As Prince Harry sports rugged beard as he inspects planes taking part in 75th anniversary flypast, he gives up aircraft place for veteran Tom Neil
Prince Harry has sacrificed his place in a Spitfire on his 31st birthday to ensure the last surviving RAF fighter ace from the Battle of Britain could take place in a 75th anniversary flypast.
He gave up his seat to ensure veteran Tom ‘Ginger’ Neil and two wounded servicemen could still take part in the biggest gathering of Battle of Britain aircraft since the Second World War.
Around 40 Spitfires, Hurricanes and Bristol Blenheim bombers are flying in formation from Goodwood Aerodrome in West Sussex before dispersing across wartime airfields over the South of England.
The Prince was due to have a seat in one of four two-seater Spitfires taking part in the flypast. But when one of the vintage aircraft developed mechanical problems, he decided to step aside to ensure the event’s special guests would still get to fly.
Photo: Rex Features
His spokesman said he wanted to make sure that 95-year-old Mr Neil, an ex-wing commander and Battle of Britain Hurricane and Spitfire pilot, would still be able to take part.
And he wanted to ensure that a former para and an RAF corporal who won places on a Spitfire scholarship training programme were also still able to take part in the display.
Photo: EPA
Nathan Forster, a former private in the Parachute Regiment, from South Shields, Tyne and Wear, suffered severe damage to his left leg in an IED blast while on patrol in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in 2011. And Corporal Alan Robinson, an RAF aircraft technician, from Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, lost a leg in a motorbike accident.
Earlier, Harry, sporting a rugged beard, set off on foot to inspect the aircraft lined up by the grass runway – and was admonished within minutes.
Photo: PA
But, as his group began to cross the runway, a security vehicle came speeding up and stopped the Prince and his group in their tracks.
He could be seen being told to stand back and not cross the runway and a few minutes later a small aircraft came in to land.
Photo: PA
Harry was then cleared to cross and continue his inspection as rain poured down on the airfield.
The Prince was due to fly in the Spitfire PV202 piloted by John Romain, managing director of the Aircraft Restoration Company at Duxford, Cambridgeshire.
Photo: GETTY
But he will no longer be flying in the display as one of the four two-seater Spitfires has suffered mechanical problems.
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