LONDON - Britain's Prince William is to patrol for drug smugglers in seas around the Caribbean during a two-month attachment with the Royal Navy, it said Saturday. William, the 25-year-old second-in-line to the throne, is an officer in the army but is also training with other parts of the British military, of which he will be commander-in-chief when he becomes king. William will be known as Sub-Lieutenant Wales and will follow his father Prince Charles, uncle Prince Andrew and grandfather Prince Philip, who have all spent time in the navy.
William's naval deployment starts Monday. He will learn basic skills like navigation and boat handling at first before spending five weeks on HMS Iron Duke, which is stationed in the Caribbean. The ship's crew will be involved in operations to catch drug runners which have seen British vessels seize around 20 tonnes of cocaine in the north Atlantic in the last 18 months.
Rear Admiral Robert Cooling, the assistant chief of naval staff, said of William's new role: 'It will be a real thrill and privilege -- not a pain in the ass -- for the ship's company... He's going to come just like any other young officers and do all the things that young officers get involved in.' |