Prince William lands helicopter in girlfriend’s garden
LONDON (Reuters) – Prince William landed a Royal Air Force helicopter in the garden of the parents of his girlfriend Kate Middleton but the Ministry of Defence defended his actions, saying he achieved essential training objectives.
The News of the World newspaper reported on Sunday the 25-year-old William, who is second in line to the throne, asked permission from his girlfriend’s parents to land at their Berkshire home due to a shortage of landing slots in Hampshire.
While aviation analyst and RAF-trained pilot Jon Lake told the News of the World the April 3 flight was “ridiculous and inappropriate”, the MOD said the two-hour training mission was fully authorised as part of William’s four-month RAF attachment.