STAFF at the Royal Free Hospital will not be getting into the wedding spirit after being told they will not receive bonus pay for the extra bank holiday.

Workers at the Hampstead facility will instead be offered a day of lieu time if they work on April 29 during the Royal wedding.

It is one of 115 trusts across the country exposed by the Unite union for not offering improved pay, which can be between double time and 60 per cent extra, for the extra holiday.

Under the National Agenda for Change staff are entitled to eight bank holidays a year where pay is enhanced, but the royal wedding is an extra bank holiday this year.

Rachael Maskell, the Unite union’s health representative, said: "NHS staff will be saving lives, looking after the sick and prepared for emergencies while most of Britain will be taking a well earned break or celebrating the royal wedding.

"The government has given the country an extra bank holiday to mark the royal wedding but NHS trust chief executives on six figure salaries are refusing to recognise the spirit of the occasion.

“These trusts still have time to do the right thing and recognise the valuable contribution NHS staff make to this country."

A statement from the Royal Free said they were one of 115 NHS organisations which has followed guidance issued by NHS Employers for employment arrangements on April 29.

It added: “Where staff are needed to work on April 29, they will be entitled to a day off in lieu at a later date. All other staff will be entitled to a day’s paid leave. “