Royal wedding celebrated in streets, parks

LONDON, April 30 (UPI) -- Friday was still a day to party for millions of Britons without invitations to Prince William's wedding to Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey.

More than 5,000 street parties were held across the country, The Sun reported. London led the way, followed by Bristol, where authorities received 54 applications for road closings.

Bucklebury, the Berkshire village where the Middletons live, threw a party on the green for those locals not invited to the wedding. The crowd followed the proceedings closely on television until the ceremony was over, cheering when the couple kissed.

The party had some events Londoners would not be offered.

"We've got duck racing, Morris dancing, a champagne tent and a beer tent," said Simon Kelly, landlord of the Bladebone Inn.

Thousands of Londoners watched the proceedings on screens set up not far from the Abbey, in Trafalgar Square and many parks.

While enthusiasm seemed to diminish north of the border, about 1,000 people came to a street party in St. Andrew's Scotland, where Prince William and Middleton met as university students. About 2,000 showed up in Anglesey, North Wales, where the couple plan to set up housekeeping.

Alcester in Warwickshire hosted another big street party with about 5,000 people. In South Shields near Newcastle, party-goers missed the good weather in the south and turned out with umbrellas.

"The weather hasn't spoiled the day at all," Rebecca Challis said.