William lands helicopter at girlfriend's house

Britain's Prince William landed an air force helicopter at the home of his girlfriend's parents during a training flight, Britain's Defence Ministry confirmed yesterday.

British media yesterday called the exercise wasteful at a time when the military is stretched by wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and warned it risked testing the public's patience with the monarchy.

The landing on the Middleton family farm on April 3 was planned and authorized as part of the prince's Royal Air Force pilot training, the ministry statement said.