Prince William Photos Pulled Due To Revealing Security Passwords

Photos detailing the life of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, as he serves in the Royal Air Force were published online but were quickly pulled. Officials realized the photos revealed Ministry of Defense passwords.

Photos of Prince Williams' life in the Royal Air Force revealed more than the Duke of Cambridge making tea or his bed, according to the Agence France-Presse. Officials from the Ministry of Defense (MoD) pulled the ten photos, which were published on the newly launched website of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, after discovering the photos revealed MoD passwords and other sensitive information.

The photos were then doctored to remove any sensitive information. According to a MoD spokesperson, “Due to an administrative oversight, these photographs were not properly cleared at RAF Valley and the images showed unclassified MoD user names, passwords and computer screens on a restricted system," reports AFP.

Prince William is a certified search and rescue pilot for the RAF and while on active duty is referred to as Flight Lieutenant Wales, notes AFP.

Some of the photos of Prince Williams included shots of computers in the background. Unbeknownst to the MoD or RAF, the computer screens were clearly visible and revealed MoD passwords and usernames. These photos were quickly distributed around the Internet and on numerous websites before the MoD realized the mistake. The MoD digitally altered the photos to remove the sensitive information and also reset usernames and passwords, reported the Guardian.

For Prince William, his RAF service is more than just a symbolic role, actively engaging in the day-to-day operations of the RAF including 24-hour shifts. These long shifts include debriefing sessions and maintenance checks on his Sea King helicopter. For fun, Prince William and feloow officers enjoying playing video games, including “Call of Duty,” notes The Guardian.

While the photos are not as scandalous as Prince Harry's time in Las Vegas, it does reveal quite a lot about the Duke of Cambridge and his role in the RAF. Recently, Prince William was part of a rescue involving a 16-year-old girl who was drowning off the coast of Wales, reports CNN.