Royal Watch News

Prince William's 'routine' deployment

Feb 6, 2012, 18:42 GMT

Prince William

Britain's Prince William's deployment to the Falkland Islands is 'entirely routine'.

Foreign secretary William Hague hit back at Argentina's claims that the 29-year-old royal's six-week tour of duty with his RAF search and rescue squadron, coupled with the upcoming deployment of a nuclear submarine and Royal Navy destroyer, was an 'unnecessary show of military strength'.

Mr. Hague has played down the developments - which include the HMS Dauntless patrolling the islands as the 30th anniversary of the Falklands conflict approaches - as 'not so much celebrations but commemorations'.

He told Sky News: 'Since both countries will be doing that I don't think there is anything provocative about that. Nor is there anything provocative about entirely routine military movements. They are entirely routine - of course our ships regularly visit the South Atlantic.

'We don't normally make any comment on the deployment of our nuclear submarines but our Naval vessels regularly visit the South Atlantic.

'Prince William is on a routine deployment that is part of his job.'

The prince - who is second in line to the British throne - will not be performing any ceremonial duties during his time in the Falklands.

However, Argentina's foreign minister, Hector Timerman, has accused the royal of wearing the uniform of a 'conqueror' as he arrived on the islands last week.