If Douglas Wathen wishes to use his democratic right to free speech to take a snide swipe at royalty (Journal, November 18) he should get his facts right first.

Prince William is neither a Naval Captain, nor Army Captain, nor fighter pilot. As befits a future monarch and Head of Armed Forces, following extremely tough officer training at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, he commissioned into a cavalry regiment, the Blues and Royals, and has since spent time on attachment with the Royal Navy, Special Forces and Army Air Corps.

In September this year he graduated from his Search and Rescue training course with the Royal Air Force. He is now with C Flight of Number 22 Squadron at RAF Valley where, as Flight Lieutenant William Wales he is a fully qualified, fully operational Search and Rescue pilot flying the Sea King helicopter.

Mr Wathen asks what William's brother, Prince Harry, is doing these days. Lieutenant Harry Wales is in the Army Air Corps and in May, following one of the most intensive training courses in the British Army, he was awarded his helicopter wings. He is now training to fly the Apache, a helicopter gunship and certainly one of the most sophisticated bits of kit in the entire Services.

Just for the record, it is not frowned upon if Armed Services Officers indulge in a bit of charity work, or even courting. It might even be encouraged. Perhaps it is time somebody else had a reality check.

Simon Pym Williamson, Broadway.