Ballet dancer David Wall dies aged 67

David Wall, pictured with Princess Margaret after the Royal Ballet premiere of Mayerling in 1978, was awarded the CBE

Ballet dancer David Wall, who became the youngest male principal in the history of the Royal Ballet at the age of 21, has died of cancer.

Wall, who was awarded the CBE, was a regular partner to Dame Margot Fonteyn.
He studied at the Royal Ballet School and joined the ballet's touring company in 1963, becoming principal in 1966.
Wall, who was 67, died at his family home in Croydon, south London, on Tuesday. Friend Christopher Price paid tribute to "a great dancer and artist".
"It has been an honour to know him and he has brought the world and his family so much joy and happiness during his lifetime," said Mr Price.

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As soon as I got into the rehearsal room, she put me totally at my ease and we really started to enjoy working”

David Wall on dancing with Dame Margot Fonteyn

"His passing will be an enormous loss to us all."

In 1970, Wall joined the main Royal Ballet company as principal.
The BBC's Sophie Hutchinson said the 1970s were seen as a golden age of classical ballet and that Wall had danced all the leading roles with some of the greatest ballerinas.
Appearing on Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, in 1978, Wall remembered feeling nervous when Dame Margot picked him to be her partner.
"I was doubting and questioning my ability very much for three weeks," he said.
"But as soon as I got into the rehearsal room, she put me totally at my ease and we really started to enjoy working."
After retiring in 1984, Wall became associate director of the Royal Academy and went on to become director.
In 1995, he joined English National Ballet as ballet master.
He is survived by his wife, two children and a number of grandchildren.