Harry To Train With Australian Special Forces

Prince Harry is preparing to spend time in Australia where he will train with the country's special forces and Aboriginal soldiers.

Harry, a British Army captain, is due to begin his four weeks with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) next week.

During his time in the country the Prince will spend time in Perth, where he will train with the Special Air Service and in Darwin, where he will work with members of Norforce, the mostly indigenous unit that patrols northern Australia.

He will also train on helicopter simulators at an army barracks in Sydney.

The royal officer, who is known as Captain Wales, is said to be very much looking forward to the placement.

His spokesman said: "Prince Harry is tremendously looking forward to starting his four week attachment with the ADF.

"It has been an opportunity he has been keen to explore for a couple of years now and is delighted to be able to do it before completing his military service with the British Armed Forces later this year.

"Prince Harry has trained and served alongside Australian armed forces on operational tours to Afghanistan; he has met them during the Invictus Games; and even trekked to the South Pole with a couple of Australian soldiers.

"Those experiences reinforced the huge admiration and respect he already had for Australian servicemen and women and has stoked his enthusiasm even more to build on those relationships in the next four weeks."

A statement released by the ADF said: "Defence's focus for this attachment is to provide Captain Wales with an authentic military experience in the Australian army that builds on his previous experience with coalition forces and complements his work with wounded, injured and ill service personnel."

On Monday, Harry will take part in his only scheduled public appearance while in Australia when he lays a wreath at the country's Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier in Canberra.

The Prince will then tour the First World War and Afghanistan Galleries at the Australian War Memorial and meet members of the public.

He is also expected to spend some time learning how wounded servicemen and women are supported in Australia.

Harry will join his father the Prince of Wales at the Gallipoli commemorations in Turkey on 24 and 25 April

When he leaves the Armed Forces in June, the royal is due to spend some of the summer in Africa carrying out voluntary conservation work.

In the autumn, the Prince will volunteer with the Ministry of Defence's Recovery Capability Programme supporting the rehabilitation of wounded, injured or sick service personnel, while he considers what to do next.

Harry has previously revealed he is undecided on what to do for employment in the long term, saying: "I am considering the options for the future and I am really excited about the possibilities."

During his 10-year military career the Prince completed two tours of duty to Afghanistan and qualified as an Apache Aircraft Commander.