Who dares Wills... Prince to undergo SAS training

Prince William is to receive special forces training, it emerged today.

He will be taught by the military's toughest officers about unconventional warfare, counter-terrorism and reconnaissance. The training in top-secret techniques forms part of William's final five months of military service.

The announcement came as Clarence House revealed details of the prince's autumn schedule. A spokesman stressed that William, 26, would only be involved in " nonoperational" activities with the SAS, SBS and Special Reconnaissance Regiment and take part in individual training sessions rather than a protracted attachment.

A Ministry of Defence source said: "This is incredibly exciting for William. It's real boys' own stuff. He's not going to become a special forces soldier - it takes years of training to get that tough. But he'll receive a robust grounding in their operations."

The second in line to the throne, who is an officer in the Household Cavalry, has spent a year with the Army, four months with the RAF and two months with the Royal Navy during his military career. The broad experience is in preparation for his future role as head of the Armed Forces.

William's autumn schedule will include spending time with the Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup learning about how deployment decisions are made. He will work at the Ministry of Defence and the Permanent Joint Headquarters in London and will also be given the chance to broaden his flying experience during an attachment to the Army Air Corps.

The prince completes his secondment with the Royal Navy tomorrow. His girlfriend Kate Middleton is understood to have flown out to meet him in the Caribbean, where he is finishing a five-week patrol on frigate HMS Iron Duke.

There were no details available on William's plans next year. It has been reported he will spend 2009 and 2010 touring Whitehall and learning how to run the Duchy of Cornwall.