London, Oct.8 : A British Army major who mentored Prince William, the second in line to be King of England, during his time at the Sandhurst Military Academy, was blown up by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan’s Kandahar Province.

Thirty-two-year-old Major Alexis Roberts of the Royal Gurkha Rifles was specially selected to work as William’s Platoon Commander for 44 weeks. He was posted to Afghanistan only after successfully guiding the Prince through his gruelling year, reports The Sun.

Heis the the most senior British soldier to die in the country since the conflict began in 2001. He and two other soldiers were driving back to the army base at the Kandahar Airfield in the south of the country when they were killed.

All three wounded men were airlifted to Camp Bastion, Britain’s main base in Afghanistan, where the major was pronounced dead. The two other men survived.

Twenty-five-year-old William, who is now a Second Lieutenant in the Household Cavalry, was said to be “deeply saddened” at the death of his “good friend”.

In a statement, he said his thoughts and prayers were with Major Roberts’ wife and two young daughters.

William's friend and fellow Blenheim Company cadet Joanna Dyer, 24, was killed in action in Iraq in April.

The latest casualty takes the number of British forces personnel killed in Afghanistan since the start of operations in 2001 to 82.

The Ministry of Defence has expressed “deep regret” over Major Roberts death. (ANI)