Exclusive: Will and Kate say \"I do\" to low-carbon nuptials

2 Jun, 2011

28 Apr, 2011

Royal wedding correspondent examines the green credentials of the year\\\\\\\'s most high-profile wedding....

Despite all the pomp and ceremony, Prince William and his bride-to-be Kate Middleton are expected to host a \"low-carbon wedding\", equipped with all the sustainable trimmings, including seasonal flowers and food, and facilities powered in part by renewable energy.

These include printing all documents on recycled paper and using FSC-certified wood and scaffolding in the building of the media stands. The carbon emissions of the wedding will also be offset as part of the royal household\'s annual carbon footprinting exercise.

Specific details of the event, including whether Kate will be wearing a \"green\" dress remain a closely guarded secret, however the 1,500 guests will dine on sustainably sourced food and drink, while smelling sweet seasonal flowers.

A source with knowledge of the plans said: \"[Sustainability] is considered by both Clarence House and Buckingham Palace in terms of everything it does, so you wouldn\'t be wrong to assume that the food and flowers will be seasonal and sustainably sourced.\"

The news is perhaps unsurprising given Prince Charles\' reputation as a keen environmentalist.

A Clarence House spokeswoman refused to confirm details of the private sections of the day, but said both Clarence House and St James Palace always strive to minimise their carbon emissions and make any event as environmentally friendly as possible.

\"The royal wedding is no exception,\" she said. \"This is achieved by reducing energy consumption and by greater use of renewable energy.\"

She added that the household annually costs its emissions at market rate and contributes the money towards sustainability forestry projects in the UK and overseas.

With speculation mounting over the design of Kate\'s dress, Rosie Ames, founder of \"eco-chic\" wedding planners Green Union, said she hoped the bride will don sustainable materials such as peace silk, or fair-trade cotton, which have not been touched with unnatural dyes.

As for flowers, Ames said William and Kate might choose lilacs, tulips, bluebells, sweet peas, or perhaps even a few roses which have come into season early.

Meanwhile, any salmon would probably be Scottish while asparagus would likely come from the Vale of Evesham.

As for transport, she added: \"The carriage will obviously be carbon-friendly, although they\'ll also be using Rolls-Royce.\"

Indeed, one of the charities benefitting from the royal wedding gift fund is Earthwatch, which aims to find social and scientific answers to environmental issues.