Britain's Prince William landed a Royal Air Force helicopter in a field behind the garden of the parents of his girlfriend Kate Middleton, but the Ministry of Defence defended his actions, saying he achieved essential training objectives.
Newspapers reported yesterday that 25-year-old Prince William, who is second in line to the throne, asked permission from his girlfriend's parents to land near their country home in Bucklebury, Berkshire, because of a shortage of landing slots in Hampshire.
The Mail on Sunday said he landed the helicopter in a field behind their home.
While aviation analyst and RAF-trained pilot Jon Lake told the News of the World the April 3 flight was "ridiculous and inappropriate", the ministry said the two-hour training mission was fully authorised as part of the prince's four-month RAF attachment.
"Battlefield helicopter crews routinely practise landing in fields and confined spaces away from their airfields as a vital part of their training for operations," it said. "These highly honed skills are used daily in conflict zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan."
The ministry said helicopter bases continually sought permission from landowners to use their fields and that there were only two fields permanently available in Hampshire.
"Opportunities to use alternatives are therefore regularly seized. The aircraft landed in the field, after taking all necessary safety precautions, and was on the ground for 20 seconds.
"No one got on or off the aircraft. This was very much a routine training sortie that achieved essential training objectives."
Prince William, the fourth successive generation of the monarchy to become an RAF pilot, received his wings from his father, Prince Charles, on April 11 in a ceremony watched by Ms Middleton.
Known as Flying Officer William Wales, he is due to start an attachment to the Royal Navy in June.
He broke up with his long-time girlfriend in April last year but they now appear to be firmly back together, sparking feverish speculation among royal watchers about the marriage plans of the eldest son of the late Princess Diana.
SCMP. Apr. 21, 2008
2 comments:
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