Prince William mourns death of Army mentor

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Major Alexis "Lex" Roberts, who was killed by a roadside bomb, was William's platoon commander at Sandhurst.

The 32-year-old - described as one of the Army's "finest prospects" - was the second military friend of William's to die on the front line recently.

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Brave: Major 'Lex' Roberts was serving with the 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles

Second Lieutenant Joanna Yorke Dyer, 24, who trained with William, died in an attack in Iraq in April.

Prince William described Major Roberts, who was serving with the 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, as a "good friend".

A Clarence House spokesman said the Prince's "thoughts and prayers" were with the Major's family.

Major Roberts's widow, Susie, said: "Lex was my best friend, the most wonderful husband and deeply loving father to Alice and Freya.

"He died doing the job he loved and I had just received a letter from him saying how much good he felt he was doing for the people of Afghanistan."

Mentor: Major Roberts had been William's platoon commander at Sandhurst

Lieutenant Colonel Jonny Bourne, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, said the nation had lost "a warm-hearted man of profound integrity and courage".

Major Roberts died on Thursday as he and two other soldiers returned to their base at Kandahar airfield. His colleagues were treated for their injuries.

The death brings to 82 the number of British troops killed in Afghanistan since operations began in 2001.