AT 11am this morning, Princess Eugenie will marry Jack Brooksbank at St George’s Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle.

We hope the happy couple enjoy their wedding day, and wish them all the best for the future. We also applaud their decision to invite 1,200 members of the public into the grounds of Windsor Castle to share the special occasion.

As was the case at this summer’s marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, it is nice to see the Royal Family eschewing the temptation to shut themselves away.

However, you do not have to be a staunch republican to question whether the public should be footing a bill of more than £2m to enable Princess Eugenie to enjoy the full trappings of a Royal wedding.

As the ninth in line to the throne, Princess Eugenie does not carry out any public engagements. Unlike with Prince Harry’s wedding earlier this year, her marriage ceremony will not command worldwide attention and result in a huge tourism boom.

The Queen will pay for the ‘private’ aspects of today’s wedding – flowers, entertainment, the dress – but the taxpayer will pick up the tab for the security costs.

Thames Valley Police estimate they spent between £2-4m on providing the security for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding, with Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council stumping up a further £1.2m.

The security costs involved in today’s operation will be lower, but are still expected to exceed £2m. It is not being churlish to question whether that is a sensible way to spend money from the public purse.