Traders rub their hands at prospect of big takings from happy campers

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Miranda Bryant10 April 2012

The royal wedding route will be full by Friday morning with thousands expected to camp in the royal parks, it was revealed today.

Spectators will start camping along the procession route from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace as early as tomorrow to ensure a place among the crowds of a million who will arrive on Friday.

A Royal Parks spokeswoman said: "People will be sleeping along the procession route. It's anticipated that the route will be full by 7.30 to 9am on Friday.

"Camping isn't technically allowed inside the parks but we are expecting people to camp along the route. Camping in the parks will be at the discretion of park management and according to the advice of police."

She added: "People aren't going to be turfed off if they sleep in the park. St James's doesn't actually close. I have a feeling you will get people start camping on Wednesday."

Business owners along the route said they were expecting record takings - some plan to stay open for 24 hours to cope with demand.

The ICA is opening at 8am to serve breakfast to campers in the park. Spokeswoman Jeanette Ward said: "We're going to be open from 8am doing coffees and bacon butties because we're told that there are going to be people sleeping in the park.

"We'll have three screens showing the wedding. I think we'll be swamped. We're bracing ourselves. On Marathon day we're always packed." St Stephen's Tavern, in Bridge Street, opposite the Houses of Parliament, is opening at 7am for breakfast.

Manager Shakeeb Ayash said: "It's going to be packed - we will be full and maximum capacity throughout the day. I've got all my team working - 16 to 17 staff - that day.

"We've got bookings for tables from as far away as Australia and Canada. I'm hoping it will be the highest grossing day we've ever had."

Churchill Café in Parliament Street is ordering triple its normal amount of food. Owner Raphael Raccio said: "We'll be open 24 hours to serve the people camping out. We're expecting to be very busy. We will be selling a lot of paninis."

Ice cream van Nelson's Ices, which is already positioned on the route, is hoping to sell at least 80 gallons of ice cream. Co-owner Rose Dervis said: "It's going to be chaos, especially if we get good weather. When Princess Diana died I was here for three days night and day serving ice cream. I'm really looking forward to it."

Photography shop Snappy Snaps in Parliament Street has already been inundated with orders for personalised wedding T-shirts and has nearly run out of wedding souvenirs. Manager Mayu Manoharan said: "We've never had a day like this before so it's difficult to predict exactly how much money we'll take."

Peter Cliffe, 53, manager of the Red Lion pub in Parliament Street, added: "We're stocking up. It's going to be a very busy day, there's no doubt about that. We're in a prime position but we are used to big crowds from other events."

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