AN alleged affair by an army major has been exposed after soldiers from a rival regiment apparently spray-painted a series of salacious claims on a road in Dorset.
The allegations about Major Alan Ponde, for whose regiment Princess Anne serves as colonel-in-chief, emerged after graffiti appeared on a 50-foot stretch of road near the Bovington Camp military base last weekend.
Images of the graffiti were distributed on social media before the local council were notified by army officials and it was removed, the Mail on Sunday reported.
Ponde is a married father-of-two and second-in-command of the King’s Royal Hussars, a cavalry regiment which is part of the Royal Armoured Corps.
The graffiti reads: “Karma is a b***h, Ponde.
“Major Alan Ponde KRH 2IC [second-in-command] is having an affair…
“TY [Thank You] for leaving your phone in the Mess.
“I have all the texts and the video you made unknon (sic) to [the woman with whom Ponde is alleged to have had an affair].
“LUV RTR.”
Police are now searching for the perpetrators, with the message’s sign-off pointing to the rival Royal Tank Regiment.
Pictures show Ponde in 2015 alongside Princess Anne as she inspected the regiment’s troops.
The King’s Royal Hussars regiment has been approached for comment.
POLICE INVESTIGATING CRIMINAL DAMAGE
The Mail reports that Ponde could be the subject of a disciplinary because the army’s guidelines specify that service personnel should not engage in behaviour that “undermines morale, good order, discipline, trust or unit cohesion”.
Ponde’s position is also reported to mean he is duty-bound to set a good example to the 350 soldiers in his regiment.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson told the Mail: “We are aware of some graffiti outside Bovington Camp.
“It would be inappropriate to comment further.”
Dorset police confirmed they were looking into an instance of criminal damage but that nobody had been arrested.
The King’s Royal Hussars was formed in 1992 and is based at the Tidworth camp in Wiltshire.
It serves as the armoured regiment for the 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade, and has deployed units to Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosov, and Iraq.
The Royal Tank Regiment is the oldest tank unit in the world, having been formed by the British Army in 1916.
It is also based at Tidworth, and is the armoured regiment of the 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade.
Ponde is second-in-command of the King’s Royal Hussars, a cavalry regiment which is part of the Royal Armoured Corps
