London, Sept 15: Britain`s Prince William is to train as a search and rescue pilot, aiming to serve in the emergency services after being told he cannot be sent to Afghanistan, he said Wednesday.
William, second-in-line to the British throne, learned to fly with the Royal Air Force (RAF) earlier this year as part of military training which has also seen him spend time with the army and navy.
"It has been a real privilege to have spent the past year understanding and experiencing all aspects of the British armed forces," the 26-year-old said in a statement issued by his Clarence House office.
"I now want to build on the experience and training I have received to serve operationally -- especially because, for good reasons, I was not able to deploy to Afghanistan this year with D Squadron of the Household Cavalry Regiment.
"The time I spent with the RAF earlier this year made me realise how much I love flying.
"Joining Search and Rescue is a perfect opportunity for me to serve in the forces operationally, while contributing to a vital part of the country`s emergency services," he added.
The 26-year-old is a second lieutenant in the Blues and Royals regiment of the British Army`s Household Cavalry regiment and a troop commander in charge of armoured Scimitar vehicles.
As well as his RAF attachment, he was more recently involved with the Royal Navy in drugs bust operations in the Caribbean.
The prince, the eldest son of Prince Charles, is gradually being groomed for his future duties as Prince of Wales and as king. He has already represented Queen Elizabeth II on a handful of occasions.
William`s younger bother Harry, who is just 24, served in the southern Afghan province of Helmand during a four-month tour which for him ended in February after 10 weeks when a news blackout was broken.
Bureau Report
