The Duke of Edinburgh has opened the final sound stage at Hertfordshire's Sky Studios Elstree.
Prince Edward, patron of the Production Guild of Great Britain, visited the county's newest film and TV studio last week to officially open the final sound stage to be completed on site.
A group of selected local charities, trainees and employees attended the event as His Royal Highness toured the state-of-the-art studio facility and unveiled a specially made plaque to mark the occasion.
The visit took place on Thursday, March 9 - the day before the Dukedom of Edinburgh was conferred upon His Royal Highness on his 59th birthday.
Speaking to invited guests, Sky Studios chief executive officer Cécile Frot-Coutaz said: “Sky Studios Elstree will create thousands of jobs and will boost the UK’s creative industry at a time when it is needed most.
"It will become the new creative home for bold and unmissable Sky Original series as well as Hollywood blockbusters from NBCUniversal.
"The opening of this final stage signals the near completion of the site, and we’re delighted to have His Royal Highness join us.”
A passionate advocate for the UK’s film and TV industry, Prince Edward also unveiled a plaque on Stage 5 to commemorate the significant moment for the UK’s film and TV sector as it marks the largest brand-new studio facility to open in the UK for decades.
At the unveiling, guests filled the stage for a reception including young trainees who have recently joined the Sky team.
READ MORE
- Sky Studios Elstree launches ground-breaking training scheme
- Students help bury time capsule at Sky Studios Elstree
Local Sky charity partners, who are being supported by the media company through donations and volunteer hours, were also there to celebrate the occasion.
Last week's event signals the near completion of Sky Studios Elstree, which will house 13 sound stages and will generate an additional £3 billion of production investment in the UK creative sector in the first five years alone.
The studio complex - just off the A1 at Borehamwood, four miles south of the M25 at South Mimms - also has some of the most ambitious sustainability goals in the world, aligning to Sky’s overall ambition to be net zero carbon by 2030.
Get more stories like this delivered to your inbox every week by signing up to the Welwyn Hatfield Times In Brief newsletter.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here