Military Career
Military Career
Prince William is a Lieutenant in the Household Cavalry (Blues and Royals). Prince William is currently serving on a four month attachment to the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. Click here to read about Prince William getting his wings.
Prince William graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, known as passing out, on 15th December 2006. He took part in the Sovereign's Parade which was presided over by his grandmother The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh. The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall also attended.
He was commissioned after completing a 44-week training course at Sandhurst which is in Camberley, Surrey. During his training, William was known as Officer Cadet Wales.
To gain entry to Sandhurst, Prince William had to pass his Regular Commissions Board (RCB) which he did in October 2005.
The RCB enables senior Army assessors to find those best suited for training. The Board is demanding, and consists of a number of tests and tasks designed to assess mental, physical and emotional aptitude.
As second in line to The Throne, Prince William has also represented The Queen at official military occasions. During his visit to New Zealand, Prince William attended events to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. He laid a wreath at the cenotaph in Auckland on behalf of The Queen, met both veterans and serving soldiers and inspected a guard of honour.
Prince William also attends ceremonial occasions such as the Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph in November. Prince William laid a wreath for the first time at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday (11th November 2007).
In 2007, Prince William and his brother Prince Harry visited the Defence Military Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court in Surrey, to meet injured personnel.
In December 2007, Prince William was promoted to Lieutenant in the Household Cavalry (Blues and Royals).
On 27th March 2008, Prince William and Prince Harry became Joint Patrons of the City Salute Appeal, a major open air event organised to celebrate and support this country’s armed forces and their families and to raise money for injured servicemen and women. Click here to visit the website.
On 11th April 2008, Prince William received his RAF wings from his father The Prince of Wales at RAF Cranwell after completing an intensive 12 week flying course.
Prince William became the fourth successive generation of the monarchy to become an RAF pilot. Click here to read the story and click here to watch a video of Prince William flying Tucanos and Squirrel helicopters.
On Sunday 27th April and Monday 28th April, Prince William undertook a 30-hour trip to RAF Detachments in theatre at Kandahar Air Base, Afghanistan and Al Udeid, Qatar as the culmination of his attachment to the RAF. Click here to read the press release.
On 10th June, during a visit to the Royal Navy Submarine Museum open the Area of Remembrance, Prince William became Patron of the HMS Alliance Conservation Appeal.
In October 2008, The Queen appointed new Royal Air Force honorary appointments in recognition of the strong links between the Royal Air Force and the Royal Family. Prince William was appointed Honorary Air Commandant of Royal Air Force Coningsby.