamccartney) on May 21, 2018 at 11:15am PDT