Steve Brooks and Matt Jones are embarking on a journey in a restored MK. IX Spitfire. The Daily Telegraph reported the voyage will take four months and involve 91 stages. Harry scribbled in pen at the end of his good luck message: “And most importantly, have fun!”

His typed message read: “I am writing with more than a tinge of jealousy, to wish you the very best of luck ahead of your audacious attempt to circumnavigate the globe in our most iconic and evocative aircraft.

“I still have vivid memories of flying in a Spitfire on my visit to Boultbee in 2014. To be a spectator of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flypast was truly special and an experience I’ll never forget.

“I am sure this occasion will be equally, if not more so memorable for the both of you.”

The Kensington Palace headed paper also added: “Your upcoming expedition will be an incredible feat of skill, endurance and engineering – no doubt supported by a dedicated crew. I send the whole team my best wishes for this great adventure.”

The voyage will include stops in the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland, Canada, the US, Russia, South Korea, Japan, China, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, India, Bahrain, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Austria and France.

Mr Brooks and Mr Jones set off on Monday from Goodwood.

Some of the destinations have a royal flavour to them, for example, Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, spent time as a young child in Jordan as her father had a spell working there.

Mr Brooks and Mr Jones will join the Red Arrows to fly by the Canadian Parliament, pass over the Grand Canyon, Mount Fuji, the Taj Mahal and the Giza pyramids as well as visiting British embassies and High Commissions.

British High Commissions are diplomatic missions, equivalent to embassies found in Commonwealth member states.

The Spitfire is painted silver to avoid appearing provocative as it flies over a vast plethora of climates.

Mr Brooks had previously said: “It’s the most extraordinary thing that when a Spitfire flies over, people will run out of their offices and houses – young kids, women, men, everybody.

“There’s something about a Spitfire that curdles one’s blood [and] livens up any conversation.

“I think that’s because it stands for the freedom of humanity. It says, ‘We can stand up and we can survive. We can win’.”

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