The Prince of Wales has paid tribute to the last surviving Battle of Britain pilot, John “Paddy” Hemingway, following his death aged 105.

William said Britons “owe so much” to the former fighter pilot, who joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a teenager before the Second World War.

Mr Hemingway, originally from Dublin, was among the men known as “The Few”, coined by Winston Churchill to describe the Battle of Britain pilots.

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In a statement shared to social media, signed ‘W’, William said: “I was sad to hear about the passing of John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway this morning, the last of ‘The Few’.

“We owe so much to Paddy and his generation for our freedoms today. Their bravery and sacrifice will always be remembered.

“We shall never forget them.”