Kate Middleton and Prince William 'given SAS training'

Kate Middleton and Prince William have been put through their paces by a team of SAS experts, according to reports

Kate Middleton and Prince William have been given new SAS anti-kidnap training, according to reports, after their rising profile and visibility during the upcoming Diamond Jubilee celebrations next weekend has made them potential kidnap targets.

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It's thought William and Kate have made several super-secret visits to an SAS base in Hereford for the training, where they were drilled in what to do, should they ever face kidnap.

'Kate and William have been to the base a couple of times. It is beyond top secret,' one insider told the Star.

Reports suggest the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were taught to handle guns during the exercise, with sources saying the lessons were particularly tough on Kate.

'She got a bit scared with the bangs going off so they took it a bit easy for her,' the insider added.

'William thought it was great, being a military man himself. The SAS didn’t want to terrify the life out of them but these guys are not the most delicate of creatures..

Last year, Kate Middleton reportedly underwent a grueling personal protection programme close to her Anglesey home, on the advice of royal officials.

The course – which is usually led by SAS, personal protection or MI5 officers – is described as ‘very tough, physically and mentally’ and is thought to teach key survival skills.

‘VIP kidnap protection training teaches how to cope both mentally and physically,' one insider revealed at the time. 'The mental element involves reacting to unusual situations, such as when there was a stranger in the Queen's bedroom - and she just started talking to him.’

The Queen, Prince Charles and Prince Harry have all undergone the training, often used by high-profile politicians and diplomats.

Prince William took part in course at an SAS base aged just 16, and was taught how to fire a sub-machine gun, and bundled into car during a staged ambush.

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