THE Grand National hit an unexpected hurdle yesterday when the BBC realised that its traditional start time clashed with the televised blessing of the marriage of the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles.

The solution was to move the start of the race from 3.40pm to 4.10pm. The service of prayer and dedication at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle is scheduled to begin at 2.30pm and end at 3.15pm.

The BBC, which is transmitting the service live, also has the broadcast rights to the Grand National, which is known as the “crown jewels” of its sports coverage.

The four-and-a-half-mile race traditionally takes about ten minutes. The Queen, an avid racing fan who has a stable of more than 100 horses, will be quietly pleased at the change. It will at least give her a chance to watch the race before the start of the wedding reception for 750 guests at the castle.

The 30 guests watching the Prince and Mrs Parker Bowles take their vows include every senior member of the Royal Family with the exception of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. After the short ceremony they will have a private lunch at Windsor Castle hosted by the Queen and the Duke.

Saturday’s postponed wedding will be only 90 minutes before the first of four others in the same venue. Clarence House checked with the Guildhall and announced: “We will be well out of the way.”

The decision to postpone the event to avoid a clash with the funeral of the Pope on Friday also means that the security bill for the wedding could rise significantly. The Prince of Wales will fly to Rome on Thursday night for the funeral on Friday morning. He will stay at the residence of the British Ambassador to the Holy See.

The police declined to comment on suggestions that the cost could even double to £2 million as a result of the late date change. Many officers will be required to work overtime on Saturday. They will be paid double time.

At least the sound of aircraft taking off will not disturb the nuptials. National Air Traffic Services announced yesterday that aircraft would be diverted away from Windsor on Saturday during the wedding and an air exclusion zone imposed over the castle, partly on security grounds.

Windsor Guildhall and the neighbouring castle are under one of the main flight paths to and from nearby Heathrow. At peak times aircraft fly over the town every four minutes.

There was a question mark last night over whether Zara Phillips, the daughter of the Princess Royal, would attend the rearranged civil ceremony. Miss Phillips, the eleventh in line to the throne, is scheduled to take part in a horse show at her mother’s home, Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire. The Princess Royal has confirmed that she will attend, but there was no word on her daughter. “We are still trying to clarify the position,” Buckingham Palace said.

The disruption to the Grand National is not the first in its 160-year history. In 1997 the 150th anniversary race was intended as a day of celebration but it turned into one of despair when an IRA bomb warning caused the evacuation of 60,000 people from Aintree.

Since the date of the royal wedding changed bookmakers have reported a flood of bets on Clan Royal, which is now one of the favourites at odds of 10-1.

The Royal Mail said yesterday that it will postpone the introduction of its royal wedding stamps for 24 hours until Saturday. The date on them will remain Friday, April 8.

• Two Polish tourists were found in a restricted area of Windsor Castle after by-passing an unmanned guard station, police confirmed last night. The two intruders, who will not face charges, were returned to public access areas.

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