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Young Royals Welcome Torch to London

The Olympic Torch was welcomed to a sweltering London today  by William, Kate and Harry - ambassadors for Team GB and ParalympicsGB  - at Buckingham Palace.

London was in jubilant mood for the arrival of the torch.

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Ian West / WPA / Getty Images

The fact it was the Young Royals who formed the London welcoming party is an indication of the central tole they will have in the next two weeks of sporting activity in London.

'Boris Johnson mocks Mitt Romney.'

The torch then made it's way to Hyde Park where a vast crowd of 100,000 had begun to gather before a concert due to take place in celebration of the torch's arrival tonight, featuring the slightly odd combo of  Dizzee Rascal and boy band The Wanted.

London Mayor Boris Johnson - who had actually brushed his hair for the occasion - mocked Mitt Romney's spectacularly ill-judged criticism of London's Olympic preparations from the stage in a typically ebullient speech, invoking Obama's catch-phrase, 'Yes we can!' in the process.

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Crowds surround a torchbearer carrying the Olympic flame along Whitehall towards Parliament Square today (Oli Scarff / Getty Images)

Meanwhile, the identity of the person who will light the Olympic cauldron at tomorrow’s opening remains unknown, but London Olympics chief executive Paul Deighton today told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It was surprising how we reached unanimity pretty quickly. I think when everyone sees our choice they will understand why we made it."

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Tom Sykes

THE ROYALIST, updated several times daily, reports on all aspects of the British Royal Family. With breaking news and the latest gossip, great pictures and informed commentary, the Royalist is essential eyeballing for fans of the world’s most famous family.

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