Constantine, who will be a guest at the royal wedding, described William as "straightforward, honest, hardworking and never losing his sense of humour".

BBC: Prince Charles becomes longest-serving heir apparent

Now based in Russia, Polunin returned to the Royal Ballet in February as a guest dancer to rave reviews in Frederick Ashton's Marguerite and Armand.

BBC: Ballet star Sergei Polunin exits Midnight Express

The unanswered question is why Mr Aitken should have taken such a huge risk in denying the Guardian's claim that as minister of defence procurement he had stayed at the hotel as a guest of the Saudi royal family.

ECONOMIST: Jonathan Aitken

Any notion that Britain itself was keen to lock up the general should have vanished with the revelation that he had been visiting Britain not only to mend his bad back but also as the guest of a British arms maker, Royal Ordnance.

ECONOMIST: General Pinochet

The many Americans who seemed entranced by the royal wedding may be delighted that their president will be staying in Buckingham Palace, will be the Queen's guest of honour at a state banquet, and will get a tour of Westminster Abbey.

BBC: Pomp and substance for Obama's Britain visit