TOMORROW will see the nation celebrate the royal wedding, but in Swindon one couple are tying the knot at exactly the same time.

While the marriage of Prince Harry and Megan Markle is taking place in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle at noon, Paul Wakefield will marry Irene Cooper at the Register Office in Euclid Street.

The couple, of Moredon have been together for eight years after meeting at the Eight Bells pub in Fairford, where Paul was the landlord at the time.

Irene, 52, said: “It was his charm and charisma that wooed me.

"There was something about him which intrigued me, and I felt an instant connection with him, and tomorrow I will be marrying him it seems surreal.

“I’m nervous but extremely happy as well. I bet Meghan feels the same.”

Paul, 58, was asked how he has found the experience of organising a wedding and he has admitted it had been fairly easy.

“We’re at a point in our lives where we were married before but now there is no stress and we can enjoy the day."

Sending a message to the royal couple, Paul added: “Harry, I know it’s both our wedding days, but I’d like to extend an invite to you and your wife to be for a beverage and celebration of our big days!”

The couple have decided to go for a 1920s theme for their big day, with Irene wearing a flapper dress instead of a traditional wedding dress and the groom will be in a pin-striped suit, carrying a hat and cane.

Prince Harry is thought to be wearing the ceremonial uniform of the Royal Marines as a mark of respect to the regiment he took over as captain general from his grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Meghan is expected to be in a £100,000 hand-stitched dress.

After their ceremony, Paul and Irene will head to a reception at The Moonrakers pub where they will host dinner with a selection of cheese and ploughmans.

Meghan and Harry are hosting a standing reception where their guests can mingle at Windsor Castle.

Both weddings will have their own caterer for the evening, although one set of newlyweds will have just one, while the other has a team of 30 from the palace, for a sit-down meal.

There will be a profiterole pyramid for guests of Paul and Irene, and Meghan and Harry’s wedding cake is lemon and elderflower with a buttercream.

Inspired by this, Swindon Morrisons in Haydon Wick has created its own £7 version of the cake and its own £25 version of Meghan’s wedding bouquet.