Bafta Awards 2010: Prince William makes his debut as the president of the Baftas

By Laura Roberts Published: 8:44PM GMT twenty-one February 2010

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The king described the purpose as a "very good honour" and pronounced he wished Lord Attenborough, who suffered from a critical head damage last year, was well sufficient to be at the event.

He described the executive and actor, 86, as "one of the loyal greats of British film" and affianced to live up to his "illustrious predecessors".

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Addressing the Orange British Academy Film Awards rite at London"s Royal Opera House he said: "The visible humanities are such a critical piece of what creates up the fabric of this nation.

"I am so beholden to Lord Attenborough for mouth-watering me to take over from him.

"Britain has been a universe personality in so most ways, not slightest in the informative achievements.

"From the days of Shakespeare to the own Shakespeare in Love, British playwrights, book writers, actors, movie makers and right away video diversion designers have led the approach globally, if not regularly in conditions of apparatus afterwards positively in bent and innovation.

"From what we are about to see tonight, it is utterly transparent that the same unusual informative impetus that so infused the initial Elizabethan age still drives the violence heart of British visible humanities in this second Elizabethan era."

The twenty-seven year-old stressed the stately family"s ongoing tie with Bafta.

"My grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, was there right at the start, presiding over that sparkling time that saw the entrance together of the British Film Academy and the Guild of Television Producers and Directors," he said.

"He was followed as boss by Lord Mountbatten, who in spin handed over to my aunt, the Princess Royal.

"And, of course, for the past eight years, the Academy has been in the singly able hands of one of the loyal greats of British Film.

"I only instruct he was well sufficient to be here tonight, so I could contend this to his face - Lord Attenborough.

"So right away maybe you can see because I feel this is such a payoff for me - and I will do my turn most appropriate to live up to my shining predecessors."

He added: "Occasions such as tonight are patently smashing showcases for the British movie industry, but I am additionally intensely vehement about the awaiting of operative with Bafta on the innumerable free endeavours.

"Because what is less well known about this smashing organization is how most good it does for immature people with the mentoring schemes, career starter initiatives and guidance and events wake up opposite the country.

"So, appreciate you for all you do to await the might of film. Thank you for asking me to turn your fifth president.

"It is a really good honour."

Jonathan Ross, the evening"s host, joked that blockbuster Avatar was such an "unstoppable juggernaut I thought it had been done by Toyota".

The movie was nominated for eight awards.

The ancillary singer endowment was presented by Anna Kendrick to Christoph Waltz for personification a barbarous Nazi in Inglourious Basterds.

He described the endowment as "beautiful and terrific".

Waltz dedicated his endowment to executive Quentin Tarantino and said: "No Quentin, no Inglourious Basterds... no Quentin, no Christoph at the Baftas or anywhere else."

Outstanding entrance by a British writer, executive or writer was presented by Colin Firth to David Bowie"s son Duncan Jones, who destined low-budget movie Moon.

Jones, who welled up with emotion, said: "It"s taken me an horrible prolonged time to know what I longed for to do with my life.

"Finally, I think I"ve found what I love doing."

Hollywood heart-throb Matt Dillon awarded the ancillary singer difficulty to Mo"Nique for her purpose in Precious, violence British actresses together with Anne-Marie Duff.

The superb British movie drum was scooped by Fish Tank, that kick drive-in theatre such as An Education and In The Loop.