Their Royal Highnesses, Prince William and Princess Catherine, expressed their profound sadness following the news of an incident that has deeply affected them. Via their official social media handle, @KensingtonRoyal, the Prince and Princess of Wales extended their heartfelt condolences: “Incredibly sad to hear of the news this afternoon from RAF Coningsby. Our thoughts this evening are with the pilot’s loved ones, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and the wider RAF family.” They concluded the poignant message with “W & C” for William and Catherine.
The crash occurred at around 5:50 PM (Indian time) on May 25th. The Spitfire plane involved was part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight based at RAF Coningsby. According to officials, a thorough investigation is underway, but they declined to speculate on the cause of the accident.
Prince William and Princess Catherine are among the many individuals who have paid tribute to the deceased pilot, whose identity has yet to be officially released. A statement from the RAF, as quoted by the BBC, read: “It is with great sadness that we must confirm the death of an RAF pilot in a tragic accident near RAF Coningsby today. The pilot’s family have been informed and we ask that their privacy is respected at this difficult time.”
The Royal Couple’s message of support comes amidst Princess Catherine’s ongoing cancer treatment. Reports indicate that she is likely to undergo treatment until 2024, which may limit her public engagements and keep her out of the public eye for an extended period.
