MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Prince William ends routine tour in Falklands and is back in UK with Kate

The heir of the British Crown spent six weeks in the Falklands as a SAR helicopter pilot

Britain's Prince William was reunited with his wife on Wednesday after returning home from a tour of duty. The future king arrived at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on the morning after leaving on February 1 for a tour with his Search and Rescue squadron in the Falkland Islands.

William's wife the Duchess of Cambridge was not present as the royal touched back on home soil, but they were set for an emotional reunion Wednesday afternoon.

It has been revealed that the couple will enjoy a few days together before William returns to work.

“Prince William arrived back in Britain this morning at the end of his deployment in the Falkland Islands as part of a four-man search and rescue crew,” a spokeswoman for Clarence House said on Wednesday. “It was an entirely routine tour”.

“He is now going to be on a brief period of leave before resuming his duties at RAF Valley in Anglesey.”

A representative for the 29-year-old royal confirmed William is looking forward to spending some quality time with his wife. They will not be taking part in any public engagements during this period.

“In line with normal RAF routine, the duke and his colleagues come home and then meet up with their loved ones whenever they wish,” said the spokesman. “The duke and duchess will be reunited later today and will be spending time together privately over the next few days.”

Kate has been busy in her husband's absence.

She was forced to spend her first Valentine's Day as a married woman without William last month. However, he made sure the romantic holiday was still special for Kate, 30, by sending her a bouquet of flowers.

The Duchess of Cambridge has also given her first solo speech as a member of the royal family. She admitted she was missing William “terribly” while he was away.

It has been reported that the pair are currently at one of the royal family's palaces in London. They are expected to remain in the city until William reports for duty at his airbase in Anglesey, North Wales.

The deployment of William, as an RAF helicopter search and rescue pilot, caused a diplomatic row with Argentina, which claims the Islands. It came amid tensions between the UK and Argentina, as the 30th anniversary of the Falklands conflict looms. On 2 April 1982 Argentine forces invades the Falklands and retained for 74 days before surrendering unconditionally to a Task Force sent to recover the Islands.