Kiwi actor stars as Prince William 

The first photos of Kiwi actor Nico Evers-Swindell in his hotly anticipated role as Prince William have been released.

It was announced in January that the former Victoria University of Wellington student - and cousin of rowing champs Georgina and Caroline Evers-Swindell - would play the Prince in the made-for-TV movie William & Kate.

Relatively unknown actress Camilla Luddington will play William's fiancee Kate Middleton and William's father, Prince Charles, will be played by British Star Trek actor Ben Cross.areme-007.blogspot.com

The film is described as "the story of how the friendship between Prince William, second in line to the throne of the British monarchy, and future princess Kate Middleton, the stunning daughter of upper middle-class commoners, blossomed into a romantic love affair, charming the world with their recent engagement and eagerly awaited Royal Wedding.

"The film chronicles the history of William and Kate - from the moment the two students met at Scotland's prestigious University of St Andrews, through the ups and downs of their nine-year courtship complicated by social and royal family pressures, and intense global media attention surrounding their storybook nuptials."

Evers-Swindell, who trained at the Actors Centre Conservatory in New York, has also appeared in the film The Edge of Darkness and the crime drama Law and Order.

William & Kate premieres in the US on April 18 on Lifetime Television - less than two weeks before the couple's royal wedding on April 29.

- Stuff - Areme-007.blogspot.com