Britain has officially legislated same-sex marriage after Queen Elizabeth II gave her royal assent to a bill that has passed the lower and upper house, same sex weddings are set to kick start next year.

Despite opposition within his own party, Prime Minister David Cameron pushed to make the bill law. Britain is now the 15^th country to legalise marriage equality.

Reactions to the legislation have been remarkably calmer than neighbouring country France, where violent protests showed resistance to the law change.

Culture Minister Maria Miller defined the Bill as ‘a historic moment that will resonate in peoples lives’.

“I am proud that we have made it happen, and I look forward to the first same-sex wedding by next summer”.

Delays in the bill coming into action are due to expenses around updated the government system to allow same-sex marriage to be registered, the cost is estimated to be around $3.3 million.

Same-sex marriage is not yet legal in Northern Island and Scotland who have separate laws.

Nadine Walker