You know it’s a slow news day when a story about a member of the Royal Family taking a ride in an RAF jet is plastered all over the tabloids.

The Prince, who is on work-experience with the RAF in North Wales, boarded a Hawk jet on a standard training flight to an airfield near Sandhurst Military Academy. Later, he went on to Sandhurst to be fitted out with his new uniform, including the much-bandied boots.

The flight was said to cost the taxpayer £20,000. In fact, it cost nothing extra, since the flight was routinely scheduled in any case.

ICWales reports:

Royal biographer Brian Hoey argued that being part of the Royal Family brought with it certain privileges, which, in context, Prince William took only limited advantage of. “Let’s face it ~ we live in a monarchy and if we want our Royal Family to live in the style to which they are accustomed, and to which the rest of us would love to be accustomed, it’s going to cost money,” he said. “I don’t think we can expect Prince William to fly EasyJet.

“He doesn’t spend a huge amount of money, especially given he’s a multi-millionaire in his own right, and he doesn’t live an extravagant life.