UK scouts' royal kidnap game raises eyebrows

LONDON (AP) -- A British scout troop's outdoor exercise depicting the fictional kidnapping of Prince William's bride-to-be has raised some eyebrows.

The scouts' annual "quest" in the small English town of Amersham, west of London, last week involved watching an actress playing Kate Middleton being allegedly kidnapped by a team of balaclava-clad men. An actor playing Prince William then appealed to the 300 scouts, aged 11 to 13, to help him find his princess.

The scouts spent eight hours hiking around the area looking for clues to the location of the missing Middleton.

The game angered some local councilors and led to national media coverage.

Buckingham Palace declined comment on the topic of England's future queen being kidnapped - fake or not - and the scouting group did not return requests for comment Saturday.

William and Middleton are being married April 29 at London's Westminster Abbey. The government is expected to deploy a massive security presence for the event.