Olympic torch arrives in the UK

The Olympic flame has landed on British soil for the first time since 1948 ahead of the London 2012 Games, the British media informed today. “A gold liveried A319 Airbus, named Firefly, landed at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall after a 1,500 mile journey from Athens in Greece”, reported Sky News this afternoon.

Among its flying companions, were former England football captain David Beckham, Princess Anne and London Games chairman Seb Coe.

"When the flame arrives and the torch relay starts to get under way, that is a physical moment in terms of the process towards the Games," the Princess, who formally received the flame at a ceremony yesterday, told the BBC.

"Certainly in Canada (for the 2010 Vancouver Games) they were amazed by the effect that that had and I think that may well be true for Britain as well."

The Princess, an Olympian herself and president of the British Olympic Association, will disembark with the flame in a small protective lantern for Beckham to then light a golden torch and a cauldron.

"To be travelling back with the flame tonight, and to be lighting it, is something very special. Something that I am going to cherish for many years," Beckham told reporters.

The relay, with triple Olympic gold medal winning yachtsman Ben Ainslie leading off for the first leg of the torch's 8,000 mile journey in the hands of 8,000 people, starts from Land's End on Saturday.

The torch will visit all four nations in the United Kingdom - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - and also make a trip to the Irish Republic for a day in Dublin.

On its travels, it will be transported up mountains and across seas and lakes by a variety of transports ranging from hot air balloons, motorcycle sidecar, tram and train.

It will pass the monumental Stonehenge and climb the heights of Mount Snowdon.