Prince Harry raced back to London on £26,000 taxpayer-funded flight to have Valentine’s Day dinner with Meghan
The royal was able to make it back to London from the Arctic Circle by 5pm to have dinner with pregnant wife Meghan after spending just three hours visiting UK troops near the Russian border
PRINCE Harry raced back from the Arctic Circle by private jet for Valentine’s Day dinner with wife Meghan last night.
The royal earlier joked with UK troops who created a romantic shrine for him in an igloo.
He was back in London by 5pm yesterday after the 2,730-mile round trip — and six hours in the air.
Taxpayers will pick up the estimated £26,000 cost of his Cessna flight.
Harry, 33, had left seven-months’ pregnant Meghan at Kensington Palace to fly to Bardufoss in Norway.
He asked Navy and Marines personnel: “Did you get your other halves a card and flowers?”, grimacing when some admitted they’d forgotten.
Troops then ushered the Prince into a snow shelter decked out with pictures of his wedding last May, plus candles and mood music.
He was keen to make sure no one was in trouble, and really happy we’re in a beautiful environment.”
Sgt Ads Lesley
Harry laughed: “You weirdos! Nice! It’s very kind of you to invite into your private, er, shrine.
“Homely in there isn’t it,” he said, as he stepped out into the cold.
One soldier told him: “They’re not always that comfortable.”
Harry quizzed troops about the shelters, and their welfare.
Sgt Ads Lesley said: “He was keen to make sure no one was in trouble, and really happy we’re in a beautiful environment.” Harry, who is Captain General Royal Marines, also admitted he misses his days as a pilot, as he visited Apache, Wildcat and Merlin helicopters in a hangar.
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He cut a cake celebrating the base’s 50 years of Exercise Clockwork, which teaches aviation support for those fighting in -30C cold.
Harry learned troops had a larger food budget to ensure they got extra calories in the cold, joking: “No wonder you’re all so happy.”
And he told them: “Use every single day as an experience, and bring that back. I hope you can make the most of it. I know lots of you have left your families at home to be out here. It’s hugely appreciated.”
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