"Our thoughts this evening are with the pilot's loved ones, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and the wider RAF family," the message read, signed off simply as "W & C." Details soon emerged that a pilot had died when their historic warplane crashed in a field adjacent to the airbase. Police and emergency crews had rushed to the scene around 1:20 pm, but the sole occupant of the aircraft did not survive.
The Spitfire was part of the RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, a display team that preserves and flies some of the most iconic planes from World War II. RAF Coningsby is home to frontline Typhoon squadrons, and also serves as a training base for pilots.
So as Prince William basked in his team's cup triumph, the mood at the palace quickly shifted to one of sorrow and condolence. A day that should have been filled with elation was now clouded by tragic loss - a bitter coda to the future king's afternoon of celebration.
