The royal wedding will be broadcast live on YouTube after Prince William and Kate Middleton insisted they wanted their marriage to be the world’s most interactive public event.

St James’s Palace will also use Twitter, Facebook and flickr to host a dedicated social network giving the public constant updates and a chance to provide feedback.

Prince William and Miss Middleton are regular users of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, and have played an active role in overseeing plans for the online coverage of the ceremony on April 29. In an internet first, Google has developed a live blog which will be synchronised with the live footage, enabling viewers to click on links providing extra information on key moments of the wedding service as they happen.

A spokesman for St James’s Palace said: “We wanted people to be able to interact with the royal wedding as they watch it. Prince William and Catherine Middleton are like any other people their age in respect of social media. They are Facebook users and YouTube users…and their intention has always been that their wedding should be accessible to everyone.”

Coverage of the wedding on the Royal Channel, which is hosted by YouTube, will start at 10am, an hour before the ceremony, and end at 2pm, after the couple have appeared on the balcony at Buckingham Palace.The live blog will include a text commentary by staff at Clarence House and St James’s Palace, as well as links to background information and additional photographs.