BLACKBURN, England: Prince William and Kate Middleton are visiting young people in northwestern England on their last official trip before they wed later this month. The couple will open a community academy and launch a youth award named after the prince during Monday's visit. They will also visit a country park as part of William's role as patron of a plan to protect outdoor recreational spaces. Since announcing their engagement in November, the couple has traveled to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland as Middleton is introduced to royal duties — and to the British public. The couple will marry at Westminster Abbey on April 29. Britons want William as king A third of Britons want Queen Elizabeth II to abdicate within two years, with 59 percent wanting William to be next on the throne, bypassing his father Prince Charles, according to a poll in The Sunday Times newspaper. The Panelbase survey of 2,000 adults found that 42 percent of young men and 39 percent of young women want the queen to abdicate within 24 months. Among women aged 18-34, 78 percent said they thought William and his fiancee were better suited to the throne than Charles and his wife Camilla. “There are some signs of a fairytale effect,” said Panelbase managing director Ivor Knox. Harry back in Britain Prince Harry, William's younger brother and best man, is back in Britain after four days on a trek to the North Pole with wounded servicemen. “What an amazing experience ... a lot harder and colder than any of us realized,” the prince said. Harry is back to continue with his military commitments — he is training to become an Apache attack helicopter pilot — and prepare for April 29 wedding. Let's have a party Prime Minister David Cameron has called on local councils not to block street parties on April 29, saying he intends to have one at Downing Street — although presumably after the ceremony, to which he has been invited. Writing in The Sun tabloid, he said about 4,000 parties had already been planned across the country, and urged councils — who must give their approval to close the road — not to ask organizers to complete too much red tape. “My message to everyone who wants to have a street party is: I'm having one and I want you to go ahead and have one too,” Cameron wrote, adding: “So go on — bring out the bunting and let's make this a day to remember.”
