Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Radio Times is launching a national competition today, 15 February, inviting children of all ages to create a magazine cover that celebrates the forthcoming wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

The winning design will be published on the cover of Radio Times, the UK's biggest-selling quality magazine, in the week of the royal wedding, this April.

The winning entry will be chosen by an esteemed panel of judges: artist Sir Peter Blake; The Secretary of State for Education, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP; Children's Laureate Anthony Browne; Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton; Radio Times Art Director, Shem Law and Radio Times Editor, Ben Preston.

Sir Peter Blake says in the current issue of Radio Times (on sale today): "The winning entries are going to be seen by a huge number of people and that does mean thinking about the design’s impact. What interests me is the union of two different classes of people. But I’m sure children and young people will come at it from any number of directions…which makes it very exciting."

Blue Peter's Helen Skelton also comments: "The winner will be directly involved in marking history, as the years go by no one will ever be able to change that."

There are three age categories within the competition: under 8s, 9-12s and 13-18s. The overall winner will be published on the cover of Radio Times in April 2011, and we will also publish the winning entries from the other two categories. As part of the initiative, 21,000 primary schools and 5,500 secondary schools across the UK are being sent specially devised teaching notes for Key Stages 1, 2 and 3, advising teachers how to incorporate the competition into their lesson plans.

To enter Radio Times' young cover competition, visit: and downloading an entry form. Pictures should be sent to RT Royal Wedding, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide, Room D2 First Floor, Media Centre, 201 Wood Lane, London W12 7TQ.

The closing date for entries is midnight on 31 March 2011.

Neelam Rhodes