Falklands crisis for new wife Kate

Happy ... William and Kate walk hand-in-hand
at the Palace on Saturday

 

 

NEWLYWEDS Kate and Wills are to be separated for two and a half months while he serves in the Falklands, The Sun can reveal.

RAF search and rescue pilot Prince William, 28, is due to head to the islands, scene of war with Argentina in 1982, in September. But Kate, 29, cannot join him.
William will be sent to the Falkland Isles just four months after walking down the aisle.
The couple have been told the ten-week posting, 8,000 miles away in the remote South Atlantic, is too short for the Duchess of Cambridge to be allowed to go.

Apart ... UK and Falklands

William, a flight lieutenant in the RAF's Search and Rescue squad, will be flying a Sea King helicopter from September.
He and Kate were yesterday on a break at a mystery location in the UK following Friday's Westminster Abbey wedding. But William, 28, will return to work with 22 Squadron at RAF Valley in North Wales tomorrow.

Duty ... Prince William in RAF helicopter

The couple are expected to go on a proper honeymoon next week.
An RAF Search and Rescue team has been based in the Falklands since the 1982 conflict when Britain had to retake the islands after an invasion by Argentina. The conflict saw 655 Argentine, 255 British servicemen and three Falkland islanders killed.

And they're orf ... Prince William and Kate leave Buckingham Palace by helicopter

Getty

The posting is essential for William as he will be promoted from co-pilot to pilot, putting him in charge of his aircraft. But it could not have come at a worse time for the couple who will only be a few months into married life.
Wives are barred from joining their husbands while they serve in the South Atlantic. The couple currently live in Anglesey, close to RAF Valley. A source said: "It is a bitter blow for Kate.

Team photo ... official snap of Prince William, Kate and wedding party

Hugo Burnand/Clarence House

"They have known about the Falklands for several weeks, but Kate was very upset when she first heard.
"It is an awful way to start married life, especially hard because it destroys the first magic of being together.
"William could probably pull some strings and get out of going. But he is determined to be treated like any other search and rescue pilot."

Kidding around ... Prince William and Kate with pageboys and bridesmaids

Hugo Burnand/Clarence House

Insiders said the delay in taking a honeymoon, and news of his posting, were a clear sign.
A source said: "William is determined to throw himself into his RAF career. But he will have to make sure he doesn't neglect Kate."

Fairytale ... official pic of Prince William and Kate

Hugo Burnand/Clarence House

Some believe William may even be trying to get enough flying time to qualify for a combat role. The source added: "The accepted feeling is that William wants to be considered for Afghanistan. They may well have to tell him that it is out of the question given his status."

Video: Royal couple on weekend break

NEWLYWEDS William and Kate leave by helicopter but not for honeymoon

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Sources say William has booked two weeks off from the end of this week.
It will give him and Kate - who left Buckingham Palace by helicopter on Saturday - time for a proper honeymoon. They embark on an official tour to Canada on June 30.

KATE'S intricate Sarah Burton wedding dress could soon go on public display, a Clarence House spokeswoman said yesterday.

d.larcombe@the-sun.co.uk

We were next up their aisle

Lucky ... Mark and Rosie

LUCKY Rosie Milton and Mark Simpson tied the knot at Westminster Abbey on Saturday - with the Royals' tree and flower arrangements still there.
The Londoners, both 28, also got to sign the register just below the names of Wills and Kate.
They were allowed to marry at the site because Mark's mum Susan Haird is a Companion of the Order of the Bath.
She said: "It was a great surprise because we booked it a year ago, long before the Royal couple."

TRADERS are cashing in on Royal Wedding souvenirs on eBay with programmes on sale for £20 and copies of The Sun for £10.