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HOUSE CALL: Prince William landed an air force helicopter at the home of his girlfriend Kate's parents during training. -- PHOTO: AP
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BRITAIN'S Prince William is drawing flak for landing an air force helicopter at the home of his girlfriend's parents during a training flight.
The media called it a wasteful expenditure at a time when the military is stretched by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but the Ministry of Defence defended his actions, saying he achieved essential training objectives.
The News of the World said on Sunday that the 25-year-old prince was using military equipment as a taxi service, after he landed the Chinook helicopter on the Middleton family farm in Bucklebury, Berkshire, on April 3.
'William's jaunts risk testing the public's patience with the monarchy,' it wrote in an editorial.
Aviation analyst Jon Lake called the flight 'ridiculous and inappropriate. No other pilot at Prince William's stage of training would be allowed anywhere near the left-hand seat of a Chinook'.
But the defence ministry said the two-hour training mission was fully authorised as part of the prince's four-month Royal Air Force attachment.
However, officials have admitted privately it was 'not the best idea', the Telegraph has reported.
It was the second time in five days that the ministry had to justify the young royal's actions. On April 11, Prince William had flown a Chinook helicopter from London to the Isle of Wight to attend a bachelor party for his cousin Peter Phillips. He had picked up his brother Harry on the way.
ASSOCIATED PRESS, REUTERS
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