Sky's hopes of filming Kate Middleton and Prince William's royal wedding in 3D have fallen flat.
Prince William and Kate Middleton's royal wedding will not become the latest 3D TV phenomenon after Buckingham Palace ruled it out.
BSkyB, which launched a 3D television channel last October, went to great lengths to try to persuade the royal family of the possibilities afforded by the new technology, filming a mock wedding with the two leads played by stand-ins at a church in Eastbourne, Sussex, two weeks ago.
It was followed up by a 3D demonstration at the Guards Chapel in Windsor, but the palace on Tuesday ruled out filming the wedding – to be held on 29 April at Westminster Abbey – with the technology largely on logistical grounds, MediaGuardian.co.uk can reveal.
Patrick Harrison, press secretary to the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, said there were a "number of reasons for the decision" but did not rule out a 3D royal event in the future. He added that the decision had been taken in consultation with the royal couple themselves, William's private secretary Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton and Westminster Abbey officials.
"I'm afraid I have to say that we have decided not to progress with 3D coverage of the service on this occasion," Harrison told the BBC, ITV news provider ITN and Sky News, in an email sent to the broadcasters.
"There are a number of reasons for this, most notably the additional camera footprint in the abbey, the relatively small (albeit growing) audience for 3D, and our desire to not be distracted away from negotiating and facilitating the optimal 2D, radio, photographic and online coverage of the day.
"I know you have all become increasingly enthusiastic about 3D and I'm sorry that this will come as a disappointment.
"I hope you feel the process we have gone through will be helpful for other live events and of course we do not rule out facilitating 3D at some point in the future.
"That said, I do hope we can now move forward on working through all the many other media logistics for the royal wedding so that we can all, together, ensure that this joyous event can be shared across the world."
A St James's Palace spokeswoman said: "After careful consideration we have decided not to progress with 3D coverage of the service on this occasion. There are a number of reasons for this, most notably the additional camera footprint in the abbey."
While Tuesday's decision rules out 3D coverage of the service in Westminster Abbey, it remains to be seen whether Sky will attempt to incorporate some kind of 3D coverage into other elements of the couple's big day.
Sky News recently joined the BBC and ITN on the rota of broadcasters that produce the Queen's Christmas message to the Commonwealth, leading to speculation that the annual broadcast will one day be broadcast in 3D.
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