The heir to the throne has been getting air experience with the Royal Air Force recently and his flight in the Lancaster, one of only two still flying, came a day after he flew in a Tornado GR4 bomber from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

Yesterday, Downham Town Mayor John Doyle said: "It was a pleasant surprise when we read about it in the national papers on Saturday. Everyone was over the moon and it was the icing on the cake for our week of celebrations."

For Friday's flypast, the Lancaster was accompanied by a Spitfire and a Hurricane from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, also based at RAF Coningsby.

Mr Doyle said: "We asked them to fly over the two primary schools if they could and they did so a couple of times. It was at low level and the children were waving at them and the pilots waved back, so presumably Prince William did as well. They really did us proud."

Prince William, as Flying Officer Wales, is nearing the end of a four-month attachment with the RAF and Friday's flight also marked Anzac Day, when Australian and New Zealand war veterans are honoured.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "To fly in the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster gave Flying Officer Wales the opportunity to consider the RAF's ethos and heritage and to reflect on those brave souls who flew these iconic aircraft."