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Last Updated: Friday, 21 October 2005, 13:59 GMT 14:59 UK
Q&A: William's Army hopes
Prince William
The prince is unlikely to receive the same protection he did as a student
Prince William is set to join the Army after being accepted into the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst.

BBC royal correspondent June Kelly examines his decision.

Q: Would there have been any influence to choose the Royal Navy rather than the infantry?

A: The tradition has been that his father went into the navy, as did his grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh.

But in an interview last June, William said, when he was talking about his future... that he was veering towards the army because he felt the army was in the spotlight - obviously thinking of Iraq.

He also said in that interview, crucially, that if he went into the army, he did not want to be molly-coddled or wrapped up in cotton wool.

He said he wanted to be in the action, in the thick of it with his men. Now this is going to pose a whole load of problems for defence officials and the Royal Family.

Q: Prince Andrew was a helicopter pilot during the Falklands War but could it be that in the modern Royal Family Prince William is sent overseas - say to somewhere like Basra?

A: This is going to be very tricky indeed because he is in a different position to Prince Andrew as the second in line. Obviously, if he fulfils his destiny, William will one day be King. It is different and it does create a whole set of problems.

I think we cannot forget that Prince William - although he may only be 23 - is a very strong-minded young man. Clearly this is what he wants to do and the people around him now are going to have to cope with that.

Q: Do we know how long he would spend in the army?

A: Well the plan is obviously he will train for about a year.

One would assume he would be in the army for quite some time because the other thing about being in the military is that is actually keeps these young men buttoned down from the royal officials' point of view in that we the media cannot get at them.

Q: So it counts as full-time education?

A: No. It is not under the same regulations that it was in terms of the media relationship but they are protected.

William hints at military career
29 May 04 |  Gloucestershire

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