London: Prince William, the second in line to the British throne, today received the RAF pilot's wings from Prince Charles in his capacity as Air Chief Marshal, after he graduated as Flying Officer.

Flying Officer Wales, training with the RAF since January, was one of 25 graduates who received their wings.

Prince William, a graduate of Sandhurst military academy, will undertake a similar attachment to the Royal Navy.

Prince Charles himself learned to fly at RAF Cranwell in 1971. He completed his helicopter training three years later.

Like his father, Prince William entered the armed forces after leaving university.

He graduated from Sandhurst Military Academy in December 2006, going on to serve as an officer in the Household Cavalry Blues and Royals.

William's first solo flight came just eight days into his RAF training, when he piloted a propeller-driven Grob 115 E light aircraft round the airfield at RAF Cranwell.

He then trained on the faster Tucano T1 plane at RAF Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire.

His final placement was at RAF Shawbury, Shropshire, where he learnt to fly the Squirrel helicopter.

William's training periods with the RAF and Navy are familiarisation attachments, aimed to prepare him for his future role as the head of the armed forces.

His shortened training course was designed to make him a competent flier, but an RAF pilot would usually spend up to four years under instruction.

Unlike his brother Harry, he will not become a "career soldier", and is increasingly carrying out public engagements alongside his military duties.
Source : PTI