We will stop Muslim radicals from ruining Royal wedding, vow police

The commitment came after one radical group, Muslims Against Crusades (MAC), made a formal bid for permission to demonstrate outside Westminster Abbey on the big day.

Senior officers rejected the application but have no powers to ban a stationary protest elsewhere in central London.

Amid fears of chaos as the English Defence League announced it was planning a counter-protest, Assistant Commissioner Lynne Owens said officers would act “quickly, robustly and decisively”.

Last night Prince William and Kate Middleton expressed their gratitude for the efforts of the police. A St James’s Palace spokesman said: “The couple remain very grateful to the police for all they’re doing to ensure a safe and enjoyable day for everyone participating in their wedding.”

Details of the multimillion pound security operation were revealed as it emerged that preparations are fully in place apart from “minor tweaks”. The bride and bridegroom have been in charge of “every detail”, St James’s Palace said.

Police said 5,000 officers will be on duty on the day.

Muslims Against Crusades vows on its website to launch a “forceful demonstration” on April 29, threatening that “the day which the nation has been dreaming of for so long will become a nightmare”.

Ms Owens said: “We will act quickly, robustly and decisively so that it’s a happy event for everybody else who intends to be there.”

The group has courted controversy in the past. Extremist Emdadur Choudhury was fined £50 last month for burning poppies on Armistice Day while other members chanted “British soldiers burn in hell” during the two-minute silence.

No intelligence has suggested police need to use anti-terror powers, Ms Owens said.