London, Nov. 21 (ANI): UK's Ministry of Defence has been forced to reset the user names and computer passwords of dozens of RAF staff following an embarrassing security blunder over pictures of Prince William.
Ten photographs of the future king in his role as a search and rescue helicopter pilot were published by St James's Palace on the Duke's website before being cleared by the MoD.
The pictures, taken by an RAF photographer, had been intended to show off a 'day in the life' of the prince on base as Flight Lieutenant Wales at RAF Valley on Anglesey, north Wales.
According to the Daily Mail, the pictures were considered something of a coup for his new website, 'www.dukeandduchessofcambridge.org'.
But the publicity exercise back-fired within hours as it emerged that sensitive information was visible in four of the shots.
In one, William was seen sitting in a briefing room in front of a computer with a password prompt screen open.
Another photo showed a document on the desk and an email open on a computer. Other photographs showed details of passwords and user names pinned up on a wall, the report said.
By the time horrified defence officials spotted the mistake, some four hours after publication online, the shots had appeared on websites around the world, on TV and in newspapers.
They were 're-released' with the details pixellated, but the MoD had no choice but to reset passwords of some personnel 'as a precaution'.
"Due to an administrative oversight, these photographs were not properly cleared at RAF Valley. They have now been amended," it said.
"The pictures were taken by an RAF photographer and any security issues are a matter for the MoD," St James's Palace said. (ANI)
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