Mumbai:
Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, who is currently on a week-long visit to India to commemorate the diamond jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation, visited the Western Naval Command Headquarters in Mumbai. Prince Andrew, himself a naval officer in the Royal Navy, visited the Indian Navy's Aircraft Carrier INS Viraat (ex-HMS Hermes) where he walked around the ship and interacted with the officers and men on board.
He also interacted with Vice Admiral D K Joshi, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command, official sources said.
Prince Andrew joined the Royal Navy in 1978, underwent training as a helicopter pilot and was part of the 820 Naval Air Squadron onboard the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Invincible.
During this tenure he saw action in the Falklands War where he flew on various missions and also witnessed the Argentinian attack on the SS Atlantic Conveyor. He was decorated for his service in the Falklands. In February 2010, he was promoted to Honorary Rear Admiral.
On Tuesday, Prince Andrew paid homage to the hundreds of soldiers of the Allied Forces who fell in the fierce battle of Kohima in 1944 in the Second World War, at the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Kohima. He is the first person from the royal family to visit the war cemetery constructed in memory of soldiers of the Allied Forces.