A SALISBURY couple will be sharing their special day with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Helen Jackson and her fiancé Craig Fetherston will tie the knot on Saturday as people across the country will be tuning in to watch the Royal Wedding on television.

Helen, who grew up in Durrington, said: “We picked the day first. It is amazing - all the days they could have picked.”

The couple, who have been together for four-and-a-half years, were sent text messages by their mums within minutes of each other after the royal wedding day was announced.

“We just laughed, I think we both knew it was going to happen because they had announced it was going to be May. We were like I bet you it is going to be our date,” said the 29-year-old.

“We weren’t surprised.

“It is kind of cool, you are never going to forget your wedding day, not that you would anyway. People will remember when it is because it is the same day as the royal wedding. It’s been quite nice. People have paid us more attention because it is a bit of a historic moment as well.

“It is quite nice really but I’m kind of annoyed it is on the same day because I wanted to watch it. I would have loved to have gone down to the cathedral to watch it”

As well as sharing their wedding date, the couple share a few similarities with the Royal couple. Craig like Prince Harry has served in the British Army as well as having red hair while Helen, like Meghan, has lived in the United States. She was in California for three years and also studied in Oklahoma.

Craig, 32, who originally hails from Dublin, served in the Irish Guards for four years until he was medically discharged in 2014. He now works as a carpenter in Andover.

The couple will be getting married at the register office before having their wedding reception at Burcombe Manor.

“It’s not quite Windsor Castle,” said Helen, who works in marketing. “It will be lovely and the weather is looking good.”

Helen’s mum Debbie and her aunt Sue Kestin have been busy making 60 metres of bunting by hand ready for the special day.

  • The Royal Wedding will be shown live on a 50ft screen in the Cathedral Close, which will be followed by a free party.

The event will start at 9am, with a live broadcast of the ceremony on a giant BBC screen, as well as activities hosted by Salisbury Cathedral, Wiltshire Creative and Salisbury Museum.

Communities across south Wiltshire will be coming together to celebrate the royal occasion with their own events and street parties.