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This is how many people watched each royal wedding

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their big day on May 19 [Photo: PA]
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their big day on May 19 [Photo: PA]

Considering that the global population is ever-growing, and that the marriage of American Meghan Markle to Prince Harry was a big deal in the US, it’s easy to assume that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding was the most-watched royal do of all time.

But according to new figures, this isn’t so.

In fact, the Express reports that it was watched by fewer people than those that tuned in for Prince Edward’s marriage to the Countess of Wessex in 1999.

Prince Harry was also beaten by his brother, as several million more chose to watch the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge tie the knot in 2011.

Prince William and Kate Middleton beat Harry and Markle to it [Photo: PA]
Prince William and Kate Middleton beat Harry and Markle to it [Photo: PA]

Each of these royal weddings was beaten by one particular occasion, however.

New numbers published by the Broadcasters’ Audience Research Board (BARB) are consolidated ratings, and these include people that recorded the big day and watched it within seven days afterwards.

For Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex’s marriage, which also took place in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, 14.8 million tuned in.

When Prince William and Kate Middleton were married, a whopping 17.6 million watched.

Meanwhile, only 11.5 million switched their TVs on for Harry and Markle.

Princess Diana and Prince Charles on their wedding day in 1981 [Photo: PA]
Princess Diana and Prince Charles on their wedding day in 1981 [Photo: PA]

Topping each of these by at least 10 million, however, was Prince Charles and Princess Diana‘s big day in 1981, when 28 million people switched on their TVs.

Bad luck, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. At least you beat the FA cup final, which only 8.7 million people watched later that day.

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