Prince William paid his respects at the funeral of Major Mike Sadler, the last original soldier of the SAS.
The Prince of Wales attended the funeral at Hereford Cathedral, where a memorial service was held for the extraordinary war hero who passed away at the age of 103 in January.
Major Mike Sadler had an incredible career, which included serving as a farmer, sailor, soldier, and spy. He was known for navigating the deserts of North Africa without the aid of GPS or satellites, relying on the sun, stars, and dead reckoning to carry out successful raids.
One of his most notable missions was the first successful raid on the Wadi Tamet airfield in December 1941, shortly after the formation of the SAS. During his career, Sadler also served as the chief navigator to SAS founder David Stirling, parachuting into France after the D-Day landings and joining MI6 after the war.
Despite enduring hardships, including being captured by the Nazis and escaping on foot across the desert, Sadler maintained his love for the wide-open spaces of the desert. He was portrayed in the hit BBC drama “SAS Rogue Heroes” by Tom Glynn-Carney, who met with Sadler for the BBC’s The One Show in 2022.
In a separate event, Prince William made his first public appearance since his wife, Princess Kate, shared her cancer diagnosis a month ago. The Prince visited a food distribution charity in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, and promised to “look after” Kate as volunteers offered get-well-soon cards for the Princess. It was a touching moment that showed Prince William’s commitment to his family during a difficult time.
