EXCLUSIVE: Clare Macnaughton thinks the Prince of Wales may have been exposed to toxins from helicopter fumes while working as a RAF search and rescue pilot on both the Wessex and the Chinook.

Prince William may have been exposed to toxic helicopter fumes while working for the RAF (Image: Getty)

The widow of a helicopter pilot who died from a rare type of cancer has written to Prince William for support in protecting military service personnel from deadly toxins.

Squadron Leader Kai Macnaughton, 53, died just three weeks after being diagnosed with the disease on March 24 last year.

Lawyers believe fumes coming out of helicopters he operated during 30 years of service in the RAF – including the Puma and Chinook – contained benzene carcinogens, which caused his cancer.

His widow Clare, 52, thinks the Prince of Wales may also have been exposed to the same toxins while working as a RAF search and rescue pilot on both the Sea King and the Chinook.

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In her letter to Prince William, the widow wrote: “As a pilot of both the Wessex [sic] and the Chinook you have also been exposed. As was His Majesty King Charles when he flew the Wessex and now has cancer.

“I know pilots who have cancer likely due to exposure.

“Kai died of a rare cancer called Angiosarcoma – it killed him in three weeks from diagnosis and came from nowhere.”

Mrs Macnaughton wants greater awareness of the risks, so RAF personnel can make an informed choice about whether to continue their work.

She added: ”I am writing to you to request your support in progressing the urgent matter of protecting existing service personnel.

“Please help us protect and mitigate the risk for current personnel who loyally serve Crown and Country.”

She also wants personal protective equipment (PPE) offered to servicemen and women, in a bid to mitigate exposure to harmful fumes.

Speaking exclusively to this newspaper, Mrs Macnaughton, from Warminster in Wiltshire, said: “The challenge that we face now is that the military is not going to do anything.

”They are not going to put PPE in place for crews, they are not going to modify the aircraft and it seems they are just going to continue letting people get cancer and will compensate them if they claim.

Squadron Leader Kai Macnaughton died just three weeks after being diagnosed with cancer (Image: Clare Macnaughton)

“I have tried at the MoD but needed to go higher hoping that they might listen to somebody like Prince William. He has been in their shoes after all. That’s why I thought he would be the best person to help.”

She submitted a claim to the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme but was awarded a Widow’s War Pension instead. She has also started a civil claim.

A MoD spokesperson said: “We continually review our policies to ensure they are aligned with good practice and protect our people from harm.

“Service personnel and veterans who believe they have suffered ill health due to service, from 6 April 6, 2005, have the existing and long-standing right to apply for no-fault compensation under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.”