Prince William after successfully completing the final phase of his RAF helicopter flying training - Prince William: 'I am determined to fight in Afghanistan' - Prince William has declared his determination to fight on the frontline in Afghanistan and dismissed "hyped-up" concerns about the risk to his safety.
The 28-year-old Prince, who completed his first shift as an RAF search and rescue helicopter co-pilot earlier this month, expressed frustration at having so far been unable join British troops fighting the Taliban and declared that his heart was in the Army.
Prince William after successfully completing the final phase of his RAF helicopter flying training Photo: PA
The second-in-line to the throne admitted that there were some “slightly valid” arguments against his following in the footsteps of his brother, Prince Harry, who spent 10 weeks serving in Helmand Province in 2008.
But he declared that he remained determined to fight on the frontline in Afghanistan before the last British troops are withdrawn in 2015.
The Prince made the remarks in a Sky 1 documentary which chronicles his visit to Botswana earlier this year.
Speaking about the period after he joined the Household Cavalry regiment in 2006 when some of his unit were deployed to Afghanistan, he said: "My heart was in the Army and that's why I first joined them. It's just a pity I didn't get to Afghanistan. Which, you know, many people say 'well that's very understandable'.
"There are some slightly valid arguments as to why not, but many of them are hyped up as to why I couldn't go. I still have hope and faith and a real determination to go out there."
Speaking on a moving vehicle travelling through the African bush, he also told presenter Ben Fogle that the memory of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, keeps him “normal”.
"My mother instilled in Harry and I from a very young age that being grounded was important. For me I've really tried to keep that going, and I know Harry has as well, because you can get wrapped up in the world - there's a lot of unreality stuff that goes on in my life, I kind of laugh at it."
Both Princes visited visited southern Africa in June and the first leg of their trip to Botswana was filmed for the Sky 1 documentary, which will be broadcast on Wednesday.
It focuses on their time in the African bush seeing wildlife and projects supported by the British-based charity Tusk Trust, a conservation organisation of which Prince William is a patron.
The 28-year-old said: "Harry and I are very laid-back anyway, we don't want to be mollycoddled, we don't want to be sort of kept away from everything, we want to see the stuff, we want to see the real stuff, we want to do the real stuff."
The Prince first declared his desire to serve in Afghanistan in June last year, while he was training to become an RAF search and rescue pilot.
He said: "In my mind, of course, you talk to everyone else and it's impossible I still remain hopeful there's a chance. 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."
Prince Harry, 26, served in Helmand Province for 10 weeks amid a strict press blackout two years ago. He was withdrawn from service and returned to England after news of his deployment was leaked by foreign media.
Channel 4 has come under fire from defence chiefs for planning to air a documentary based on what could happen if the Prince were taken prisoner while serving on the front line.
The Taking of Prince Harry is due to air this Thursday at 9pm, despite a call from the Head of the Armed Forces, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, for the broadcast to be pulled. ( telegraph.co.uk )
The 28-year-old Prince, who completed his first shift as an RAF search and rescue helicopter co-pilot earlier this month, expressed frustration at having so far been unable join British troops fighting the Taliban and declared that his heart was in the Army.
Prince William after successfully completing the final phase of his RAF helicopter flying training Photo: PA
The second-in-line to the throne admitted that there were some “slightly valid” arguments against his following in the footsteps of his brother, Prince Harry, who spent 10 weeks serving in Helmand Province in 2008.
But he declared that he remained determined to fight on the frontline in Afghanistan before the last British troops are withdrawn in 2015.
The Prince made the remarks in a Sky 1 documentary which chronicles his visit to Botswana earlier this year.
Speaking about the period after he joined the Household Cavalry regiment in 2006 when some of his unit were deployed to Afghanistan, he said: "My heart was in the Army and that's why I first joined them. It's just a pity I didn't get to Afghanistan. Which, you know, many people say 'well that's very understandable'.
"There are some slightly valid arguments as to why not, but many of them are hyped up as to why I couldn't go. I still have hope and faith and a real determination to go out there."
Speaking on a moving vehicle travelling through the African bush, he also told presenter Ben Fogle that the memory of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, keeps him “normal”.
"My mother instilled in Harry and I from a very young age that being grounded was important. For me I've really tried to keep that going, and I know Harry has as well, because you can get wrapped up in the world - there's a lot of unreality stuff that goes on in my life, I kind of laugh at it."
Both Princes visited visited southern Africa in June and the first leg of their trip to Botswana was filmed for the Sky 1 documentary, which will be broadcast on Wednesday.
It focuses on their time in the African bush seeing wildlife and projects supported by the British-based charity Tusk Trust, a conservation organisation of which Prince William is a patron.
The 28-year-old said: "Harry and I are very laid-back anyway, we don't want to be mollycoddled, we don't want to be sort of kept away from everything, we want to see the stuff, we want to see the real stuff, we want to do the real stuff."
The Prince first declared his desire to serve in Afghanistan in June last year, while he was training to become an RAF search and rescue pilot.
He said: "In my mind, of course, you talk to everyone else and it's impossible I still remain hopeful there's a chance. 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."
Prince Harry, 26, served in Helmand Province for 10 weeks amid a strict press blackout two years ago. He was withdrawn from service and returned to England after news of his deployment was leaked by foreign media.
Channel 4 has come under fire from defence chiefs for planning to air a documentary based on what could happen if the Prince were taken prisoner while serving on the front line.
The Taking of Prince Harry is due to air this Thursday at 9pm, despite a call from the Head of the Armed Forces, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, for the broadcast to be pulled. ( telegraph.co.uk )
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