By royal appointment

Many travellers are using the royal wedding celebrations to slot in a short break in Europe – notably to Spain, Majorca and the Algarve – a sector where bookings have been hard hit by the sharp fall in household spending.

Paul Furner, managing director of online agency Travel Republic, says: “Sales are up by an astonishing 59.3 per cent over the same period last year. The run of bank holidays, and the fact that the royal wedding is being screened and celebrated in lots of places outside the UK, has been too much to resist.

“Equally, we are also seeing strong demand from those wanting to escape the celebrations completely.”

Travel Republic says the top five royal wedding destinations are Majorca (bookings up 78.7 per cent on same time last year); Tenerife (146 per cent); Costa Blanca (65.3 per cent); Costa del Sol (181.6 per cent) and the Algarve (57.1 per cent).

Trevor Davis, a director at Co-operative Travel, says: “With workers having to take only three days off to enjoy an 11-day break, many people are jumping at the chance to get abroad.

“Reports suggest as much as a 50 per cent increase in holidays compared with the same period last year, so operators and airlines are making available additional accommodation and flights to cope with demand.”

Travel Republic reckons a smart couple could have a dream week in Majorca for around £126 each – £46 for the returns flights (Manchester-Palma), and £80 for a week’s self-catering at an apartment in Santa Ponsa.

Breaks abroad available at Lastminute.com include five nights all-inclusive at the three-star Aparthotel Monica Isabel Beach Club in Albufeira, on the Algarve, from £308, and seven nights all-inclusive on Spain’s Costa Dorada, from £508.

Egypt, trying to get the tourists back after the revolution, has some of the cheapest deals: Lastminute.com lists 14 nights all-inclusive at a four-star hotel in Sharm El Sheikh, from £601, including return flights ex-Gatwick, on April 24.

For those who actually want to watch the royal wedding, Lastminute.com says there is plenty of room left in the capital’s hotels: selected London Hilton Hotels have a Spring sale with 33 per cent off room rates and Thistle Hotels are also offering 30 per cent off.

Although nine per cent of Britons say they might celebrate at street parties with the neighbours, P&O Cruises claims it will hos t the largest Royal wedding party – for more than 12,800 Britons on six ships cruising as far apart as the Panama Canal and Palma.

Great British deck parties will take place throughout the day, with decorations and flags, and evening entertainment will include a Royal Gala Ball, movies and a themed quiz.