It's back to work: Days after two billion watched his wedding, Prince William returns to the day job

By Daily Mail Reporter


Prince William returning to his RAF Valley in Anglesey today, days after his wedding was watched by two billion around the world


A few days ago his every move was watched by an estimated two billion people.

But today it was back to more familiar territory as Prince William returned to work at his RAF base in Anglesey.

Wearing sunglasses he was behind the steering wheel of an Audi seen arriving at the Air and Sea Rescue HQ.

Wearing sunglasses, Prince William drove into the Air and Sea Rescue HQ at RAF Valley


It was thought Prince William and his bride would honeymoon this week until it emerged that the new Duke of Cambridge had to return to work.

Despite his status as second in line to the throne he, like his colleagues, had to apply for leave like his colleagues.

He was given a week off for the wedding but was told that he would have to split any further holiday requests – hence the delayed departure date.

The Mail revealed this week that the couple are due to fly out by private jet in mid-May before being taken by helicopter from the mainland to a tropical retreat.

Two Scotland Yard protection officers checked the destination a fortnight ago to ensure it would give the couple the privacy they crave.

As her son-in-law returned to work, Carole Middleton and daughter Pippa were seen arriving back at their Berkshire home

Prince William had to delay his honeymoon as he was ordered to split his leave requests with colleagues


The Mail is not publishing details of the location, and it is understood that not even Kate is aware of the exact destination.

The Prince is not the only wedding guest who returned to their everyday life just days after the global event of the Royal Wedding.

Five days ago the Queen was the proud grandmother overseeing a wedding watched by two billion people.

But after the bank holiday it was back to the daily routine for the monarch yesterday as she visited Newmarket, Cambridge.


Refreshed: Five days after the wedding the Queen met children at Newmarket Day Centre


source:dailymail

'Last day of freedom': Biker Wills speeds off for final kickabout as single man

By Fay Schlesinger and Richard Simpson


Easy rider: William roars out of Clarence House on his beloved Ducati as he went to spend one of his last nights as a bachelor by playing five-a-side football with the boys


Prince William has already confessed that his knees are ‘tapping quite nervously’ as his wedding day approaches.

But nerves did not stop the 28-year-old jumping on his motorbike to spend one of his last nights as a bachelor by playing five-a-side football with the boys.

During a kick-about in a South London park at 10pm on Tuesday, one of William’s friends was overheard referring to his ‘last day of freedom’.


At one point, a team-mate wearing a baseball cap and blue shirt grabbed his arm and bounced the football off the back of his head while the others laughed and jeered.

A second friend then took over, throwing the ball at William’s growing bald patch.

The prince seemed embarrassed by the spectacle and bowed his head in an attempt to shrug off the attention.

Wearing England shorts, a black shirt and socks in the colour of his favourite team, Aston Villa, he sprinted around the park playing central defence to shouts of ‘William’ and ‘Wills’.

Playing with the boys: William looks exhausted as he's flanked by friends after the kick-about in a South London park. One of William's friends was overheard referring to his 'last day of freedom'


Four royal protection officers stood on the sidelines – and even ran off to collect the ball when it soared over a fence.

The 45-minute kickabout is a regular fixture for William whenever he has time off from working as a search and rescue pilot in Anglesey, North Wales.

If his bride-to-be had grumbled about how a sliding tackle could ruin the wedding by leaving him with grazes or even a broken leg, the prince did not let it affect his evening.

But he decided to forgo the usual trip to a pub in Battersea following the game.

Instead, he returned to St James’s Palace on the black £15,000, 180mph Ducati superbike which is his pride and joy.

Pensive: William looked thoughtful as he played football with a group of friends. Perhaps he was having some last-minute jitters


The prince is often spotted zooming around the country roads of Anglesey with Kate riding pillion.

He even has patriotic knee protectors decorated with the England flag.

But last year his father Prince Charles told of his fears about the dangers of the high-powered machines, which are also popular with Prince Harry.

At a reception in December, Charles said: ‘I always worry about them. It’s about other cars not being able to see you. I’m always telling my sons that.’


source:dailymail

Long may she rain! Slimline Kate Middleton gets into shape as she braves the elements for last engagement ahead of big day

By Daily Mail Reporter


Her royal dryness: Kate Middleton braves the rain on a trip to Darwen, Lancashire today


Like any bride wanting to look her best, Kate Middleton appears to have shed a few pounds ahead of her big day.

Looking more slimline than ever, the future Royal was joined by Prince William on their last official engagement together before the royal wedding, braving the rain to attend the opening of a school in Darwen, Lancashire.

Kate, holding her own oversized black umbrella, opted for a subtle but notable sartorial transformation.

Joining the ranks of predecessors including Diana and Jackie O, she wore a smart navy blue fitted jacket, matching skirt and high heels - a look that cements her status as style queen.


Gone is the floaty, A-line silhouette she has come to favour and its place a streamlined shape suit.

Her hair was styled half up half down amid recent speculation that this could be the look she chooses on her wedding day.

Miss Middleton has yet to invest in the see-through umbrellas used by the Queen, which allow her to be easily seen.

Getting in shape: Kate has lost weight as last-minute nerves kick in ahead of the big day and is certainly thinner than she was back in 2005


Instead Kate carried a very large black one, lifting it higher up so she could be seen by the crowds outside the Darwen Aldridge Community Academy.

The Queen's distinctive Fulton birdcage design umbrellas feature a coloured rim which the company produces in exclusive colours for her so she can match them exactly to her outfit.

Union and St George Cross flags flew outside many shops and pubs in the east Lancashire town of Darwen to greet the couple.

William and Kate arrived at Darwen Aldridge Community Academy on the first leg of their day-long visit to the area as hundreds of well-wishers lined outside in the heavy rain


William and Kate arrived at Darwen Aldridge Community Academy on the first leg of their day-long visit to the area as hundreds of well-wishers lined outside in the heavy rain.

They are expected to be met by crowds of thousands on their second and final engagement at nearby Witton Country Park in Blackburn.

William will officially open the academy where he will also launch an award scheme and later observe a sports display in the park with his fiancee

At the academy in the heart of the town, the couple were welcomed by the Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Sheila Williams, the chief executive of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Graham Burgess, and Rossendale and Darwen MP Jake Berry.

They were then greeted by the principal of the independent non-fee-paying school, Brendan Loughran, and its sponsor Rod Aldridge, former executive chairman of Capita.

William will officially open the academy where he will also launch an award scheme and later observe a sports display in the park with his fiancee


A tour of the academy followed to highlight its focus on entrepreneurial skills which are embedded in its curriculum.

William will launch the SkillForce Prince's Award and give a short address on the scheme and the work of the academy to students, parents, governors and staff.

SkillForce is an education charity which has William as its patron and from summer 2012 it will present the new honour to teenagers who show significant character or make a major contribution to their community.

Hair apparent: Kate's hair was styled half up half down amid recent speculation that this could be the look she chooses on her wedding day


More than 100 accredited newspaper, TV and radio journalists were covering the academy visit including representatives from the United States, Australia, France, Germany and Norway.

Later, William and Miss Middleton will visit Witton Country Park as part of the Prince's role as patron of the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge.

The initiative aims to protect permanently 2,012 outdoor recreational spaces across the UK and demonstrate the importance of green spaces for sport.

The couple will meet local civic dignitaries, view sports activities on the athletics field and see youngsters taking part in a football skills session.

Anticipation: Crowds line up outside Darwen Community Academy ahead of the couple's visit


Miss Middleton will also be invited to start a 100 metres race and meet a group of athletes and coaches.

The couple will also see some young people participating in disabled cycling activities.

Recently the pair have met well-wishers in Anglesey in Wales, visited their former university St Andrews in Scotland and flown to Belfast in Northern Ireland.

The Prince, 28, who is based at RAF Valley, Anglesey, in his role as a full-time RAF Search and Rescue Pilot, and Miss Middleton, 29, will marry on April 29.

Their wedding day will be an official public holiday across the UK.

Little princesses: Two young fans hold Union Jacks of the Royal couple


source:dailymail

Nearly 1,000 staff will be used by the BBC to cover William and Kate's wedding

By Paul Revoir


The big day: The BBC are expected to be dedicating up to 1,000 members of staff to cover the wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William


The BBC is to dedicate the best part of a thousand staff to covering the Royal Wedding, it has emerged.

The corporation's bill for broadcasting the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton will run into excess of a £1million, with a sizeable chunk of that going on the army of staff it will be using.

Once again it will dwarf the numbers of workers being used by rivals ITV and Sky News who will have a fraction of the staff on the day.


In total there is expected to be 850 BBC workers covering the event, many in London along the route, but also some getting reaction from other locations in the UK. This includes staff for TV, radio and online.

The BBC has defended the numbers claiming that as host broadcaster it will be responsible for beaming images out around the globe and that the wedding is likely to be the most viewed event of the century.

There will be 550 BBC workers covering the actual event, following the route and the ceremony, with Huw Edwards as the corporation's main presenter.

There is expected to be a further 300 news staff who will be providing separate reports from around Britain.

This includes staff from BBC Breakfast, the Today programme and Radio 5 Live.

Commentators: DJ Fearne Cotton and The One Show host Alex Jones will be covering the Royal Wedding


This compares with 437 staff the BBC sent to the 2008 Olympics in BeiJing and the 295 sent to last year's football World Cup in South Africa.

As well as Edwards, Fiona Bruce and Sophie Raworth will be at the heart of the BBC's coverage, which will also see Radio 1 DJ Fearne Cotton and One Show presenter Alex Jones given presenting roles.

The wedding is expected to be watched by a global audience of two billion.

A BBC spokesman said: 'The Royal Wedding is likely to be the most watched event of the century so far and the BBC is proud to be the host broadcaster.

'Final numbers have yet to be confirmed, but we expect to have 550 people working on the day to bring high quality and distinctive coverage of this special event to a wide audience at home and abroad across TV, Radio and Online.

'In addition BBC News will provide separate reports across the UK and numbers for this are yet to be finalised.'

The venue: Hundreds of BBC staff will be covering the wedding route up to Westminster Abbey


source:dailymail