Press freedom advocates have slammed the axing of The Chaser's satirical coverage of the royal wedding on official request as a troubling example for authoritarian regimes.

Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said it "deplored" the BBC and Associated Press Television News (APTN) for "censoring satirical coverage" of the nuptials by the comedy group.

Notorious for breaching security at an APEC summit in an Osama bin Laden costume, The Chaser had planned to broadcast irreverent commentary over the BBC's live feed.

ABC TV was initially advised by the BBC there were no coverage restrictions that would prevent The Chaser's wedding commentary.

But new conditions of use issued by APTN over the Easter break stated footage cannot be used "in any drama, comedy, satirical or similar entertainment program or content".

The restrictions forbidding the use of footage in any comedy or satire were agreed between Clarence House, the private office of the Prince of Wales, and the BBC.

The revisions led the BBC to threaten to block the ABC - host to The Chaser - from any wedding coverage if it did not comply.

"Satire is an important element of free expression in a democratic country," RSF said in a statement.

"This interference with Australian broadcasting sends the wrong message to many countries where the right to caricature is constantly denied.

"The BBC and the royal family should have shown more tolerance and perhaps a bit more of a sense of humour."

RSF noted comments from The Chaser that a "large proportion of the cost of the wedding is being paid for by the (British) public" and that the value of parody and satire in a democracy were recognised under Australian law.

It was also critical of other royal-imposed restrictions on coverage, which included the installation of signal-blocking equipment to prevent the use of Twitter and other sites on mobile phones inside Westminster Abbey.

RSF congratulated The Chaser for responding to the situation with a satirical letter to Queen Elizabeth II requesting a "stay of execution" for the show, which had been three months in the making.

"We, like Kate, are commoners, and were looking forward to celebrating her wedding to your exalted grandson with a few affectionate observations," the letter on The Chaser's website said.

"To ensure that our coverage was respectful, we were only planning to use jokes that Prince Phillip has previously made in public, or at least the ones that don't violate racial vilification laws.

"We've also filmed a joke about hunting grouse which we think you might enjoy."

Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd last week urged the BBC to "lighten up" and appreciate the "Australian sense of humour".

The Chaser released some of the clips they had shot for the special on YouTube on Saturday, the credits for which featured baked beans and toast being sloshed over a commemorative wedding plate.

One segment overlaid captions about the wedding on footage and interviews with Libyan rebels, screaming Afghan women and victims of Japan's devastating tsunami.

"I cannot sleep any more," the program dubbed a Japanese woman in an evacuation centre saying. "My mind is so active with thoughts of Kate's dress."

- ABC/AFP