National tourism agency VisitBritain has published the initial results of marketing activity, which was undertaken to coincide with last month's Royal Wedding in London.

According to the findings, the event had a global television audience of more than 2 billion and was the sixth largest internet event - boosted by a number of social media platforms.

Based on its Klout score, VisitBritain entered the top 1 per cent of influential Twitter users, while the organisation's Facebook page also received heavy traffic due to the wedding.

Elsewhere, online visitors to the VisitBritain Media Centre and Royal Britain section grew by double within a week.

VisitBritain chief executive Sandie Dawe said: "Our strategy was to use the interest in this event - and the ensuing global media coverage - to showcase Britain and boost its appeal to visitors.

"With events such as the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Games in prospect, we want to take a message of warmth, fun and celebration to the world and send out an invitation to visit Britain."

Image: Garry Knight