Business leader backs Guernsey Royal wedding holiday

Prince William and Kate Middleton announced they would marry at Westminster Abbey on 29 April

Guernsey has a duty to celebrate the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, according to the president of the local Chamber of Commerce.

Guernsey States is due to decide whether or not the wedding day, on 29 April, will be a public holiday in the island, when it meets in January.

Julian Winser said it was important to mark the occasion.

He said it was impossible to predict the impact of an extra public holiday on island businesses.

Mr Winser said: "If it is a public holiday it is up to businesses whether or not they close, it's up to the retail organisations whether or not they open during the day, so there is an element of choice.

"There is a significant linkage back into the UK by the finance centre and obviously if the UK is having a holiday, as they have already stated they will do, they'll be little or no impact."

He added: "[In the future] we will be welcoming William and his future wife to the island as representatives of the Royal Family and potentially our king."