A regional press reporter’s exclusive story about Prince Andrew criticising the Ministry of Defence has made headlines across the national media.

Arron Hendy, from the Dorset Echo, heard the Duke of York tell business chiefs that the MoD should ‘get off their fat backsides.’

The leading Royal had been visiting Universal Engineering in Weymouth in his capacity as a UK trade ambassador to see a revolutionary new armoured vehicle being built there.

The Prince – who is not supposed to express opinions on political matters – criticised Army chiefs for delays in placing orders for the Ranger vehicle.

Arron’s story made headlines across national newspapers, including a splash in the Daily Telegraph, and he was interviewed for the BBC’s main news bulletin about it.

Arron’s story as it appeared on the Dorset Echo’s front page.

He told HTFP he heard the comments made by Prince Andrew after asking to sit in on a presentation being made to him by the company.

Said Arron: “I was invited up to the Prince’s visit by Universal Engineering. On the morning of the visit, just before he arrived, I asked someone from the company if I could sit in on the presentation that was going to be given to the Prince and they said yes.

“It was during the presentation about the Ranger vehicles that he started making those comments.

“The bosses said they had made their own tests to check the Rangers’ quality and he became quite outspoken about it.

“I was surprised about it. From a professional point of view, I was just making sure I had got it down. At the Dorset Echo, we always try to get the best story that we can.

“I hoped it would be as big a story as possible. It was amazing to see how many papers took it up.”

After Arron’s story was published, Defence Secretary Liam Fox rejected Prince Andrew’s call about the Rangers, saying vehicles now in service in Afghanistan were the best choice.

Senior reporter Arron has worked for the paper for two-and-a-half years and he was recognised as the best News Journalism trainee at the NCTJ’s Excellence in Journalism Awards last year.