British Grand Prix - in pictures

Racing royalty and bona fide royalty meet at Silverstone ahead of the grand prix. It looks like Sir Jackie Stewart might be forewarning Prince Harry of potential rain showers during the race. Though Harry doesn't seem overly interested in the wee Scotsman Photograph: David Davies/PA

Goldie gives the Prince a hug. Not the most conventional greeting for an heir to the throne Photograph: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Finally Harry gets into the Red Bull Racing garage where he's given a guided tour by the team principal Christian Horner. The two Red Bulls will hog the front row of the gird yet again today. Mark Webber sits on pole for a change, with Sebastian Vettel in second Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images

Vettel is quickest as the lights go out and streaks ahead of his team-mate to claim the racing line into turn one ... Photograph: Srdjan Suki/EPA

Ferrari lie third and fourth but are under pressure from Jenson Button who takes a look at the outside line where the track is still relatively wet, while Lewis Hamilton, who started tenth, finds his path blocked by the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA

With the Red Bulls out front, battles develop between Mclaren and Ferrari. Hamilton climbs expertly up to fourth place (passing team-mate Button in the process) and then overtakes Fernando Alonso with a skilful pass on lap 15 Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA

He's doubtless feeling spurred on by the avid home support he's receiving Photograph: Gerry Penny/EPA

But the track is drying quickly and that is playing back into the hands of Alonso, who moves back into third place and closes steadily on the Red Bulls ahead Photograph: Srdjan Suki/EPA

Vettel was flying, but a terrible pit stop in which a wheel nut got stuck costs the German the lead Photograph: Nigel Roddis/EPA

Webber's stop is also rather sluggish, but that's nothing compared to Button, whose mechanics send him back onto the track with a loose wheel! Photograph: Nigel Roddis/EPA

His front-right was wobbling all over the place and the Brit had no choice but to pull over and retire Photograph: Nigel Roddis/EPA

The beneficiary of those poor stops is Fernando Alonso, who takes the chequered flag. Though it must be said his victory owed as much to his outstanding pace as it did to the misfortunes of others Photograph: Nigel Roddis/Reuters

Meanwhile, Vettel narrowly holds off his team-mate Webber to claim second. Webber was ordered to hold back in the closing corners, but the Australian ignored the instructions and pushed Vettel to the line Photograph: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Seconds later, Hamilton and Massa round the final few bends and they're even closer to one another. Hamilton, whose been running out of fuel, defends bullishly and uses the side of his car to physically block Massa's attack ... Photograph: Crispin Thruston/Action Images

The Brazilian subsequently runs wide allowing Hamilton to retain fourth place Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA

The Spaniard proudly points to the prancing horse on his steering wheel. It's 60 years since Ferrari's first ever F1 win which, rather fittingly, came at this very track Photograph: Paul Gilham/Getty Images

No Brits on the podium then, but at least the Ferrari fans are happy Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images

Alonso sprays the champagne and celebrates closing the gap, albeit marginally, on Vettel in the overall standings. Vettel now has 204 points, Webber 124, Alonso 112, Hamilton 109 and Button 109 Photograph: Nigel Roddis/Reuters