British soldier Prince William, currently serving with the RAF on detachment, made a secret visit to British soldiers in Afghanistan earlier this week.
On the way back, the future King William V, who leanred how to fly during his time at the RAF, took the controls of a huge RAF C-17 Globemaster to help bring back to Britain the body of a fellow soldier.
Later this year, the Prince will serve with the Royal Navy. despite being a member of the British Army, he wants to serve some time in the other two services as one day, when he becomes King, he will be the Head of Britain's Armed Forces..
Pictured: Prince William at the controls as he flies fallen comrade home from Afghanistan
By MATTHEW HICKLEY and REBECCA ENGLISH
1st May 2008
Daily Mail
Prince William helped bring home the body of a fellow soldier while on his secret flying visit to Afghanistan.
He took the controls of the C-17 Globemaster which was repatriating the body of Trooper Robert Pearson of the Queen's Royal Lancers.
Clarence House aides said William, 25 was "honoured" to play his part in returning the coffin, and to then meet the young soldier's family at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire.
Heir time: The prince takes his turn at the controls of an RAF C-17 Globemaster
The prince took turns flying the plane during the 30-hour round trip to Kandahar Air Field, Britain's main air base in the country.
This brief visit, at the end of a four month training attachment with the RAF, may be as close as he comes to war.
William has apparently accepted that his position makes it impossible for him to serve on the frontline as his brother Harry did earlier this year.
His trip was viewed by commanders as a chance for him to see the RAF in action on operations abroad, as part of his "military education" in preparation for his future role as the head of Britain's armed forces.
The prince spent just three hours on the ground at Kandahar, visiting a Harrier strike jet unit supporting British troops fighting the Taliban, as well as soldiers from the RAF Regiment who guard the airfield against insurgent attacks.
On the return flight to Britain on Monday the C-17 carried the coffin of Trooper Pearson, 22, who was killed last week while escorting a supply convoy across Helmand, when his Viking armoured vehicle hit a hidden landmine.
One of the boys: The Prince, in his RAF uniform, strides along the tarmac at the Kandahar airfield
The plane carrying his coffin landed at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire for a special repatriation ceremony, attended by Trooper Pearson's family.
Prince William spent a few minutes with the grieving relatives in a private room at the Wiltshire base, officials confirmed.
Yesterday Trooper Pearson's family were too distraught to comment and declined to discuss their meeting with the prince.
Royal sources confirmed that the Queen and the Prince of Wales gave permission for Prince William's flight, which they described as "a success".
Some observers questioned the motives for the visit, claiming it owed as much to Royal spin doctors as to any serious training or education.
They suggested it might be a publicity stunt designed to repair the damage done by William's trips in an RAF Chinook to a boozy stag weekend, a friend's wedding and his girlfriend Kate Middleton's back garden.
Former royal protection officer Ken Wharfe said the prince would have been in no real danger during his visit to Afghanistan.
He said: "I'm slightly sceptical about this. I think the cynics amongst us will say it's an attempt to cover up the Chinook jollies."
Briefing: William is told about activities at the airfield by Flight Lieutenant Adam Freedman
Royal officials rejected the claims, insisting the trip had been planned for weeks and that the presence of a fallen soldier's coffin on board was a coincidence.
Opinion was divided on internet chatrooms used by British forces yesterday.
One poster on the Army Rumour Service website thought the trip "smelt like a PR operation", while another wrote: "He spent three hours there at a time when there is a shortage of kit. Just what did this little PR exercise cost the British tax payer?"
But a supporter of the prince said: "Here is a young man who will be king, and he clearly shows a deep and undying affection and respect for us, his grandmother's Forces. Give the guy a break, why don't you?"
Mighty beast: An RAF C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft like the one William helped to fly
A senior Royal source told the Mail it was "offensive" to suggest that the presence of a serviceman's coffin on the flight had been planned.
"Anyone sensible knows it takes weeks, if not months, to organise a trip like this for security reasons alone. It cannot be dreamed up in a couple of days."
William will leave the RAF tomorrow and is expected to start a four month detachment with the Royal Navy in June.
'More than a match for his forebears'
Robert Pearson, a Trooper serving with the Queen's Royal Lancers, was killed just days before he was due to fly out of Afghanistan on leave.
The soldier, 22, was the 94th British serviceman killed in Afghanistan since 2001.
Trooper Robert Pearson: Loved his job
The manner of his death - blown up by a hidden bomb - is becoming more common as the Taliban shifts its tactics towards planting boobytrap explosives.
Trooper Pearson's family was still coming to terms with his mother's tragic death in a road accident a few months ago when they heard the news.
He had volunteered to deploy to Afghanistan early as part of his unit's advance party, and such was his dedication that he was considering extending his tour of duty.
He died as he and his comrades guarded a supply convoy returning to the main British base in Helmand Province. Camp Bastion is a heavily-fortified compound in a remote desert location.
Trooper Pearson leaves behind his father, Paul, stepmother, Gillian, and three sisters, Terrie, Alex and Alivia.
A spokesman for his relatives said: "The family are very proud Robert served with the Queen's Royal Lancers. The news of his death devastated them.
"Robert was doing the job he loved. He joined the forces with the full support of his family."
Trooper Pearson had been living with his aunt, Linda O'Sullivan, who said: "Robert was a happy-go-lucky, decent, honest person, who was committed to his family.
"He loved being in the Army and having the camaraderie. He wanted a bit of excitement.
"We all went to his passing out ceremony. It was a proud day. His mum was so proud of him."
Trooper Pearson's commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Nixon-Eckersall, said: "For those who might question whether or not today's soldiers are a match for their forebears, he was ample proof that they are every bit as good and more."
dailymail.co.uk
On the way back, the future King William V, who leanred how to fly during his time at the RAF, took the controls of a huge RAF C-17 Globemaster to help bring back to Britain the body of a fellow soldier.
Later this year, the Prince will serve with the Royal Navy. despite being a member of the British Army, he wants to serve some time in the other two services as one day, when he becomes King, he will be the Head of Britain's Armed Forces..
Pictured: Prince William at the controls as he flies fallen comrade home from Afghanistan
By MATTHEW HICKLEY and REBECCA ENGLISH
1st May 2008
Daily Mail
Prince William helped bring home the body of a fellow soldier while on his secret flying visit to Afghanistan.
He took the controls of the C-17 Globemaster which was repatriating the body of Trooper Robert Pearson of the Queen's Royal Lancers.
Clarence House aides said William, 25 was "honoured" to play his part in returning the coffin, and to then meet the young soldier's family at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire.
Heir time: The prince takes his turn at the controls of an RAF C-17 Globemaster
The prince took turns flying the plane during the 30-hour round trip to Kandahar Air Field, Britain's main air base in the country.
This brief visit, at the end of a four month training attachment with the RAF, may be as close as he comes to war.
William has apparently accepted that his position makes it impossible for him to serve on the frontline as his brother Harry did earlier this year.
His trip was viewed by commanders as a chance for him to see the RAF in action on operations abroad, as part of his "military education" in preparation for his future role as the head of Britain's armed forces.
The prince spent just three hours on the ground at Kandahar, visiting a Harrier strike jet unit supporting British troops fighting the Taliban, as well as soldiers from the RAF Regiment who guard the airfield against insurgent attacks.
On the return flight to Britain on Monday the C-17 carried the coffin of Trooper Pearson, 22, who was killed last week while escorting a supply convoy across Helmand, when his Viking armoured vehicle hit a hidden landmine.
One of the boys: The Prince, in his RAF uniform, strides along the tarmac at the Kandahar airfield
The plane carrying his coffin landed at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire for a special repatriation ceremony, attended by Trooper Pearson's family.
Prince William spent a few minutes with the grieving relatives in a private room at the Wiltshire base, officials confirmed.
Yesterday Trooper Pearson's family were too distraught to comment and declined to discuss their meeting with the prince.
Royal sources confirmed that the Queen and the Prince of Wales gave permission for Prince William's flight, which they described as "a success".
Some observers questioned the motives for the visit, claiming it owed as much to Royal spin doctors as to any serious training or education.
They suggested it might be a publicity stunt designed to repair the damage done by William's trips in an RAF Chinook to a boozy stag weekend, a friend's wedding and his girlfriend Kate Middleton's back garden.
Former royal protection officer Ken Wharfe said the prince would have been in no real danger during his visit to Afghanistan.
He said: "I'm slightly sceptical about this. I think the cynics amongst us will say it's an attempt to cover up the Chinook jollies."
Briefing: William is told about activities at the airfield by Flight Lieutenant Adam Freedman
Royal officials rejected the claims, insisting the trip had been planned for weeks and that the presence of a fallen soldier's coffin on board was a coincidence.
Opinion was divided on internet chatrooms used by British forces yesterday.
One poster on the Army Rumour Service website thought the trip "smelt like a PR operation", while another wrote: "He spent three hours there at a time when there is a shortage of kit. Just what did this little PR exercise cost the British tax payer?"
But a supporter of the prince said: "Here is a young man who will be king, and he clearly shows a deep and undying affection and respect for us, his grandmother's Forces. Give the guy a break, why don't you?"
Mighty beast: An RAF C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft like the one William helped to fly
A senior Royal source told the Mail it was "offensive" to suggest that the presence of a serviceman's coffin on the flight had been planned.
"Anyone sensible knows it takes weeks, if not months, to organise a trip like this for security reasons alone. It cannot be dreamed up in a couple of days."
William will leave the RAF tomorrow and is expected to start a four month detachment with the Royal Navy in June.
'More than a match for his forebears'
Robert Pearson, a Trooper serving with the Queen's Royal Lancers, was killed just days before he was due to fly out of Afghanistan on leave.
The soldier, 22, was the 94th British serviceman killed in Afghanistan since 2001.
Trooper Robert Pearson: Loved his job
The manner of his death - blown up by a hidden bomb - is becoming more common as the Taliban shifts its tactics towards planting boobytrap explosives.
Trooper Pearson's family was still coming to terms with his mother's tragic death in a road accident a few months ago when they heard the news.
He had volunteered to deploy to Afghanistan early as part of his unit's advance party, and such was his dedication that he was considering extending his tour of duty.
He died as he and his comrades guarded a supply convoy returning to the main British base in Helmand Province. Camp Bastion is a heavily-fortified compound in a remote desert location.
Trooper Pearson leaves behind his father, Paul, stepmother, Gillian, and three sisters, Terrie, Alex and Alivia.
A spokesman for his relatives said: "The family are very proud Robert served with the Queen's Royal Lancers. The news of his death devastated them.
"Robert was doing the job he loved. He joined the forces with the full support of his family."
Trooper Pearson had been living with his aunt, Linda O'Sullivan, who said: "Robert was a happy-go-lucky, decent, honest person, who was committed to his family.
"He loved being in the Army and having the camaraderie. He wanted a bit of excitement.
"We all went to his passing out ceremony. It was a proud day. His mum was so proud of him."
Trooper Pearson's commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Nixon-Eckersall, said: "For those who might question whether or not today's soldiers are a match for their forebears, he was ample proof that they are every bit as good and more."
dailymail.co.uk