Thoughtful with a sense of safety and airmanship above average RAF examiners on the Duke's flying abilities

Earlier in the day, he watched his royal pupil complete three solo circuits and landings, or "bumps" as they are called, at White Waltham airfield in Berkshire in order to qualify for his wings.

His Harvard aircraft bore the five stars denoting his rank of Marshal of the Royal Air Force.

An RAF examining unit had described his flying as "thoughtful with a sense of safety and airmanship above average".

This is the first time the wings have been presented by an officer junior in rank to the recipient and the first time an officer of such senior rank has received the award. Normally, pilots qualify long before they reach such a high rank.

There has been speculation that the Duke might fly the Queen to Balmoral next Sunday for a pre-coronation holiday. His royal counterpart in the Netherlands Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands often flies with his wife Queen Juliana as a passenger.

But last night an Air Ministry spokesman said the award does not permit the Duke to fly multi-engined aircraft.

"But even if the Duke goes on to qualify to fly multi-engined aircraft, I doubt if the government would agree to his piloting the Queen by himself," he told the press.

"However good the Duke is as a pilot, the selected RAF pilots who have daily flying practice must be preferable to the Duke, who will not have the time for such practice," he added.

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