Gay couples in England and Wales will be able to marry [CORRECTION:] next year, following action by the House of Commons yesterday approving marriage equality legislation. As a formality, the final word will come from the Queen – how appropriate – who is set to sign the bill into law, although the date has not been announced.
UPDATE – Queen Elizabeth gave “royal assent” to the marriage legislation on Wednesday; implementation will probably begin in 2014.
NO. Gay couples in England and Wales will NOT be able to marry soon “perhaps later this week.” The first marriages will likely not be able to take place until next summer. The marriage equality bill will become law when the Queen gives the royal assent perhaps later this week. But because the new law affects other laws, it will take perhaps as long as a year to implement all the regulations that will be needed before same-sex marriages will actually take place. Please correct the misleading post. Thanks.
Sorry to be pedantic but the Queen actually does not sign Laws. The Assent is usually given by commission so Her Maj needs to do nothing and the Great seal is affixed to the Parliament Roll deposited in the House of Peers.