Prince William wants to put military service before royal duty

London, Feb 12 (ANI): Prince William has hinted that he will extend his RAF service beyond next year, as he plans to put military service over royal duties.

The Duke of Cambridge seems to be relishing his latest posting to the Falkland Islands as a search and rescue helicopter pilot, but was widely expected to leave the Armed Forces next year to become a full-time working royal.

However, he has now signalled that he will be spending more time in the RAF and start a family as a serviceman.

The second in line to the throne is understood to have decided to stay on beyond mid-2013, when his current three-year tour of duty ends.

The move could allow the Duke, 29, and his wife Duchess Kate, 30, to begin to raise a family together in the military, away from the spotlight of official royal life.

"The Duke is very keen on his flying, very good at it, and he wants to continue with his military career," the Telegraph quoted a senior royal aide as saying.

"Should the Duke and Duchess choose to have children within the next few years, he is keen to bring them up as children of a serviceman for as long as possible.

"He is in no hurry to take up a more prominent role within the Royal Family, and there is absolutely no pressure from the Queen or anywhere within the royal household for him to do so.

Having already served for six years, the choice of an extended career in the Forces would break with recent royal tradition.

"The Duke is conscious of other members of the Royal Family, including his grandfather, who gave up their military careers to take up greater official responsibilities, but he is not keen to do this if he doesn't need to.

"When the time comes, down the line, he wants to be able to look servicemen in the eye and say 'I did my time'," the royal aide added. (ANI)