Prince William continues to experience all branches of British Armed Forces

Prince William will visit British special forces and serve at military headquarters as part of a plan to have him experience all branches of the country's armed forces, royal officials said Thursday.

Photo: Prince William continues to experience all branches of British Armed Forces

Prince William continues to experience all branches of British Armed Forces

William, 26, will work with the Defense Ministry in London this autumn, pay "non-operational" visits to special forces troops and serve briefly with the Army Air Corps, the prince's office said.

William is due to complete a two-month stint with the Royal Navy on Friday. Most of the tour was spent aboard the warship HMS Iron Duke on anti-drug and disaster-relief duties in the Atlantic and Caribbean.

The prince is already a junior officer in the army and also earned his wings in the Royal Air Force, helping to pilot a transport plane on a flight to southern Afghanistan.

Britain's monarch is the titular head of the country's armed forces, and William is second in line to the throne behind his father, Prince Charles.

The yearlong program was intended to familiarize William with "the capability, organization, equipment and ethos" of Britain's armed forces, William's Clarence House office said.