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Duke of Cambridge's base could be shut down

The Duke of Cambridge shows his father one of the RAF's distinctive yellow Sea King helicopters at RAF Valley on Anglesey
The Duke of Cambridge shows his father one of the RAF's distinctive yellow Sea King helicopters at RAF Valley on Anglesey Credit: Chris Jackson/PA Wire

Among the 12 bases from where search and rescue operations are launched is RAF Valley on Anglesey, where the Duke of Cambridge is based.

Under the contracts due to be unveiled tomorrow, the total number of bases is expected to be cut from 12 to10 although it is not clear which bases will be closed.

Assurances have already been given that the Duke will be moved to another part of the military rather than being employed by the firm that is awarded the search and rescue contracts.

Read: Government to announce sell-off of Search and Rescue service

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Sweden 'truly sad' at Princess Lilian's death

News of Princess Lilian's death has been prominent in Swedish bulletins. Credit: Sveriges Television (SVT)

Princess Lilian's death has been met with a great deal of sadness in Sweden, where she was a central member of the royal family.

Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt took to Twitter to say: "We feel truly sad for passing away of Princess Lilian. She was a most pleasant and truly wise person. She served her family and Sweden."

Swedish English-language news website The Local described her as "much loved", and "the grand old lady of the Swedish royal family".

Website 'The Local' paid glowing tribute to Princess Lilian. Credit: http://www.thelocal.se/

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Lilian's cousin: Princess was 'a credit to Swansea'

Princess Lilian and Prince Bertil had to wait 30 years to get married, as she was divorced. Credit: EBU

Princess Lilian was "a credit to Swansea", her first cousin Barbara Davies, who was also born in the city, told ITV News.

"She had an exciting life. While living in Stockholm, she did have a degree of privacy."

"From my conversations with people in Sweden they were in high praise of her conduct."

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One of Sweden's best-known love stories

Princess Lilian’s decades-long love story with the king's uncle was one of Sweden's best-known love stories.

She died yesterday aged 97 after an eventful life:

  • Born in Swansea, she moved to London at 16 to embark on a career as a model and an actress
  • She showcased hats and gloves in commercials
  • She met Prince Bertil in 1943 during WWII – he was stationed at the Swedish Embassy in the London as a naval attaché
  • His obligations to the throne and Lilian's status as a divorced commoner prevented them from making their love public
  • In 1976, some 33 years after they first met, they were finally given approval to get married

Lilian - the Welsh commoner who became Swedish royalty

Princess Lilian had suffered from Alzheimer's Disease in recent years Credit: Press Association

Princess Lilian and Prince Bertil finally married in 1976, following a relationship of more than thirty years.

Bertil's father, King Gustaf VI Adolf, had ordered him to abstain from marrying commoner Lilian.

The couple were finally give royal approval to marry by King Carl XVI Gustaf, who took the throne in 1976.

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