Prince William and his wife, Princess of Wales Kate Middleton, mourn pilot, son killed in Kenya aircraft crash

Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton. [Courtesy of Vogue]

Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton have mourned a father and his son, who died on Thursday, December 8, in an aircraft crash at the Tsavo East National Park in Kenya.

The prince said the victims, Mark Jenkins and his son Peter Jenkins, were close to him.

"Yesterday (Thursday, December 8), I lost a friend, who dedicated his life to protecting wildlife in some of East Africa's most renowned national parks. Mark Jenkins, and his son Peter, were tragically killed when flying over Tsavo National Park while conducting an aerial patrol," Prince William said in a Twitter post at 9:27pm on Friday, December 9.

"Tonight, I'm thinking about Mark's wife, family and colleagues who've sadly lost a man we all loved and admired," he added in the post, signing off as 'W' for William.

Mark Jenkins and his son Peter Jenkins died at 7:15am on Thursday after their aircraft crashed in the Tsavo East National Park.

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said the two were aboard 5Y-DHS aircraft.

The aircraft was owned by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT).

The KWS, through its Head of Corporate Communications Teresia Igiria, said an investigation into the cause of the accident was underway.

"The Kenya Wildlife Service has learned with deep sorrow about a fixed wing aircraft crash that occurred in Kona area along the Tiva in Tsavo East National Park, this morning (Thursday).

"The plane, a Cessna 185 registration number 5Y-DHS, belonging to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT), crashed at around 7:15am while on patrol in Huri - the north Eastern boundary of the park, regrettably instantly killing both occupants on board.

"KWS and DSWT teams are at the scene to investigate the circumstances of the crash.

"KWS wishes to express our deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of the deceased."

Who are Prince William and Kate Middleton?

William, the Prince of Wales, is the heir apparent to the British throne. He is the elder son of King Charles III and his first wife Diana, the Princess of Wales.

The 40-year-old is married to Kate Middleton, also 40.

The couple, who dated from their time in university, got engaged at the foothills of Mount Kenya in October 2010. The engagement ring given to Kate by William belonged to his late mother, Diana.

On April 29, 2011, the couple exchanged wedding vows in Westminster Abbey, London.

A few hours before the wedding ceremony, William's new title, the Duke of Cambridge, was announced.

On September 10, 2022, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8, William's father, King Charles III (a prince at the time), announced that William and his wife Kate Middleton will be the new Prince and Princess of Wales respectively, taking over from him (Charles).

William and Kate have three children, two sons and a daughter.

In the British royal family tree, William is next in line to succeed King Charles III.