Prince William begins army career

LONDON - A slightly nervous-looking Prince William launched his army career on Sunday when he entered the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst.

The second-in-line to the throne is following younger brother Prince Harry into the elite academy to train to become an officer.

William, 23, arrived with his father Prince Charles at the site in Camberley, looking a bit apprehensive on the first day of his one-year training course.

Last October William passed the Regular Commissions Board exams - a series of tests and tasks to gauge the ability of candidates to meet the mental, physical and emotional demands facing army officers - to gain entry to the academy.

"I am absolutely delighted to have got over the first hurdle, but I am only too well aware, having spoken so much to Harry, that this is just the beginning," he said at the time.

"I am really looking forward to taking my place alongside all the other cadets at Sandhurst."

William has the prospect of eventually becoming Commander in Chief of Britain's armed forces - the role traditionally occupied by the monarch.

The academy's commandant, General Andrew Ritchie, jokingly warned of tough times ahead.

"They have been used to working for four hours a day and sleeping for 20, and we reverse that," he told the BBC.

In 2004, when William announced he was considering joining the army, he said he would not expect or accept special treatment.

"The last thing I want to be is mollycoddled or wrapped up in cotton wool," he said. "If I was to join the army, I would want to go where my men went and I would want to do what they did."

Harry, 21, who entered Sandhurst last year and will therefore initially be senior to William, has joked that he was looking forward to his elder brother having to salute him.

- REUTERS