UK NEWS

PRINCE WILLIAM EARNS HIS WINGS

The Prince will earn his wings today

Friday April 11,2008

By Nicola McCafferty for express.co.uk

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(1)

PRINCE William was presented with his RAF “wings” by his proud father Prince Charles today.

After more than 12 weeks of intensive training, the young royal became the fourth successive generation of the monarchy to become an RAF pilot.

At a ceremony held in the service’s spiritual home - RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire - Charles awarded his son his wings as the Duchess of Cornwall looked on.

Among the guests at today's ceremony was Prince William's girlfriend Kate Middleton - her first appearance with the Prince at a major official event since the young royal - a serving officer in the British Army - graduated from Sandhurst in December 2006.

The award will be presented by Prince Charles

The couple, who have been in an on-off relationship for years, looked closer than ever.

*** READ WHY WILLIAM AND KATE ARE MORE IN LOVE THAN EVER ***

Prince William learnt to pilot a plane during four months of training with the RAF and was taught about the service’s ethos, traditions and military role.

It was an amazing feeling, I couldn’t believe it

Prince Charles

The 25-year-old is preparing to one day head the armed forces.

The young royal - an officer in the Household Cavalry regiment - was one of the first in his class at 1 Squadron of 1 Elementary Flying Training School to go up alone in a propeller driven Grob 115E light aircraft.

Describing the experience the Prince said at the time: “God knows how somebody trusted me with an aircraft and my own life.

"It was an amazing feeling, I couldn’t believe it.”

The loved-up couple today

Learning how to pilot a plane or getting to grips with a helicopter’s controls are challenges royal men seem to relish.

The Prince of Wales and his father the Duke of Edinburgh have both been awarded their RAF wings.

They were following in the footsteps of Charles’ grandfather Prince Albert, later King George VI, who became the first royal to serve in the RAF, between 1918 and 1919, becoming a qualified pilot in the process.

William’s uncle, the Duke of York, also took to the air and served his country in a flying role, piloting Sea King helicopters during the Falklands War in 1982.

Andrew used his aircraft as a decoy target, trying to divert deadly Exocet missiles away from British ships.

*** SEE OUR PICTURE GALLERY OF WILLIAM RECEIVING HIS WINGS ***

PRINCE EARNS HIS WINGS

11.04.08, 6:19pm

If Prince William wanted to fly, he should have joined the RAF, not the Army.

He is just a member of the spoilt upper class, he decided he wanted to learn to fly, and so he has, at the tax payers expense.

It will serve no purpose to us, but it will boost his ego.

• Posted by: sheptenelan • Report Comment