Americans go royal wedding mad with days until big event

IF you think the world has gone mad recently, take a look at how US citizens are losing their minds right now.

AMERICANS are losing their heads over the royal wedding, with over-excited fans planning 3am viewing parties, stockpiling kitschy memorabilia and recording songs.

With days to go, US news outlets are overflowing with the minutiae of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s big day, seven specials about the couple have aired on network TV and venues are advertising lavish celebrations.

Many fans have spent thousands heading to the United Kingdom for the big day, while others are attending “princess pyjama parties”, dressing up for champagne-fuelled soirees or fashioning their own weird tributes.

“I plan to wake up at 3am local time to watch all the coverage, and when my daughter wakes up she will join for a special breakfast of scones, tea and sandwiches,” Chicago-based royal fan Allison Lackey Peschel, 31, told news.com.au. “She has royal pyjamas to wear and the same personalised robe that Prince George wore when he famously met Barack Obama.

The United States is going royal wedding crazy ahead of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding on Saturday. Picture: AFP photo / Andrew Caballero-Reynolds

Allison Lackey can’t get enough of the royal wedding fever.

A woman snaps a selfie in front of an oversized Royal Wedding card for the couple at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California on May 15, 2018. Picture: AFP Photo / Frederic J. Brown

The card is available to sign all week until the May 19 wedding in England, which will be shown on the cinema’s big screen. Picture: AFP Photo / Frederic J. Brown

“I have been watching non-stop segments, documentaries, reading books, flipping through magazines, and more in anticipation for their big day. I am constantly refreshing the Kensington Palace Instagram or Twitter for updates. It is crazy in the USA — every news segment has something around the royal wedding.”

Steve Casino, from Kentucky, painstakingly painted the royal family on to peanuts for the Today show, while Joel Diamond, from New Jersey, created a schmaltzy tribute video that’s had 45,000 views on YouTube.

Others are dressing up in posh gowns and fascinators and laying out cucumber sandwiches to join in massive Facebook Live parties.

In Washington DC, revellers have been sipping cocktails named American Princess, Markle Sparkle and Kensington Garden Party at the Royal PUB (Pop-Up Bar), while New Yorkers have been spotted hefting cut-outs of the couple down the street.

British-themed stores and cafes are flogging royal wedding-themed merchandise, including fake invitations, tea-towels, aprons, T-shirts, china and playing cards.

New York coffee shop Tea & Sympathy had a queue around the block for Prince William and Kate’s wedding six years ago, and they are expecting even greater mayhem now an American is marrying into the family.

Washington, DC residents go mad for the monarchy at the Royal PUB (pop-up bar). Picture: AFP photo / Andrew Caballero-Reynolds

It’s all about the lifesize cut-outs, with this one overlooking a selection of royal wedding merchandise on display at Ye Olde Kings Head gift shop in Santa Monica, California. Picture: AFP Photo / Frederic J. Brown

Students at Immaculate Heart High School and Middle school get into the spirit in Los Angeles, California. Picture: AFP Photo / David McNew

“America is going is wild, America is so excited,” says Beaumont Etiquette founder Myka Meier, who runs the Duchess Effect in New York.

“We don’t have royals here, so for us, it’s always been like a fairytale, a Disney movie.”

She points out that the last time an American married into the royal family, “it didn’t end so well.” King Edward VIII was forced to abdicate in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson.

“For the first time, we have a real American royal,” says Ms Meier. “Not only royal, but a Hollywood celebrity, a divorcee, a bi-racial powerful woman who talks about politics, race and women now has massive platform

“Americans are very prideful of this and of her, she’s making waves globally.”

Ms Meier will dispense advice on sitting, dressing and acting like a royal at the Plaza Hotel’s wedding day celebration — sees the union as a symbol of the “modernisation of the royals.”

For $150, guests will enjoy live commentary from royal experts, lemon and elderflower cake pops — mimicking the wedding cake — and fairy floss in Harry’s favourite banana flavour with edible gold.

Toy inventor Steve Casino, from Kentucky, paints the royal family for the Today show.

Are you this nuts about the royal wedding?

Attendees enjoy tea as Madame Tussauds New York reveals their first ever Meghan Markle waxwork with a restyled Prince Harry figure. Picture: Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Madame Tussauds

Corgis dressed as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle participate in Lifetime’s ‘Corgi Court’ in New York, in celebration of its telemovie Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance. Picture: Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Lifetime

Revellers at the Washington pop-up bar. Picture: AFP Photo / Andrew Caballero-Reynolds

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle can only be bemused by the frenzy over their impending nuptials. Picture: Andy Stenning — WPA Pool/Getty Images

Tables for a $70 viewing breakfast at British restaurant Jones Wood Foundry on the Upper East Side have already sold out, with the eatery “calling all romantics to watch it live — the fairytale wedding that proves anything is possible!”

Amanda Bowman, founder of the Anglosphere Society, is hosting a party from 6.30am to 9.30pm on her New Jersey farm. “I think it’s the royals carrying the special relationship between the US and the UK,” she tells news.com.au. “The sense of connection between the two countries and indeed the English-speaking world is being held together by the royal family and I think it’s lovely.

“The fact this young women is American and from an unconventional background is important, the fact she’s bi-racial has interested people who wouldn’t be interested.”

Ms Bowman believes the rapture is partly down to “a celebrity-driven culture” but also represents a moment to “celebrate the amazing changes that have taken place during reign of the Queen”.

Bizarre merchandise and commemorative gifts on sale across America include these playing cards. Picture: AFP Photo / Frederic J. Brown

Celebrations are taking place up and down the country. Picture: AFP Photo / Frederic J. Brown

The British-American, whose relatives worked in the royal household, says the Queen has presided over an evolution in the royal family from having a sister who couldn’t marry a divorced man, to seeing her children face personal challenges and divorces themselves.

“My sense is — and maybe it’s projection — is she’s just delighted her grandson has found someone who makes him happy.”

Anne Chertoff, a royal and wedding trends expert at global marketplace WeddingWire, attributes the “frenzy” to “the love we have for Princess Diana.”

Diana’s wedding to Prince Charles in 1981 was watched by 17 million Americans, while 33 million tuned in to see her funeral. William and Kate’s wedding was seen by nearly 23 million in the US and Harry and Meghan’s could attract even more attention.

“Princess Diana was so loved by the American public, these are her sons, her boys, we just want to see them happy,” says Ms Chertoff.

“We watch The Crown, we watch Downton Abbey, to see an American have this dream come true, it’s a joy to watch.”

The royal history buff is keen to see how the couple incorporate the bride’s heritage through American food or Californian wine, whether Meghan’s mother walks her down the aisle and where they have their first kiss. She says many people have asked about the dress, which she thinks will be modest, but a more “fashion-forward red carpet evening dress” than Kate’s traditional gown.

“With all news going on, all the horrible things you see, it’s just one of those happy things, it’s just a positive thing anyone can enjoy.”

The buzz will reach fever-pitch this weekend, with the New York Times style section having already run 20 royal wedding pieces, US networks sending their best talent to Windsor and Fox News opining: “Meghan Markle proves that no matter who you are, you can be anything in America, even British royalty!”

Allison sums up the joy of so many Americans: “I am excited for this royal wedding in particular because of how apparent it is that Meghan and Prince Harry love each other. This wedding will transcend racial, class, and global lines.

“They will use their positions to change the world for the better.”