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| Prince William |
William has been eager to spend as much time with his future bride’s family as possible before his hectic pre-wedding rehearsals tie him up for the rest of the week.
So he decided to pop in once more ahead of his Friday wedding with Kate and was spotted driving off after the visit.
On Sunday, a fleet of three Royal Protection Squad cars accompanied William as he pulled up into the driveway of the family’s Bucklebury mansion.
He was there for a special Easter Sunday lunch with all the trimmings and arrived with a mystery brown package, which he personally delivered to his bride-to-be Kate Middleton.
Newsmen who gathered outside the Middleton's home speculated on whether it was a special wedding gift - or just a box of chocolate Easter eggs for Kate, her mother and sister.
Prince William was understood to have spent four hours with his future in-laws, enjoying the family lunch.
Sitting out of view in the offside rear passenger seat of a bullet-proof Range Rover, with two minders in the front and four others travelling in cars to the front and rear, the Prince was understood to have enjoyed his afternoon in the countryside.
Thames Valley Police officers had been sent to Bucklebury earlier in the morning, as part of the force's contract to provide protection to Kate when she is at home.
Security was beefed up several hours later, with the arrival of armed police and plain-clothed detectives from Scotland Yard's Royal Protection Squad and within 30 minutes Kate's groom-to-be had arrived.
The Middleton family and William were thought to have chatted animatedly over lunch, discussing everything from village preparations for the wedding to how William and Kate would be feeling as they walked down the aisle together after the service at Westminster Abbey.
The mystery box was carried into the house but after that, its contents remained unknown.
The Prince, with two armed guards, left Bucklebury in a Range Rover at 4pm, leaving Kate, her mum Carole, dad Michael sister Pippa and brother James, to do the washing up.
Royal protection officers sent from Buckingham Palace and Scotland Yard left the family home soon after, leaving officers from Thames Valley Police to keep guard near the front drive of the five-bedroom property for the rest of the day and night.
It was understood Kate,28, was spending Easter Monday with her family less than a week before the Royal wedding on Friday, April 29.
An insider said: ‘Kate will be here (at her family home) until tomorrow, then she's gone for the rest of the week.’
A full music rehearsal will take place at the Abbey tomorrow, with a dress rehearsal for clergy and broadcasters on Thursday.
At some stage the Prince and Miss Middleton are also expected to head to the venue for final preparations.
Meanwhile, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, was seen today leaving Jo Hansford Hairdressers in London’s Mayfair.
The salon describes itself as ‘the leading hair colour salon in the UK, specialising in the creation of perfect colour and styling’.
Camilla was no doubt making sure her bouffant was going to look perfect for the big day.
