As global media descend on Windsor, a majority of Brits are tuning Harry and Meghan out

If thousands of journalists show up for a royal wedding, will the world tune in to watch it?

Where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding is concerned, network executives the world over are counting on it at leastjudging by the staggering number of reportersaccredited to cover it.

Some 5,000 British and international journalists are descending on Windsor, including 160 photographers and 79 international networks, according to figures released today byKensingtonPalace.

• ReadCBC'scomplete coverage of the royal wedding

But recent polling suggests that public interest is far lower than those numbers might indicatenot only in countries where the British royals have traditionally enjoyed popularity,but in the United Kingdom itself.

A YouGov poll conducted May 13-14 on behalf of Huffington Post UK found that fully 70 per cent of 1,634 respondents are either "not very interested" or "not at all interested" in Saturday's wedding.

It could be the summer weather forecast for most of the U.K.this weekend,or the final game in theFA Cup, but it seems many Britswillbe otherwise engaged.

Others may simply be in a league withRihanna, who, when asked earlier this week about her attendance at the wedding, responded: "So is that really coming up?Likesoon or something?"

The survey's findings echo another YouGov poll conducted right after the couple became betrothed: half of thoserespondents were indifferent to news of the engagement, too despite the couple's double-dose of star power.

"It's not surprising, the level of disinterest," pollster Tanya Abrahamtold CBCNews. "If we look at [Prince] William's wedding in 2011, the majority there weren't that interested in his wedding either."

Fewer parties planned?

Still, there isintense media interest in covering every minute detailof the upcoming wedding,though some writers have reflected the blas mood.

"No, you don't care about the royal wedding because it's a wedding," Stuart Heritage wrote this week in Esquire. "And, as you will all be aware by now, all weddings are terrible."

Yet anotherYouGov survey previously donefor the anti-monarchist group Republic found a similar lack of interest, and also indicated there were far fewer street parties planned for Harry and Meghan than there were for William and Kate.(Though Will is second in line for the throne, while Harry falls sixth.)

"We're not a nation of republicans yet, but we've stopped being a nation of royalists,"said Graham Smith, the CEO ofRepublic. "We're told this weekend's wedding is a national celebration;clearly that's not true."

The anti-monarchist group also happens to be holding a convention in London on Saturday, the same day of the wedding,though Smithsays they chose their date first.

According to Abraham, however, the latest findings do not automatically translate into a lack of support for the monarchy.

The overall pattern in the U.K. is oddly similar to the findings in the U.S., Canada, as well as internationally.

An IpsosMori survey measured interest in the British monarchy and the upcoming wedding in 28 countries and its findings suggest again that seven in 10 people are uninterested in news about the wedding.

The highest levels of interest in wedding-related newscame from those in India, South Africa, Romania andMalaysia.

Butin Canada, some 64 per cent reported they are not interested.

The survey also suggests about half the populations in Canada and Australia believe that "abolishing the monarchy would make no difference to their country's future."

YouGov's latest U.K. poll, meanwhile, says more than half of British people (55%) still believe having a monarchy is a good thing. Thosemost supportive tend to be over 65, tend to have voted Conservative, and are more likely to be women, said Abraham.

'Queen comes out on top'

The same survey also asked whether women marrying into the Royal Family "should or should not continue to pursue a career outside of the duties of the royal family."

Respondents were split, with 49 per cent in the "should" camp, 24 per cent opting for "should not" and the rest undecided. A higher number of young people responded thatwomen should have an outside career.

The survey also confirms that not all royals are seen as equal. Respondents were asked to choose their favourite from a list of six: only two per cent chose MeghanMarkle the same number asPrince Charles.

• The royal wedding decoded: How Harry and Meghan are putting their mark on the celebration

Prince Harry is near the top of the list, at 18 per cent, but still a full 11 points behind his grandmother.

The main takeaway then, Abraham says, is that "the Queen comes out on top."

But she adds: "I think we will only really see in time what is the impactthat Meghan has."

As to whether Canadians will be waking up early Saturday to tune into the royal wedding, it seems most won't be. A survey of 1,484 Canadians by Forum Research found that just under two-thirds (63%) say they are unlikely to watch.

Those most likely to say they'd tune out skewed male (77%), younger (age 34 or less), and were living in Alberta (74%) or British Columbia (71%).