Star Wars: Episode 8 set gets a visit from the royal family

Yesterday Oscar Isaac, aka the galaxy's newest resistance pilot Poe Dameron, said that Star Wars: Episode 8 won't be a retread of The Force Awakens. Now, we know he was all "it's going to explore different things that I wouldn't have expected in this universe" but no-one expected that to mean the inclusion of Royals.

Just kidding. While they're not in the movie per se - although don't rule out a hidden stormtrooper cameo - members of the British royal family were treated to a super top-secret visit to the set. The Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, and his brother Prince Harry dropped in to meet the cast and crew, and naturally, have a go a piloting an X-wing. It turned out to not be terribly secretive, however, as there's loads of snaps from the event circulating online.

The Duke and Prince Harry come face to face with Daisy Ridley's @starwars head cast @PinewoodStudios pic.twitter.com/vrXHdQR2AOApril 19, 2016

Time for a lightsaber battle! @starwars @PinewoodStudios pic.twitter.com/9hHxPxfTtiApril 19, 2016

Prince Harry has made a new friend... pic.twitter.com/mTra1UoSMxApril 19, 2016

...and so has The Duke! pic.twitter.com/c9gOh4ACyAApril 19, 2016

The Duke meets Luke Skywalker @HamillHimself and @starwars director @rianjohnson pic.twitter.com/XDizZ6GR2yApril 19, 2016

Prince Harry receives some piloting advice from @HamillHimself pic.twitter.com/MKRO31ki2lApril 19, 2016

Don't forget BB-8 - The Duke and Prince Harry say hi to the @starwars cast!https://t.co/9ibP96L2vSApril 19, 2016

Thank you @starwars for a fantastic day @PinewoodStudios! pic.twitter.com/cGUuFqh0qVApril 19, 2016

Directed by Rian Johnson and starring Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Laura Dern, Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Gwendoline Christie, and Benicio del Toro, Star Wars: Episode 8 opens in cinemas on December 15, 2017.

Images: Disney/Kensington Palace

Gem Seddon is a freelance writer working to keep all of you updated on all of the latest and greatest movies and shows on streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime. Outside of entertainment journalism, Gem can frequently be found writing about the alternative health and wellness industry, and obsessing over all things Aliens and Terminator on Twitter.