In October, 2005, William went before the Regular Commissions Board, which determined his suitability as an officer candidate for the British Army. William completed the selection process and in January, 2006, he entered the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, in Berkshire. William graduated from the Royal Military Academy on December 15 and was commissioned into the British Army as a lieutenant. Following his graduation, William, now Lt. William Wales, again followed in his family’s footsteps, this time those of his younger brother, Prince Harry, and served in the Queen’s Household Guard, where he was a lieutenant in the Blues and Royals. The Blues and Royals consist of the Royal Horse Guards and the First Dragoons. William was assigned to Bovington Camp in Dorset, where he trained for four months to take command of an armoured reconnaissance unit.
The Royal Family at War
As William’s training progressed, he began to express an interest in an active duty assignment. William was not the first member of the royal family to pursue a career in the armed forces. In addition to his father, who had served in the Royal Navy and risen to the rank of captain, Edward VIII had served in the trenches in France during World War I, while George VI had joined the Navy and fought at the Battle of Jutland. William’s grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh had served aboard the battleship HMS Valiant during World War II and William’s uncle, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, had flown helicopters during the Falklands War in the 1980s. Even though the commander of the Household Guard, Major General Sebastian Roberts had indicated that a combat assignment for William could be arranged, the Queen and many of her ministers objected over concerns for William’s safety.
Prince William's Air Force Training
These concerns seemed to have been justified after William’s younger brother, Prince Harry’s deployment was cancelled in 2007, following threats made against his unit. In response, William continued training with the Navy and the Air Force and was eventually commissioned as a sub-lieutenant and a flight officer respectively. After William’s initial training was completed, he was attached to the Royal Air Force, where he underwent additional training at the Royal Air Force College at RAF Cranwell, in Lincolnshire. Following the completion of his training, in April, 2008, William received his wings from Prince Charles, who had also graduated from the Royal Air Force College, in 1971. It later came to light that during this time, William personally flew a C-17 Globemaster to Afghanistan to bring home the body of Trooper Robert Pearson.
After receiving his wings, William went on to train with the Royal Navy. In the summer of 2008, William spent three weeks at the Royal Naval College, in Dartmouth, in addition to receiving hands on training with the fleet and flight training with the Fleet Air Arm. William took part in war games with the Royal Marines. William completed his training with a five week deployment to the Caribbean aboard the light frigate HMS Iron Duke, where he participated in a number of ship-based operations, including a drug bust that netted 40 million pounds worth of cocaine.
Because of William’s position as second in the line of succession for the English crown, an active military career was considered to be a practical impossibility. When William first enlisted, it was for a three year term of service. However, in September, 2008, William chose to extend his term of service. At the same time, it was also announced that William would be transferring his commission from the Army to the Air Force, where he would undergo training as a search and rescue pilot. This would allow William to pursue an active military career without running the risks entailed by a combat assignment. In January, 2009, William formally joined the Royal Air Force as a flight lieutenant. A year later, William graduated from the Defence Helicopter Flying School and later that month he was assigned to the Search and Rescue Training Unit, based in Anglesey, in Wales, where he learned to fly Sea King helicopters. On April 15, 2010, it was decided that William would remain in Anglesey for his tour of duty, which was expected to from 30 to 36 months.
William Begins his Tour of Duty
On Saturday, October 2, 2010, William flew his first rescue mission as a co-pilot when he responded to a call from the Liverpool Coastguard to airlift a gas rig worker in Morecambe Bay, on England’s northwest coast, to a local hospital after suffering a heart attack.
When William turned 21, he became a Councillor of State. One of his first acts in this capacity was to accompany Prince Charles on a royal tour of Wales. In July, 2005, William went on his first solo royal tour, when he went to New Zealand where he represented his Grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. While in New Zealand, William participated in the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. In July, 2007, William joined the Queen’s cousin, the Duke of Kent, in attending the opening of the 21st World Scout Jamboree and celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Boy Scouts.
Like Prince Charles, William apparently expressed an interest in becoming the Governor General of Australia. However, then Prime Minister John Howard said, "We have for a long time embraced the idea that the person who occupies that post should be in every way be an Australian citizen."
In 2009, a private office was set up for William by his grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh. In January, 2010, William and his personal advisor, Sir David Manning visited Auckland and Wellington as the Queen’s representatives. While in New Zealand, William opened the new building of the Supreme Court and was received as a Maori chief. Following his wedding to long time girlfriend and fiancé Kate Middleton, on April 29, 2011, William and Kate will make their first public appearance as a married couple when they undertake a royal tour of Canada in the summer of 2011.
Sources
Pierce, Andrew (13 January 2009). "Prince William starts as a search and rescue helicopter pilot". The Daily Telegraph (London). Apr.6/11
"Kate watches William get his wings - World - smh.com.au". Sydney Morning Herald. 12 April 2008.Apr.6/11
William visits Afghanistan troops". BBC. 30 April 2008. Apr.6/11
Daniela Relph (Last Updated:). "BBC NEWS | UK | 'Sharp eyes' William's solo flight". BBC News. Apr.6/11
Browning, Eliza (28 July 2008). "Prince William in Caribbean Drug Bust". ABC News. Retrieved Apr.6/11
"Prince William: Military Secondments in Autumn, 2008". princeofwales.gov.uk. 31 July 2008. Apr.6/11
"William for GG not on: PM". The Sydney Morning Herald. 29 June 2007. Apr.6/11
"Prince William's royal magic captures the crowds". 18 January 2010.Retrieved 19 January 2010.
Terry Long - I hold degrees in history and journalism. In addition to my contributions to Suite 101, I have also written for the Brampton Bulletin, the ...
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