PRINCE William joined Army colleagues including Gurkhas and family members at the funeral of Maj Alexis Roberts at Canterbury Cathedral.

The Prince, who described Maj Roberts as “a good friend" while at Sandhurst together, kept a low profile as Cathedral gates and grounds were closed to visitors during the ceremony on Wednesday.

The Army’s top soldier Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, headed an official guest list that included soldiers and the band from The Royal Gurkha Rifles Regiment, based at Shorncliffe Barracks near Folkestone.

Maj Roberts, 32, who grew up in Martin, near Deal, was selected as Prince William’s platoon commander during the young Royal’s training.

The father of two was killed earlier this month when an improvised explosive detonated under his armoured vehicle as he led a military convoy back to its base at Kandahar, in southern Afghanistan.