By the standards of any service family, the military careers of Britain’s two Royal brothers, William and Harry, have progressed far beyond the merely symbolic or ceremonial and are now becoming extraordinary.
Just after he left Afghanistan, Prince Harry’s comrades told me of his work as a forward air controller in Helmand Province. He was, they said, one of the best; genuinely good at what he was tasked to do. Harry is now training to be an Apache helicopter pilot; a dangerous and crucial role in Afghanistan.
Until now, the military role of his brother Prince William seemed tame by comparison. But William – or Flight Lieutenant Wales as he’s known – is about to fly into a storm.
Within days, Prince William will progress his career as an RAF helicopter pilot by flying into the Falkland Islands. And he’s about to be buffeted by more than just the islands’ famous winds. Argentina is already blowing a gasket about his deployment, calling William’s imminent arrival “provocative…serving once again to highlight Britain’s presence in land and sea that are part of Argentina’s national territory”.
“Balderdash”, says Britain’s Governor. Over tea and scones in the chintzy lounge of his residence overlooking the South Atlantic, Nigel Haywood tells me it’s hard to see how a humanitarian mission could be viewed as provocative. It’s a working visit,he says – no ceremony, no fuss, “not militaristic and not rubbing anyone’s nose in it.”
We’re surrounded by pictures of the Royal family. Mr Heywood sports a badge emblazoned with the words “Falkland Islands 30″, commemorating the fact that in June it will be thirty years since British forces retook the islands after the Argentine invasion of April 1982.
Tensions between Britain and Argentina have risen to the highest levels since then, with Argentina pressing its claim to what it calls the Malvinas in every world forum. David Cameron recently called a meeting of the national security council to discuss the defence of the islands and at the Mount Pleasant military base where William will stay, the Commander tells me British forces are ready to deter any attempt by Argentina to test those defences.
“Prince William’s visit,” says Brigadier Bill Aldridge,” is entirely routine and normal for a search and rescue pilot,(but) search and rescue is part of our mission to deter aggression. We are prepared.”
On the islands, every Falklander I talked to, without exception, seemed genuinely pleased that William is about to arrive.
“It’s great to see a Royal coming…and doing some work,” one local told me, as he kitted up for a football match pitting Stanley FC against the crew of HMS Montrose, one of three Royal Navy ships here as part of the deterrence force.
For the record,the Navy team was stuffed. For the second game in a row.
“I hope it doesn’t cause any problems with Argentina,” said another, “because we’re British and we want to remain that way.”
The Falklanders are proud of their football team and their island tradition. It’s still quite startling to see Thatcher Drive; its cars driving on the left, past the red telephone box to the pub showing Premier league football. “Welcome to Stanley”, says the sign, “Twinned with Whitby”.
Prince William will travel the eight thousand miles and see much that is familiar, just three hundred miles from Argentina. But make no mistake,he’s flying into more than a job. A political and diplomatic hurricane is brewing.
Harry’s deployment to Afghanistan was controversial – and dangerous. William’s to the Falklands may lack some of the danger (though treacherous seas and wild storms would test any helicopter pilot) but it’s a six week trip that Argentina will exploit and denounce.
It may be thirty years since the end of the war but William will feel the full blast of a South Atlantic storm when he touches down in the coming days.
Tags: Argentina, Falklands, Falklands war, Prince Harry, prince william, royal family
I’m sorry, but I feel that you, and other journalists I’ve met in the Falklands recently, are a bit like vultures circling waiting for a kill.
Your report is all doom and gloom, obviously to heighten the drama, and ensure people sit up and take notice.
But there is no evidence of any real issues. HMS Dauntless is being sent south. Why? To protect Prince William from incoming aircraft and missiles? If so, we should be told.
But trying to stir things up with ‘provocative’ questions is not very helpful.
What did the man in the street in Buenos Aires say to it? Are they fervently anti-British? Or is it like the Guardian reported – they think anyone who eats fish & chips at 6pm can’t possibly be Argentinian?
cheers