‘Star Wars’ gets royal additions

British royals given a tour of the Pinewood Studios near London

Princes William and Harry battled with lightsabers and hugged a Wookie on Tuesday during a visit to the set of the next Star Wars movie.

The royals were given a tour of the set at Pinewood Studios near London by British actress Daisy Ridley, who plays heroine Rey in the sci-fi reboot.

The brothers met director Rian Johnson and cast members including London-born John Boyega, who plays Finn, and Mark Hamill, who plays Luke Skywalker. They also duelled with lightsabers, saw roly-poly robot BB-8 and met 2.3 metre Chewbacca, who gave the princes a furry hug.

Prince William is president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and Kensington Palace said Tuesday’s visit was intended to salute the British creative talent involved in the Star Wars films, which have used UK-based studios, actors, craftspeople and technicians since the 1970s.

The seventh instalment in the series, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, was released last year. Episode eight, whose title has not been released, is due for release in 2017.

Prince William and Prince Harry look at droid C3P0 from Star Wars as they visit the creature and droid department at Pinewood studios on Tuesday.

When Harry met Chewbacca.

Harry and William try out lightsabers during the tour.