Graduates After Four Months With RAF

He's following the family tradition. Britain's Prince William graduated Friday after four months training with the Royal Air Force, earning his wings as a military pilot.

His father, Prince Charles, fixed the traditional insignia badge to William's dress uniform during the ceremony, reports The Associated Press. Charles graduated a similar program in 1971.

The RAF instructional program is intended to make participants competent pilots, but not front-line aircraft operators. William qualified as a fixed-wing and rotorcraft pilot, according to news reports.

"To those who fly today, these badges are the most coveted of all our insignia and rightly so," Group Capt. Nigel Wharmby told the graduates during the ceremony at the air force base in Cranwell.

Unlike his younger brother, Prince Harry -- who has declared his intent to be a career soldier -- William appears to be angling for eventually succeeding his father on the British Throne, and by extension as head of Britain's armed forces. He has also received naval training, and is scheduled to serve a foreign tour of duty onboard a navy warship.

FMI: www.raf.mod.uk