London:
After 20 months of training, Prince William, the second-in-line to the British throne, has qualified as Royal Air Force search and rescue chopper pilot.
The 28-year-old Prince will spend the next three years flying rescue missions out of North Wales before joining 22 Squadron as a fully operational co-pilot in a four-man Sea King Mk3 helicopter, the 'Daily Express' reported.
William will become the first senior royal to serve with the military in Northern Ireland since the Troubles began more than 40 years ago. RAF pilots are regularly called out to help civilians in distress in and off the coast of Ulster.
William, who has indicated he may serve with another branch of the Armed Forces after completing a three-year stretch with SAR, has harboured ambitions to be a helicopter pilot since he was a little boy.
He said: "I am really delighted to have completed the training course with my fellow students. The course has been challenging but I have enjoyed it immensely.
I absolutely love flying, so it will be an honour to serve operationally with the Search and Rescue Force, helping to provide a vital emergency service."
William has spent the last 20 months on a series of flying courses, progressing from Squirrel helicopters, to Griffins and then seven months at the controls of Sea Kings on an operational unit to prepare him for his new role.
During his training, he has taken part in a series of simulated rescue missions over the Irish Sea and the Atlantic and in the mountains of Snowdonia. He was also called out on a real-life rescue mission in June.