News

Prince William's platoon commander at Sandhurst was killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan on Thursday (4 October).

The Prince has said he was "deeply saddened" at the death of Major Alexis Roberts who was in command of B Company, 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles in Shorncliffe, Folkestone.

He described the soldier, as a "good friend" and said his thoughts and prayers were with Major Roberts' wife and two young daughters.

The Ministry of Defence said Major Roberts, usually an Officer of 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, died as a result of an improvised explosive device on Thursday while commanding the 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles.

He and two others were about 19 miles west of Kandahar Airfield base, heading back towards it, when the blast hit their vehicle.

All three were airlifted to Camp Bastion, Britain's main base in Afghanistan, where one was pronounced dead. The other two were receiving treatment.

Major Roberts is the most senior Army officer to die in Afghanistan since the conflict began. Some 82 UK troops have been killed in the country since 2001.