Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit Harry Potter studios

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry have officially opened the film studio complex where the Harry Potter film series was produced.

The Royal party conducted the inauguration of the Warner Bros Studios in Leavesden, Hertfordshire.

Other films produced at the site include the James Bond movie Goldeneye and the first Star Wars prequel.

The Royal visit included a tour of The Making of Harry Potter attraction, which opened last year.

The party arrived just after 10:30 BST at the £100m facility, which is the only film studio in the UK to be owned and operated by a major Hollywood studio.

Speech

The royal trio were given an insight into the film-making process and officially opened the studios which were formerly the production home of all eight Harry Potter films and Star Wars Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace.

The studios now include nine sound stages, a 100 acre back-lot and one of the largest underwater filming tanks in Europe.

At the official inauguration, the duke delivered a short speech in which he thanked the company for making the investment at Leavesden.

"You were right to do so, and all three of us hope you have a long and prosperous stay here - and please make another of the Dark Knight series," he said.

The prince, who is preparing for the arrival of his first child in July, also joked about whether they did baby seats for the Batmobile.

The Royals met some of the studio's production team together with 500 children, and their parents, associated with charities that have one of the royals as their patron.

During the studio tour, they viewed props, costumes and models from the Harry Potter film series.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry toured the Warner Bros studio