MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

UK press insists Prince William wants to go Falklands’ as helicopter pilot

Prince William piloting a search and rescue helicopter

Mail on Sunday reports Prince William is battling to go to the Falkland Islands next year as an RAF search-and-rescue helicopter pilot. William, 28, finishes his training in the autumn and is due to travel to the Falklands for eight weeks next summer.

But there is a huge question mark over whether Buckingham Palace will let him take up the post because Argentina is pressing its claim to the Islands.

A source told The Mail on Sunday: ‘He will try everything in his power to make sure he goes out there with the rest of RAF Valley in Anglesey.

‘He has Royal engagements and other official duties, and that has to be considered, but he is adamant that he is going.’
 

If he does, William would be following in the footsteps of his uncle, Prince Andrew, who was a helicopter pilot in the 1982 Falklands War.

Argentina is using every opportunity at international meetings to press its claim to the Falklands after British companies revealed there are positive signs of gas and oil in the waters around the South Atlantic islands.

Sources say this could be a reason why William would be held back from heading out to the Falklands with his colleagues from RAF Valley.

A source said: ‘The fact that Britain is unwilling to give up sovereignty of the Falklands is of great concern and a threat to William’s posting over there. William can’t be seen to intervene in political issues and a future King can’t get involved in a volatile region”.

The article ends saying that a Buckingham Palace spokesman declined to comment.