THE Royal Wedding celebrations got going a day early today as two schools enjoyed a day of flag-waving in honour of the regal couple.

Canonbury Primary School, in Canonbury Road, and St John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Primary School, in Duncan Street, got into the spirit of things on the eve of the big day.

Canonbury School turned its playground into a mini-street party, with bunting and union flags aplenty, a picnic, costumes and traditional games.

The children, who were joined by leader of Islington Council, Councillor Catherine West, revelled in the day.

Seven-year-old Sibel said: “I’m very excited. I’m going to wear all the Union Jack colours tomorrow and all my family are coming for a party.”

Down the road, the children at St John the Evangelist school dressed up in regal attire, then tucked into a picnic lunch before a spot of time-honoured singing and dancing.

Geraldine Gallagher, deputy headmaster of the school, said: “Even our parish priest was dressed up as a pearly king. Everyone had a great time and the weather was great. The kids had been practising some of the songs so it was really good.”

“After the songs we had food and cakes, kindly organised by the PT and one of our staff Nick Matthias has been great, he helped put with the decoration and the clearing up afterwards.”