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Prince William and Prince Harry talk about their pilot training at RAF Shawbury

17th June 2009

Prince William and Prince Harry spoke passionately today about their desire to serve their country in the Armed Forces at RAF Shawbury where they are living and training together.

The Princes made their comments as they held a photocall for the world's media to update them on the progress of their training to become military pilots.

Prince William, 26, is well on the way to becoming an RAF search and rescue pilot while Prince Harry, 24, is six months into a course to become an Army helicopter pilot.

Prince Harry served for 10 weeks in Afghanistan last year and his elder brother hinted that he wished to emulate his achievement.

When asked if he thought an operational role was an impossibility, he replied: "In my mind, of course, you talk to everyone else and it's impossible. I still remain hopeful there's a chance."

Prince William discussed his thoughts about serving in the Armed Forces, saying that he did not want to be mollycoddled.

He added: "I think as a future leader of the Armed Forces, it's really important you at least get the opportunity to be credible and to do the job I signed up for, as best I can. That's all I want to do.

"The search and rescue role is now slightly different to obviously being able to go to Afghanistan, but it's still doing an important job."

Prince Harry spoke of his ambition to return to the front line and said he would probably specialise in flying Lynx helicopters and not the more well-known Apache attack helicopters.

"I'm really enjoying it and as everyone knows it's my easiest way of getting back to the front line. Maybe safer, maybe not, I don't know."

The brothers are carrying out their flight training at the Defence Helicopter Flying School at RAF Shawbury in Shropshire and are living together during their military studies.

Prince Harry added: "I love flying helicopters. I just hope I can be better than the best, that's what I've always strived to be - spot on.

"To get out to Afghanistan again would be fantastic and my best chance is to do it from a helicopter."

Prince Harry said that he would probably end up flying Lynx helicopters if he completed his studies: "I'm a bit of a Lynx lover since I started this course."

Prince Harry said the "simple fact" that his helicopter instructors had all been Lynx pilots had influenced his decision to begin thinking about flying the aircraft.

The Prince, who admitted his brother had more "brains" than him, said: "I think the Lynx is more challenging, it's more my cup of tea than the Apache, that's how I feel but that might change halfway though.

"I'll fly whatever I'm told to fly and I'll fly wherever I'm told to fly."

Prince Harry first has to complete his training, which will see him spend the summer at RAF Shawbury learning to master the Squirrel helicopter before he is transferred to the School of Army Aviation in Middle Wallop, Hampshire.

If he completes his training he will be awarded his wings in March before he is assigned to either the Lynx, Gazelle or Apache helicopters for final instructions.

Prince Harry's immediate goal is to fly solo in a Squirrel and the 24-year-old said he hoped to take to the air alone by the end of next week if weather conditions allowed.

During the informal press conference, the Princes, dressed in their green flying suits, looked relaxed in front of the media and made jokes based on the rivalry of their different services - RAF and Army.

The brothers said they had been to their nearest town, Shrewsbury, a few times but Prince Harry stressed he did not have much time to leave the airforce base.

Talking about living together, Prince William, known as Flight Lieutenant Wales, joked about the situation: "Bearing in mind I cook (for) him and feed him basically every day, he's done rather well.

"He does do a bit of washing up but then he leaves most of it in the sink and I have to wash it up."

The second in line to the throne celebrates his 27th birthday on Sunday but he joked that his brother "hasn't got me a present".

"I wouldn't expect one anyway - I'd be lucky to get a card."

Prince William began his search and rescue training at RAF Shawbury in January and in April progressed from the Squirrel to the more advanced Griffin helicopter in April which has a winchman and other crew members.

The 26-year-old said: "It's good fun. I've now got more of a crew atmosphere, I've got guys in the back. As you're flying along you've got these random voices in your ear you cannot see.

"It's quite a long way to go yet before I'm finished but I'm looking forward to the challenges ahead."

The Prince is expected to become an operational pilot early in 2011 and to complete at least one three-year search and rescue tour of duty on a starting salary of £36,000.

He said he saw his career in the Armed Forces as possibly "medium term", around four to five years long.

Prince William said of his brother: "He's doing a fantastic job, he puts himself down but talk to his instructor - he's doing a fantastic job.

"He's just very modest about it, he's doing very well."

Prince Harry said: "We're both here just doing our bit, trying to become helicopter pilots. We're having a fantastic time. Yes, it's hard work but everything is hard work."

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