News
Prince William visits BAE Systems in Scotstoun and HMS Daring
17th October 2007
Prince William today toured the world's most advanced warship as he prepares for an attachment with the Navy.
William, who is a Second Lieutenant in the Army but will go on the Navy attachment next year, boarded HMS Daring on the River Clyde in Glasgow this afternoon.
The 7,000-ton vessel was docked at the shipyard in Scotstoun where work is being carried out on her weapons systems.
Prince William arrived in a convoy of jeeps to waves and applause from ship workers lining the dock and was greeted by officials from BAE Systems, who built the ship.
He was then introduced to BAE apprentices and graduates before boarding the ship.
Christina Martin, 18, an apprentice engineer from Falkirk, said: "I was really nervous but he was quite laid back and seemed a really nice guy."
Prince William then walked up the gangplank to the ship's flight deck and was introduced to Ross McLure, who is in charge of the ship's construction, and posed in front of the white and gold HMS Daring crescent.
He then toured the armoured operations room. Decked out with flashing monitors, keyboards and joysticks, it is the brain behind the weaponry on the £1 billion warship.
Afterwards, Prince William visited the bridge where he looked out over the Clyde and tried the black leather captain's chair for size.
"It's a bit like a dentist's chair," he joked, pointing to the array of switches and controls around the chair.
Two men who are currently working for BAE on HMS Daring had stayed late to meet the prince.
Steven Higgins, 34, from the Drumchapel area of Glasgow, said: "He asked if we were working on the ship seven days a week, and I said we were, non-stop.
"And he said 'Maybe they will take you out for a spin in it afterwards'."
Alex Curran, 30, from the Whitecrook area of Clydebank, said: "He was very friendly, a lot more than I expected.
"I was impressed with the way he approached us. He was really a people person."
Prince William is currently a Second Lieutenant in the Blues and Royals cavalry regiment of the Household Cavalry.
He will spend from January to April next year on attachment with the RAF, and from June to August on attachment with the Navy to give him broader experience of the Armed Forces. Click here to read the press release.
HMS Daring was launched on 1st February last year by the Countess of Wessex.
A Type 45 destroyer, the vessel is billed as one of the most advanced of its kind, and is set to provide the Royal Navy's air defences for the first half of the 21st century.
In recent sea trials, the ship reached a speed of 31 knots, around 36 mph. This was greater than even the designers expectations, who thought it would only get up to a speed of 29 knots.
The ship's weapon systems can fire at a target the size of a cricket ball.
She is due to be handed over to the Royal Navy at the end of 2008 and should enter service at the end of 2009.
Earlier in the day, Prince William visited The Football Association’s Hat-Trick Project in Newcastle as President of The FA. Click here to read the story.