A female soldier, one of the victims of a Thursday bomb blast in Iraqis city of Basra, was British prince William's close friend, the spokesman of the royal family announced.
The army second lieutenant Jo Dyer was killed in the attack along with three colleagues and a local civilian interpreter.
"Prince William is deeply saddened to hear the tragic news of his friend's death," the 24-year-old's Clarence House residence said.
The deceased Jo Dyer and the son of the crown prince Charles were colleagues and graduated together from the elite Sandhurst military academy.