HRH Prince William has taken his first solo flight. The Prince expressed surprise when his flight instructor, Squadron Leader Roger Bousfield, jumped out of the seat next to him in the propellor-driven Grob 115E and declared that he was on his own.

(c) AFP and The Times

“Roger, my instructor, basically, turned round and said, ‘Right, I’m going to jump out now’. I said, ‘What? Where are you going?’ He said, ‘You are going on your own’, and I said, ‘There’s no way I’m going to do that’. But he said I was ready for it and jumped out,” Prince William recalled.

“The next thing I knew I was taxiing down the runway and I was sitting there saying, ‘Oh my God, this is a bit odd, there’s no one in here’.”

Congratulations to William on his first solo flight. I still think that he should do more at university and study political science, but apparently that is coming later. I hope. You can do it, Wills!

Some of you may have noticed a post about my royal collection being put on display at RoyaltyNow!. Unfortunately, there was a problem uploading the video, but I will work on that! I had, as they say, “a hitch in my get-along” (does anyone even use that expression anymore?).

Thanks for watching, as always!

I have some very exciting commentaries coming up for the months of February and March. After that, we have the raffle celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Mandy’s British Royalty. Join me for the fun!

You may have seen this image on “Mandy’s British Royalty” and “August Annotations”:

This is a new idea I have launched for the royal authors of the world. “Mandy’s British Royalty” will now help publicize your books or even a book in the making, specifically through the August Annotations blog.

Add your link to my blogroll, write a guest commentary, or submit an excerpt from your book (or do all three!). Get noticed!

The Queen in floral beauty. Very unique!

Hew Locke, Black Queen, British Art Show 6

Originally uploaded by wee mo