RAF roar to open the Classic BRITs

Fresh from their role at the Royal Wedding, the Central Band of the RAF are to open proceedings at the 2011 Classic BRIT Awards.

The band, themselves nominees for the Classic FM Album of the Year award, follow that recent appearance with another huge event - also attended by HRH the Duchess of Cornwall.

Their album Reach For The Skies has been one of the biggest-selling classical albums of the past 12 months, earning their own nomination for an award at the Classic BRITs. The album commemorates the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, as well as the band's own 90th Anniversary.