MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands’ patrol involved in incident with US First Lady Secret Service

HMS Edinburgh in Cape Town

United States Secret Service agents told HMS Edinburgh, which is currently patrolling the Falkland Islands, to stop pointing its missiles at Michelle Obama’s hotel room while sailors were holding a ceremony to mark the death of a colleague.

The Portsmouth News reports that the First Lady and her children were on an official visit to Cape Town, South Africa, when HMS Edinburgh came into port with her ceremonial Sea Dart missiles on show.

The ship had the drill weapons out because it was carrying out the repatriation of an officer who had died on the ship just days before.

But US officials were concerned about the missiles pointing at the Hotel where Mrs Obama and daughters were staying.

Details have just emerged of the incident on 24th June.

At the time, the HMS Edinburgh was at Procedure Alpha – a ceremonial routine – for the repatriation of Lieutenant Sara Hellawell whose body was discovered in her cabin on June 16.

A Royal Navy spokesman said the ship was at Procedure Alpha because she was carrying out a repatriation.

This involved the drill missiles being on their launcher. US officials did visit the ship. They simply wanted to know if the missiles were live. When it was explained that they were drill rounds they went away content.

Ex-Royal Navy officer Mike Critchley, publisher of Warship World magazine, said: ‘This is typical American Secret Service going over the top. I would have thought they could trust their British allies to not put a missile through the bedroom window of the First Lady.

‘It is unfortunate that this happened at an extremely sad time for the ship.’

A White House spokesman said: “We do not comment on security questions regarding the First Lady” concludes the piece from The Portsmouth News.