30/04/2008
Secret Afghanistan Flight For Prince William
The eldest Prince has made a secret trip to Afghanistan to view RAF operations.
William, 25, met British service personnel at Kandahar airfield on Monday for three hours before returning to the UK via Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
The Prince left RAF Brize Norton, in Oxfordshire, on Sunday flying a C-17 Globemaster plane which reached Afghanistan the next day.
The Queen and Prince Charles had given permission for the visit.
His father recently awarded William his RAF wings earlier this month.
A Clarence House spokesman said that the purpose of the trip was "for the prince to familiarise himself with the operations of the RAF in theatre" and that the trip had passed off "without a hitch".
Publicist Max Clifford has reportedly said that the trip was "a good public relations exercise".
Some media spectators say that the trip was used to generate positive headlines following the controversy of the Prince flying a helicopter to his girlfriend Kate Middleton's back garden.
The Prince's younger brother, Harry, who was serving in the frontline in Afghanistan earlier this year was pulled out after a media blackout was broken. It was feared that the Prince would become a prime target for the Taleban.
Prince William - who is second in line to the throne - will start with the Royal Navy in June after four months of training with the RAF.
(DS)
William, 25, met British service personnel at Kandahar airfield on Monday for three hours before returning to the UK via Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
The Prince left RAF Brize Norton, in Oxfordshire, on Sunday flying a C-17 Globemaster plane which reached Afghanistan the next day.
The Queen and Prince Charles had given permission for the visit.
His father recently awarded William his RAF wings earlier this month.
A Clarence House spokesman said that the purpose of the trip was "for the prince to familiarise himself with the operations of the RAF in theatre" and that the trip had passed off "without a hitch".
Publicist Max Clifford has reportedly said that the trip was "a good public relations exercise".
Some media spectators say that the trip was used to generate positive headlines following the controversy of the Prince flying a helicopter to his girlfriend Kate Middleton's back garden.
The Prince's younger brother, Harry, who was serving in the frontline in Afghanistan earlier this year was pulled out after a media blackout was broken. It was feared that the Prince would become a prime target for the Taleban.
Prince William - who is second in line to the throne - will start with the Royal Navy in June after four months of training with the RAF.
(DS)
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Prince Harry has been announced as best man at Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding. The couple will marry at Westminster Abbey on Friday, 29 April. Kate's sister Philippa will be maid of honour. Prince William's two godchildren will also take part in the ceremony along with their four bridesmaids.
12 April 2006
Prince Harry graduates from Sandhurst
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15 April 2010
Prince To Be Posted To RAF Wales
Prince William will spend up to three years with the RAF in north Wales should he pass the necessary training, it was revealed today. The prince, who is second in line to the throne, is expected be posted to RAF Valley on Anglesey. However, he must first complete search and rescue pilot training, a St James' Palace spokesman said.
Prince To Be Posted To RAF Wales
Prince William will spend up to three years with the RAF in north Wales should he pass the necessary training, it was revealed today. The prince, who is second in line to the throne, is expected be posted to RAF Valley on Anglesey. However, he must first complete search and rescue pilot training, a St James' Palace spokesman said.
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Prince William's Flight Training Takes Off
'King in Waiting', Prince William is today taking the first steps toward being someone for loyal subjects to really 'look up to' by starting his flight training with the RAF. Appropriate to the kind of skills needed to rule these days he is first learning to do 'loop the loop' in a light plane.
Prince William's Flight Training Takes Off
'King in Waiting', Prince William is today taking the first steps toward being someone for loyal subjects to really 'look up to' by starting his flight training with the RAF. Appropriate to the kind of skills needed to rule these days he is first learning to do 'loop the loop' in a light plane.