Prince William hosts British cave divers who rescued 12 boys in Thailand

Prince William has told British cave divers who helped rescue 12 trapped boys in Thailand that the country is "very proud" of them.

The Duke of Cambridge welcomed some of the British team who took part in the rescue mission, and their UK support groups, to Buckingham Palace in recognition of their work.

He reminisced about his own time underground when he was reunited with caver and cave diving expert Martyn Farr, who had taken the duke and his brother on a subterranean adventure in Wales in 1999.

The Duke who is a keen diver and president of the British Sub-Aqua Club, said during the palace reception: "Well done guys, it was fantastic, it really was. You should be very proud of yourselves.

"Everyone here was watching, everyone here was very proud...

"And I think cave rescue now is emblazoned in neon signs."

William told some of the group about his caving experience with Mr Farr, joking: "I still remember standing at the entrance thinking 'there's no way I can fit down that hole' and he said 'follow me'."

The operation was launched to reach the young footballers and their team coach after they became stranded more than two miles deep inside the Tham Luang cave network on 23 June.

They spent 18 days marooned in the dark - their exit cut off by a flash flood - before specialist dive teams guided them out one by one.

British diving experts and support workers were hailed as integral to the rescue bid, which also involved specialists from the US, Belgium, Australia and Scandinavia.

At the reception were Lance Corporal Connor Roe, Robert Harper, Chris Jewell, Martin Holroyd, Ali Garman and Belgian Jim Warny.

Mr Jewell, a cave diver from Cheddar, Somerset said the rescue operation was a "very intense period".

"In the three days of the rescue operation of bringing the children out we just had to be focused on that mission.

"I was bringing the children out so I would dive with a child through the cave.

"It was particularly difficult diving conditions, particularly diving with another human being."

Mr Garman told William how he picked up two specialist children's masks - the only pairs in the UK - from a diving shop in Cardiff and raced to Heathrow so they could be taken on a Thai Airways flight to Thailand.

The 45-year-old, a warden with South and Mid Wales Cave Rescue Team, said he was given a police escort for part of the journey.

A Wiltshire officer asked him what speed he felt comfortable driving at, and when he replied 90mph the officer said "we'll do 100mph".

Mr Garman said he made the flight with just 10 minutes to spare, adding: "He was clearing the road in front of me, I was hanging back what I thought was a safe distance and we were doing 105-110mph."