Prince William and Kate Middleton royal wedding: SAS snipers drafted in to safeguard wedding day

SAS snipers will go undercover at Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding in a major counter-terror clampdown on the streets. The elite soldiers will join Afghan war veterans from the Special Reconnaissance Regiment to spot potential attacks and safeguard the big day.

Working alongside police officers, they will blend in with the crowds and man fixed observation posts on roofs and mobile units hidden in unmarked cars and vans. The experts will also identify vulnerable points along the wedding procession route, which is expected to attract tens of thousands of wellwishers.

Control of the streets will remain with senior Scotland Yard officers. But on rare occasions such as the 1980 SAS storming of the Iranian Embassy “primacy” can be given to the forces.

A senior security source said last night: “Officially this does not happen but very occasionally special forces operators and military specialists are needed on the ground. Since the 9/11 attacks there has been an increasing military presence among the police force both operationally and in planning for big events.

“The armed police CO19 unit has a team of snipers, some of whom are ex-Paras and Marines and who have trained with the SAS in their Hereford base since joining the police. But there is no replacement for experience of places like Iraq and Afghanistan where our special forces are the most experienced and well-qualified in the world on spotting a potential attacker.

“They are a vital addition to the police-led operation to ensure as little risk as possible from a terror attack on the wedding day.”

The insider added: “One of the biggest fears is that terrorists may one day try and launch a Mumbai-style attack on British streets and that could be on an iconic day like the royal wedding.

“If that happens then there is no substitute for combat experience and knowing how to deal quickly with those trying to cause harm to British people.

“That is a job for our police with some input from special forces.”

William and Kate, both 28, will marry at Westminster Abbey on Friday, April 29.

The day has been declared a bank holiday so the nation can celebrate the wedding. It coincides with the weekend of the May bank holiday – meaning a huge turnout is expected in London from royal fans. The SAS and SRR will advise police on what would happen if bombs were let off or militants opened fire on the public.

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