Wills, Harry march together
2006-09-21 16:57
London - Britain's Prince William, second in line to the English throne, is to join his younger brother Harry's army regiment, his office announced on Thursday.
The 24-year-old, who as future king will one day be head of the country's entire armed forces, will become a member of the Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals, said Clarence House.
After about a year in the army, William - who finished at university last year in Scotland, where he met his girlfriend Kate Middleton - will go on "attachments" with both the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force, it said.
Also after the first year, William will start to get to grips with constitutional affairs in preparation for when he one day accedes the throne, said a spokesperson.
"Finally, Prince William will be further developing his ideas for his medium-term role following army service, both in supporting the queen and the Prince of Wales and in furthering his own charitable interests," he added.
Will be pelted with potatoes
William enrolled at the elite Sandhurst Royal Military Academy, near London, in January for the gruelling 44-week training course. He will pass out from Sandhurst in December.
As part of his final training there, William will be pelted with potatoes as part of his third-term training.
The odd-sounding exercise of "spud-bashing" is to prepare the officer cadets for tackling riots.
His Blues and Royals duty will start with a six-month training course at Bovington camp in Dorset, southern England.
Specifically, he will train to be a troop leader in an armoured reconnaissance unit, just like 22-year-old Harry.