To mark the wedding of HRH Prince William to Catherine Middleton; the RSGB has negotiated with Ofcom to permit UK licenced radio amateurs to run special callsigns based on their ordinary call following the successful application for a Notice of Variation (NoV).

This is a simple and fun way of radio operators getting involved with the celebrations, and perhaps generating a bit of international interest in the amateur radio community; not only in the wedding itself but with international operators logging contacts with British operators using the modified callsigns.

The modification is simple. The regional locator character changes to an R regardless of region. So, my M0GKY callsign would become MR0GKY; my 2E1IPA callsign would be 2R1IPA.

To apply for an NoV is simplicity itself. Applications are conducted through the RSGB website by completing a form which simply asks for the existing callsign and a valid email address. Once submitted, applications should take about 72 hours. If accepted, a PDF copy of the variation will be sent to the supplied email address.

I've applied for my variation this evening, so with any luck I'll know if I've been accepted in a few days!