The Prince sped out of the camp in his Audi car and headed for the Empire cinema, 14 miles away in Poole, to watch the ice skating comedy starring Will Ferrell and Jon Heder.

The plot follows two skaters, one a sex addict, who are stripped of their medals and banned from their sport after brawling at the 2002 World Winter Sports Games – but find an unlikely way back in by competing as ice skating's first same-sex couple.

The Prince, who left his base at 8.40pm and arrived at the cinema for the 9.10 showing, is on a four-and-a-half month specialist course at Bovington to train to be an armoured reconnaissance troop leader in the Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals regiment.

It was the first time he had been seen out since the weekend, when it emerged that he and Kate had split up after more than four years together.

She was photographed beaming after making a 100-mile round trip to London on Monday to pick up a tennis racket and to pop into the head office of Jigsaw, the High Street fashion chain where she works part-time as an accessories buyer.

William has been keeping a low profile. He has let it be known that he is grateful that Kate has pledged not to speak publicly about their relationship and he has vowed to keep in regular touch with the millionaire's daughter.

It emerged yesterday that only one member of staff at Clarence House, his private secretary Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, has met Carole Middleton. He has made it clear he holds no such views.

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