THE sound of wedding bells will be chiming out in St Helens this week as one young couple prepare to ‘tie the knot’.

Forget about the Royal Wedding, Ashurst Primary School’s very own William and Kate will be celebrating their big day at a very special ‘invitation’-only wedding tomorrow.

Five-year-old Katie Rebecca Hand will be swapping her school uniform for an ivory wedding dress as she makes her vows to William Blanthorne, aged six, in a mock ceremony at nearby St Paul’s Church.

Head teacher Brian Baggs organised the day to celebrate the Royal wedding.

He said: “We wanted to mark the occasion, and wanted to make sure the children remember it.”

Unlike Prince William and Kate Middleton, who were friends at St Andrews University before becoming a couple, little Katie and William are not very close friends.

“We’ve just started introducing them, but first impressions were good,” added Mr Baggs.

Are the young couple looking forward to their big day?

Katie’s mum, Joanne Hand, said the bride-to-be was excited about the mock wedding, and enjoyed dressing up.

Anne Siminister, Katie’s teacher, said: “Will’s a typical bridegroom, he’s not too fussed.”

“Everybody’s getting on board with it. Pupils have been learning about the Royal family and making flags in the lead-up to the celebrations.

“On the day itself, pupils will dress in patriotic colours – red, white and blue – as they sit down to enjoy a street party-style lunch outside before the ceremony.”

St Peter’s vicar Neil McCaffery will be leading the unusual ceremony, using the special occasion to speak to the pupils about the importance of marriage and why people choose to get married.

Parents will be joining in the celebrations, lining the streets as the ‘newly-weds’ walk back up to school in a red, white and blue procession.