Prince William in shot bird mystery

The prince has already visited Chile on his gap year

A royal spokeswoman has declined to respond to speculation that Prince William may have shot a protected bird during his gap-year safari to Africa.

It is being reported that the 19-year-old prince may have killed the rare ibis with a shotgun, mistakenly believing it to be a game bird.

Anglo-Kenyans have been discussing what type of bird he is supposed to have shot in an incident in April, according to the Spectator's website.

But a St James's Palace spokeswoman said it had no comment to make as William was on a private visit.

Gap year

The prince is in Africa on a three-and-a-half month safari trip before starting university in the autumn.

The website said that William was riding with European farmers known as "Kenya Cowboys" when their African bush tracker shouted "Ndege" - meaning bird.

The prince allegedly took his 12-bore shotgun and killed the creature before someone pointed out that it was an ibis, a stork-like wading bird, said the Spectator website.

Crestfallen

Depending on its species, this may be illegal.

The prince was reported to have been crestfallen at the mistake.

But the Spectator correspondent reported that the bird was more likely to be the more common hadada ibis, named for its distinctive cry.

A St James's Palace spokeswoman said: "Prince William's visit to Africa was a private visit and we have not confirmed where he was or what he was doing."

The prince has already spent 10 weeks in Chile on a Raleigh International expedition as part of his gap year.