Prince William flew back from his brief visit to Afghanistan with the body of a soldier killed in action, it was revealed today.

He then privately met members of the family of Trooper Robert Pearson, who died on April 21 when the soldier's vehicle hit a mine. Clarence House said William was “honoured” to be a member of the air crew that repatriated Trooper Pearson’s body.

But the Prince faced criticism from soldiers that his secret visit to the war torn country was nothing more than a public relations exercise.

He flew a C17 Globemaster transport aircraft for part of its journey from the UK to Kandahar, in the south of the country, on Sunday morning.

He spent three hours on the ground at the airfield, which is a regular target for rocket attacks, meeting personnel and being briefed on the work of British troops in the region — in particular that of the Royal Air Force.

But today it was suggested that the trip was organised to garner positive headlines in the wake of the controversy over the Prince piloting military helicopters to a stag do on the Isle of Wight and to his girlfriend Kate Middleton’s family home.

Ken Wharfe, a former Royal protection officer, said William would have been in no real danger during his visit to Afghanistan.

He said: “There is an element of risk but there would be no way security officials would allow it to happen. It would be pretty well sterile while he was there.

“I’m slightly sceptical about this. I think the cynics amongst us will say it’s an attempt to cover up the Chinook jollies.”

Publicist Max Clifford told the BBC the Afghanistan trip had been “a good public relations exercise. Certainly this will get them some good headlines, I imagine.”

The Prince’s trip received a mixed response on the British Army Rumour Service (Arrse), a popular military internet forum.

Many posters praised William, with one suggesting that he would not have wanted to be overshadowed by his brother Prince Harry’s 10-week service in Afghanistan.

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