CNN: British soldier killed in Iraq was close friend of prince

[Aviation Pro]

Story Highlights
• 24-year-old was among 4 soldiers killed in attack on British patrol early Thursday
• Prince William met her while both attended Sandhurst military academy
• Prince "deeply saddened to hear the tragic news," official says


LONDON, England (AP) -- A British female soldier killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq was a close friend of Prince William, a spokesman for the royal family said Friday.

Second Lt. Joanna Yorke Dyer, 24, was among four soldiers killed when a British patrol was attacked early Thursday in the southern Iraqi city of Basra.

A little too close to the royal bloodline say I. I'm sure there are a number of heated exchanges between Number 10 and Balmoral this morning over Lt. Windsor.

[HereSince1628]

1. Dying is part of soldiering. Having for centuries asked soldiers to do just that the royals

are rather more likely to push for special recognition of the honorable sacrifice of one of their friends.

[Fovea]

2. Yes,

I can only imagine... I bet the American poodle got an old fashioned English upbraiding.

[Jackeen]

3. I believe Cornet Windsor, W, is not on the Iraq deployment list.

I seem to recall reading in the Brit press that unlike his younger brother, he is not likely to go swanning over on deployment. Even if there were no 'fixes', which there would be, I believe he's still at Bovington/Lulworth so would not be available for the upcoming deployment of the Blues and Royals anyway.

Anyway, no news here. Army officer killed in line of duty. Happens.

[AshevilleGuy]

4. William's great-great uncle Edward VIII (Duke of Windsor) supposedly

nagged and begged to go into combat during WWI. This was disallowed for obvious reasons although his younger brother (Elizabeth's father, George VI) was on a battleship during the Battle of Jutland.

I have wondered if the Duke would have shat his Royal bloomers had he been in the trenches in France!

[CJCRANE]

5. AFAIK

the two princes now use the surname "Wales".