THE WEDDING of Prince William and Kate Middleton will be celebrated with street parties across Kirklees.

Seven applications to stage parties in the street have been received by Kirklees Council, to celebrate the royal wedding in four weeks’ time.

Among those bringing out the bunting on April 29 will be: the residents at St Michael’s Gardens, Emley; Midway, South Crosland; Forrest Avenue, Marsh; Bay Hall Common Road, Birkby; Partridge Crescent, Thornhill and Queen Street, Gomersal.

People living in the hamlet of Magdale in Honley are also set to deck the streets with red, white and blue.

The council is not charging organisers for the one-off road closures and is consulting with other parties like emergency services.

The Queensgate indoor market in Huddersfield will be dressed with decorations to get locals into the party spirit.

And staff at Bagshaw Museum in Batley have organised several events.

They are holding a Royal Rave children’s event on April 28, where youngsters will be able to make their own flag or crown, from 11am.

Wedding shoes will be on display as part of the museum’s bridal accessories exhibition, which runs until July 13.

About 500 official parties are planned across the UK.

The campaign group Republic, which wants an elected head of state, claims that the British public aren’t interested by the wedding or the royals.

But Dr Andy Mycock, from the Academy for the Study of Britishness, at Huddersfield University, believes events being planned in the town and beyond shows that the public appetite for the Royal Family is as strong as ever.

He said: “The royal wedding is really a Marmite test: it registers public opinion.

“It represents the Royal Family, which as an institution is quite remarkable, as opinion polls still suggests that probably two-thirds of people support the monarchy.

“That has remained unchanged for 20 years, despite coming under public scrutiny for things like Diana’s death and the problems with family members like Prince Harry.

“The fact there is so much interest in this wedding shows that we still have a strong attachment, not just to the Royal Family but the rituals that come with it. I think people also treat it as a celebration of themselves and being part of these street parties evokes a sense of community.’’