Did Blackpool plane-spotters capture a flying Royal visit to resort?

Eagle-eyed aviation enthusiasts caught the moment a Royal Canadian Air Force Challenger jet arrived in the resort from Lille in Northern France, where international leaders were gathering to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the battle of Vimy Ridge.

The plane, with the callsign Royal Two, was met on the tarmac by police, a passenger whisked away in a Bentley escorted by officers in a Range Rover.

Rumours began spreading that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was paying a secret visit to the North West.

But with the popular PM still Northern France on Sunday afternoon, the identity of Blackpool’s VIP visitor remained a mystery.

A second visitor, on Monday morning may have given the game away. A chopper from the Queen’s Helicoper Flight was snapped on the Blackpool tarmac, departing North towards Cumbria where Prince Charles – who had also been in Lille in Sunday with Princes Wiliam and Harry – was scheduled to make a Royal visit.

Airport officials couldn’t confirm the identity of their guest but were pleased to have been able to handle the flight.

A spokesman from Hangar Three said: “It was a pleasure to welcome a special visitor to Blackpool. We worked hard to help them travel through Blackpool, rather than Manchester and look forward to assisting more high profile guests in the future.”